New Zealand Infant Mortality Rate
Infant mortality rate per 1,000 live births SP.DYN.IMRT.IN
New Zealand's infant mortality rate was 3.9 in 2025, ranked 153rd globally. This represents a 3.0% decrease from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1960–2025.
Overview
New Zealand's infant mortality rate stood at 3.9 in 2025, a decline of +0.1 from 2023. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 3.9 by 2025. New Zealand ranked 153rd globally.
New Zealand’s infant mortality rate has fallen dramatically over the 65‑year span from 22.60 deaths per 1,000 live births in 1960 to a historic low of 3.88 in 2025, placing the country 153rd globally. This decline reflects sustained public‑health investments, universal prenatal care, and extensive vaccination programmes that have reduced preventable deaths. The pace of improvement accelerated after the 1990s, when the rate dropped below 10, and by the early 2000s it consistently outperformed many OECD peers. Compared with the United Kingdom’s 4.06 in 2025, New Zealand’s figure is marginally lower, while Croatia records 3.82, indicating that New Zealand now sits among the world’s best performers. The continued emphasis on maternal health, nutrition, and early childhood services suggests the downward trajectory will likely persist, though any reversal of funding or emergence of new health threats could alter the pattern.
Data & projection
| Year | Infant Mortality Rate | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026* trend | 3.8 | - | - |
| 2025* trend | 3.9 | - | - |
| 2025 | 3.9 | −0.1 | #153 |
| 2023 | 4.0 | −0.1 | #42 |
| 2022 | 4.1 | −0.1 | #41 |
| 2021 | 4.2 | +0.0 | #40 |
| 2020 | 4.2 | −0.1 | #39 |
| 2019 | 4.3 | −0.1 | #39 |
| 2018 | 4.4 | −0.1 | #39 |
| 2017 | 4.5 | −0.1 | #39 |
| 2016 | 4.6 | −0.1 | #40 |
| 2015 | 4.7 | −0.1 | #40 |
| 2014 | 4.8 | −0.1 | #41 |
| 2013 | 4.9 | −0.1 | #40 |
| 2012 | 5.0 | −0.1 | #40 |
| 2011 | 5.1 | −0.1 | #40 |
| 2010 | 5.2 | +0.0 | #39 |
Analysis
New Zealand's infant mortality rate was 3.9 in 2025, a decline of −0.1 from 2024. Based on trends, estimated 3.9 by 2025.
Frequently Asked Questions
New Zealand's infant mortality rate was 3.9 in 2025. Ranked 153rd globally. This represents a 3.0% decrease from the previous year.
New Zealand's infant mortality rate peaked at 22.6 in 1960.
The lowest infant mortality rate in New Zealand was 3.9 in 2025.
New Zealand ranks 153rd globally in infant mortality rate as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is SP.DYN.IMRT.IN. Data sourced from World Bank.
New Zealand's infant mortality rate is projected to reach 3.9 by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.
The infant mortality rate of New Zealand in 2025 was 3.9. This ranks 153rd in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_new-zealand_infant-mortality,
title = {New Zealand Infant Mortality Rate},
url = {https://historysaid.com/new-zealand/infant-mortality/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}