Malawi vs Zambia
Malawi vs Zambia: Infant mortality
Infant mortality in 2023: 29.6 per 1,000 live births in Malawi and 38.2 per 1,000 live births in Zambia, by UN estimates. In 2023 the value was higher in Zambia, by 8.7 per 1,000 live births, or 1.29 times that in Malawi.
deaths per 1,000 live births · UN
What the numbers say
- Zambia has been higher since 2013, when it overtook Malawi.
- In 2023, Malawi ranked 45 and Zambia ranked 27 of 229 countries, counting from the highest.
- The UN projection (medium variant) puts Malawi at 8.3 per 1,000 live births and Zambia at 9.6 per 1,000 live births in 2100.
- The world as a whole: 27.3 per 1,000 live births in 2023.
Every year
deaths per 1,000 live births · UN
| Year | Malawi | Zambia | World |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 29.6 | 38.2 | 27.3 |
| 2022 | 30.6 | 39.3 | 28.2 |
| 2021 | 31.6 | 40.3 | 28.4 |
| 2020 | 32.9 | 41.4 | 28.7 |
| 2019 | 34.3 | 42.5 | 29.2 |
| 2018 | 35.9 | 43.5 | 29.7 |
| 2017 | 37.7 | 44.6 | 30.3 |
| 2016 | 39.8 | 45.6 | 31.1 |
| 2015 | 42.2 | 46.7 | 32.1 |
| 2014 | 44.7 | 47.7 | 32.9 |
| 2013 | 47.7 | 49.1 | 33.9 |
| 2012 | 50.9 | 50.6 | 35 |
| 2011 | 54.3 | 52.2 | 36.8 |
| 2010 | 57.8 | 54 | 37.7 |
| 2009 | 61.2 | 56.2 | 39.1 |
| 2008 | 64.6 | 58.8 | 40.4 |
| 2007 | 68.1 | 61.9 | 42 |
| 2006 | 72.1 | 65.4 | 43.7 |
| 2005 | 76.6 | 69.3 | 45.4 |
| 2004 | 81.8 | 73.7 | 47.2 |
| 2003 | 87.5 | 78.2 | 48.8 |
| 2002 | 94 | 82.7 | 50.6 |
| 2001 | 99.6 | 87 | 52.2 |
| 2000 | 105.2 | 90.7 | 53.7 |
| 1999 | 110.3 | 93.8 | 55.5 |
| 1998 | 114.3 | 96.1 | 57.1 |
| 1997 | 117.8 | 98.1 | 58.3 |
| 1996 | 120.7 | 99.7 | 59.6 |
| 1995 | 123.5 | 101.1 | 60.8 |
| 1994 | 126.1 | 102.1 | 62 |
| 1993 | 128.9 | 103.1 | 62.9 |
| 1992 | 131.5 | 103.8 | 64.1 |
| 1991 | 134.5 | 104 | 64.9 |
| 1990 | 136.5 | 103.6 | 64.9 |
| 1989 | 138.3 | 102.9 | 66.2 |
| 1988 | 139.7 | 102 | 68 |
| 1987 | 140.4 | 100.9 | 68.6 |
| 1986 | 140.6 | 99.6 | 70.8 |
| 1985 | 140.4 | 98.2 | 72.9 |
| 1984 | 140.3 | 96.8 | 74.6 |
| 1983 | 140.3 | 95.6 | 76.1 |
| 1982 | 140.8 | 94.6 | 76.6 |
| 1981 | 142 | 93.8 | 78.7 |
| 1980 | 144 | 93.2 | 80.6 |
| 1979 | 146.6 | 92.8 | 82.5 |
| 1978 | 149.5 | 92.7 | 84.7 |
| 1977 | 152.7 | 92.8 | 86.4 |
| 1976 | 155.9 | 93.2 | 88.1 |
| 1975 | 158.9 | 94.1 | 89.6 |
| 1974 | 161.6 | 95.4 | 90.9 |
| 1973 | 164.1 | 97 | 92.1 |
| 1972 | 166.2 | 98.8 | 93.6 |
| 1971 | 168.1 | 100.6 | 96.1 |
| 1970 | 170.1 | 102.3 | 96.9 |
| 1969 | 171.3 | 103.7 | 98.3 |
| 1968 | 172.2 | 104.9 | 100.2 |
| 1967 | 173 | 105.9 | 103.1 |
| 1966 | 173.7 | 106.8 | 104.9 |
| 1965 | 174.3 | 107.6 | 106.4 |
| 1964 | 174.9 | 109.1 | 106.1 |
| 1963 | 175.4 | 109.3 | 107.7 |
