Botswana Infant Mortality Rate
Infant mortality rate per 1,000 live births SP.DYN.IMRT.IN
Botswana's infant mortality rate was 36.1 in 2025, ranked 29th globally. This represents a 5.5% decrease from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1960–2025.
Overview
Botswana's infant mortality rate stood at 36.1 in 2025, a decline of +2.1 from 2023. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 36.1 by 2025. Botswana ranked 29th globally.
Botswana’s infant mortality rate has fallen dramatically from an all‑time peak of 117.60 in 1960 to a trough of 36.10 in 2025, placing the country 29th globally in that year. This 69.5‑point decline over 65 years reflects sustained investments in maternal health, expanded vaccination programmes and the gradual rollout of antiretroviral therapy that reduced HIV‑related child deaths. The 2025 figure is closely aligned with peers such as Sudan (36.74) and Namibia (35.16), underscoring Botswana’s convergence with other Southern African nations that have benefitted from similar public‑health reforms. While the downward trajectory suggests continued improvement, further reductions will depend on strengthening rural health infrastructure, maintaining high immunisation coverage and addressing emerging challenges such as non‑communicable disease risk factors in newborns.
Data & projection
| Year | Infant Mortality Rate | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026* trend | 35.1 | - | - |
| 2025* trend | 36.1 | - | - |
| 2025 | 36.1 | −2.1 | #29 |
| 2023 | 38.2 | −1.0 | #165 |
| 2022 | 39.2 | −1.1 | #165 |
| 2021 | 40.3 | −1.2 | #165 |
| 2020 | 41.5 | −0.8 | #165 |
| 2019 | 42.3 | −0.9 | #165 |
| 2018 | 43.2 | −1.1 | #166 |
| 2017 | 44.3 | −2.4 | #167 |
| 2016 | 46.7 | −0.5 | #167 |
| 2015 | 47.2 | −1.2 | #167 |
| 2014 | 48.4 | +0.8 | #167 |
| 2013 | 47.6 | −1.2 | #164 |
| 2012 | 48.8 | −3.2 | #164 |
| 2011 | 52.0 | +1.5 | #166 |
| 2010 | 50.5 | +1.2 | #161 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Botswana matched the Export Boom Cycle pattern in 2023. Historically, 71% of countries showing this pattern (546 out of 768) saw infant mortality rate improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Botswana's infant mortality rate was 36.1 in 2025. Ranked 29th globally. This represents a 5.5% decrease from the previous year.
Botswana's infant mortality rate peaked at 117.6 in 1960.
The lowest infant mortality rate in Botswana was 36.1 in 2025.
Botswana ranks 29th globally in infant mortality rate as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is SP.DYN.IMRT.IN. Data sourced from World Bank.
Botswana's infant mortality rate is projected to reach 36.1 by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.
The infant mortality rate of Botswana in 2025 was 36.1. This ranks 29th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_botswana_infant-mortality,
title = {Botswana Infant Mortality Rate},
url = {https://historysaid.com/botswana/infant-mortality/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}