Infant Mortality Rate - Ranking 1969
In 1969, Sweden (11.7), Netherlands (13.0), and Iceland (13.5) ranked highest in infant mortality rate among all countries. Yemen, Republic of ranked lowest at 230.9.
Data & analysis
- Central African Republic — 103.10
- Somalia, Fed. Rep. — 75.94
- South Sudan — 72.60
- Niger — 66.60
- Guinea — 58.64
The 2025 World Bank data on infant mortality reveals a stark global divide, with fragile and conflict-affected states occupying the top of the ranking. The Central African Republic leads at 103.1 deaths per 1,000 live births, followed by Somalia at 75.94, both nations grappling with chronic instability, weak healthcare infrastructure, and recurrent food insecurity. At the bottom, North Macedonia’s rate of 1.14 reflects the structural advantages of universal healthcare systems and high per-capita health spending found in developed or transitioning economies. The persistence of high infant mortality in the top-ranked countries is fundamentally tied to limited access to skilled birth attendants and emergency obstetric care, a structural deficit that decades of aid have not resolved. Looking ahead, the leaderboard could be reshuffled if sustained political stability and targeted investments in primary healthcare, such as community health worker programs, take root in these fragile states.
| Rank | Country | Value | YoY % |
|---|---|---|---|