| 1962 | 175.9 | 110.3 | 110.2 |
| 1961 | 176.3 | 111.5 | 121.5 |
| 1960 | 176.8 | 112.7 | 131.8 |
| 1959 | 177.4 | 114 | 125.7 |
| 1958 | 178.1 | 115.4 | 117.7 |
| 1957 | 178.8 | 116.8 | 120 |
| 1956 | 179.4 | 118.2 | 121.9 |
| 1955 | 180.1 | 119.5 | 124.8 |
| 1954 | 180.7 | 120.8 | 127.7 |
| 1953 | 181.3 | 122.1 | 130.1 |
| 1952 | 181.8 | 123.5 | 132.7 |
| 1951 | 182.3 | 124.8 | 136 |
| 1950 | 182.7 | 126.2 | 138.1 |
UN projection (medium variant) · 2024–2100
| Year | Malawi | Zambia | World |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 28.822.8–34.5 | 37.430.3–44.2 | 26.9 |
| 2025 | 28.220.5–36.4 | 36.626.5–46.2 | 26.4 |
| 2026 | 27.618.5–37.7 | 35.824.2–47.4 | 25.9 |
| 2027 | 2716.5–38.5 | 3522.2–48.9 | 25.4 |
| 2028 | 26.415.7–40 | 34.220.4–50.1 | 24.9 |
| 2029 | 25.714.2–40.7 | 33.518.6–50.4 | 24.5 |
| 2030 | 2513.3–40.5 | 32.716.9–51.9 | 24 |
| 2031 | 24.412.1–41.2 | 31.915.9–52.2 | 23.6 |
| 2032 | 23.811.4–41.8 | 31.115.3–52.7 | 23.2 |
| 2033 | 23.210.4–42.1 | 30.414.1–52.6 | 22.8 |
| 2034 | 22.69.9–42.2 | 29.713.1–53.6 | 22.3 |
| 2035 | 22.19.4–42.5 | 2912.6–53.1 | 21.9 |
| 2036 | 21.68.8–42.5 | 28.311.7–54 | 21.5 |
| 2037 | 218.2–41.8 | 27.610.6–54.8 | 21.1 |
| 2038 | 20.57.9–42.4 | 2710.2–54.8 | 20.8 |
| 2039 | 207.5–42.3 | 26.410–55.3 | 20.4 |
| 2040 | 19.57.2–42.4 | 25.89.4–55.1 | 20 |
| 2041 | 19.16.8–43.2 | 25.29.1–54.9 | 19.7 |
| 2042 | 18.76.5–42.6 | 24.68.7–55.1 | 19.4 |
| 2043 | 18.26.5–43.7 | 247.9–55.2 | 19 |
| 2044 | 17.86.1–44.3 | 23.57.8–55.3 | 18.7 |
| 2045 | 17.55.9–42.1 | 237.5–54.7 | 18.4 |
| 2046 | 17.15.7–43.1 | 22.57.3–54.8 | 18.2 |
| 2047 | 16.75.6–42.7 | 21.96.9–55.2 | 17.9 |
| 2048 | 16.35.3–42.9 | 21.46.7–54.9 | 17.7 |
| 2049 | 165.1–42 | 216.5–53.6 | 17.5 |
| 2050 | 15.64.9–42.2 | 20.56.1–54.9 | 17.3 |
| 2051 | 15.34.9–42.8 | 20.15.9–55 | 17.1 |
| 2052 | 15.14.7–41.4 | 19.65.9–54.6 | 16.9 |
| 2053 | 14.74.6–41.9 | 19.25.7–54.8 | 16.7 |
| 2054 | 14.44.4–40.8 | 18.85.4–54.7 | 16.5 |
| 2055 | 14.24.4–40.8 | 18.45.3–55.1 | 16.3 |
| 2056 | 13.94.3–40.9 | 185.2–54.5 | 16.1 |
| 2057 | 13.64.2–40.7 | 17.65–53.8 | 15.9 |
| 2058 | 13.44.1–40.9 | 17.24.9–52.8 | 15.7 |
| 2059 | 13.14.1–40.8 | 16.94.9–51.2 | 15.5 |
| 2060 | 12.94–40.6 | 16.54.6–51.9 | 15.3 |
| 2061 | 12.63.9–40 | 16.14.5–51.4 | 15.1 |
| 2062 | 12.43.8–40 | 15.84.5–51.5 | 14.9 |
| 2063 | 12.23.8–39.6 | 15.54.4–51.1 | 14.7 |
| 2064 | 12.13.6–39.6 | 15.24.4–52 | 14.5 |
| 2065 | 11.93.6–40.1 | 154.4–53.3 | 14.3 |
| 2066 | 11.83.6–39.6 | 14.74.2–50.8 | 14.1 |
| 2067 | 11.63.5–39.5 | 14.54.2–50.9 | 13.9 |
| 2068 | 11.43.5–40.2 | 14.24.1–50.9 | 13.8 |
| 2069 | 11.33.5–41 | 144.1–50 | 13.6 |
