Papua New Guinea Infant Mortality Rate
Infant mortality rate per 1,000 live births SP.DYN.IMRT.IN
Papua New Guinea's infant mortality rate was 29.9 in 2025, ranked 42nd globally. This represents a 6.4% decrease from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1960–2025.
Overview
Papua New Guinea's infant mortality rate stood at 29.9 in 2025, a decline of +2.1 from 2023. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 29.9 by 2025. Papua New Guinea ranked 42nd globally.
Papua New Guinea's Infant Mortality Rate has undergone a significant transformation over the past six and a half decades. With an all-time peak of 145.60 in 1960, the country witnessed a staggering decline to its current level of 29.94 in 2025, making it the 42nd lowest globally. This remarkable progress mirrors that of Rwanda, which ranks just above Papua New Guinea with an IMR of 29.82. The drastic reduction in infant mortality is a testament to advancements in healthcare infrastructure, access to medical services, and improved living standards. However, Papua New Guinea still lags behind in comparison to regional peers, such as Turkmenistan, which boasts a lower IMR of 30.00. Moving forward, sustained investment in maternal and child healthcare, alongside continued economic growth, could further accelerate the decline in infant mortality rates, ultimately aligning Papua New Guinea's IMR with those of its regional counterparts.
Data & projection
| Year | Infant Mortality Rate | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026* trend | 28.9 | - | - |
| 2025* trend | 29.9 | - | - |
| 2025 | 29.9 | −2.1 | #42 |
| 2023 | 32.0 | −1.0 | #155 |
| 2022 | 33.0 | −1.1 | #156 |
| 2021 | 34.1 | −1.0 | #156 |
| 2020 | 35.1 | −1.0 | #156 |
| 2019 | 36.1 | −1.0 | #156 |
| 2018 | 37.1 | −1.1 | #155 |
| 2017 | 38.2 | −1.1 | #154 |
| 2016 | 39.3 | −1.1 | #154 |
| 2015 | 40.4 | −1.1 | #154 |
| 2014 | 41.5 | −1.1 | #154 |
| 2013 | 42.6 | −1.1 | #155 |
| 2012 | 43.7 | −1.1 | #153 |
| 2011 | 44.8 | −1.1 | #154 |
| 2010 | 45.9 | −1.2 | #153 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Papua New Guinea matched the Export Boom Cycle pattern in 2022. 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
Papua New Guinea's infant mortality rate was 29.9 in 2025. Ranked 42nd globally. This represents a 6.4% decrease from the previous year.
Papua New Guinea's infant mortality rate peaked at 145.6 in 1960.
The lowest infant mortality rate in Papua New Guinea was 29.9 in 2025.
Papua New Guinea ranks 42nd globally in infant mortality rate as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is SP.DYN.IMRT.IN. Data sourced from World Bank.
Papua New Guinea's infant mortality rate is projected to reach 29.9 by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.
The infant mortality rate of Papua New Guinea in 2025 was 29.9. This ranks 42nd in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_papua-new-guinea_infant-mortality,
title = {Papua New Guinea Infant Mortality Rate},
url = {https://historysaid.com/papua-new-guinea/infant-mortality/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}