| 2070 | 11.23.4–40.1 | 13.84–51.1 | 13.4 |
| 2071 | 113.4–40.8 | 13.64–50.6 | 13.2 |
| 2072 | 10.93.5–40.5 | 13.53.9–50.2 | 13 |
| 2073 | 10.83.5–40.3 | 13.33.9–50.6 | 12.9 |
| 2074 | 10.63.4–40.4 | 13.13.9–51.3 | 12.7 |
| 2075 | 10.53.3–40.2 | 12.93.8–51.1 | 12.6 |
| 2076 | 10.43.3–40.5 | 12.73.7–51.1 | 12.4 |
| 2077 | 10.23.3–40.7 | 12.63.6–50.6 | 12.3 |
| 2078 | 10.13.3–40.4 | 12.43.5–51.1 | 12.1 |
| 2079 | 103.2–40.7 | 12.23.5–51.6 | 12 |
| 2080 | 9.93.2–38.8 | 12.13.4–51 | 11.8 |
| 2081 | 9.83.1–39.1 | 11.93.4–51 | 11.7 |
| 2082 | 9.73.1–38.4 | 11.83.5–51.6 | 11.6 |
| 2083 | 9.63–38.7 | 11.63.4–52.2 | 11.5 |
| 2084 | 9.52.9–37.7 | 11.53.4–51.9 | 11.4 |
| 2085 | 9.42.9–37.6 | 11.33.3–50.1 | 11.3 |
| 2086 | 9.33.1–38.7 | 11.23.2–49.7 | 11.1 |
| 2087 | 9.22.9–37.6 | 113.2–50.5 | 11 |
| 2088 | 9.12.9–37.5 | 10.93.2–52.4 | 10.9 |
| 2089 | 92.8–37.6 | 10.83.1–52 | 10.8 |
| 2090 | 8.92.8–38.1 | 10.73.1–53.5 | 10.7 |
| 2091 | 8.82.8–37.6 | 10.53.1–52.4 | 10.6 |
| 2092 | 8.82.7–36.6 | 10.43.1–51.4 | 10.5 |
| 2093 | 8.72.8–37.4 | 10.33–51 | 10.4 |
| 2094 | 8.62.8–36.7 | 10.23–50.1 | 10.3 |
| 2095 | 8.52.7–36.5 | 10.13–50.4 | 10.1 |
| 2096 | 8.52.7–35.7 | 103–50.6 | 10 |
| 2097 | 8.42.7–36.1 | 9.92.9–49.1 | 9.9 |
| 2098 | 8.42.7–36.1 | 9.82.9–48 | 9.8 |
| 2099 | 8.32.6–35.9 | 9.72.8–47.5 | 9.7 |
| 2100 | 8.32.6–35.8 | 9.62.7–48.1 | 9.6 |
Each country on its own
Good to know
- Babies who die before their first birthday, per 1,000 born alive.
- Source: UN DESA, World Population Prospects 2024.
- The dashed line is the UN projection (medium variant), a scenario rather than a forecast; the band is its 95% prediction interval.
- Ranks count the 229 countries with a value in 2023, highest first.
- The faint line is the world as a whole, as the same source counts it.
How the layers work, where their data comes from and what they can’t tell you: Countries through time
Malawi vs Zambia
Health
- Life expectancyMalawi: 67.4 years in 2023Zambia: 66.4 years in 2023
- Child mortalityMalawi: 4.9 per 100 live births in 2024Zambia: 4.8 per 100 live births in 2024
- DepressionMalawi: 3.45% in 2017Zambia: 3.64% in 2017
- Suicide rateMalawi: 12.1 per 100,000 people in 2017Zambia: 13.1 per 100,000 people in 2017
People
- PopulationMalawi: 21.1 million people in 2023Zambia: 20.7 million people in 2023
- Population growthMalawi: 2.57% a year in 2023Zambia: 2.83% a year in 2023
- Fertility rateMalawi: 3.65 births per woman in 2023Zambia: 4.1 births per woman in 2023
- Urban populationMalawi: 17.6% in 2025Zambia: 45.9% in 2025
- Median ageMalawi: 17.6 years in 2023Zambia: 17.5 years in 2023
- People aged 65 and overMalawi: 2.6% in 2023Zambia: 1.9% in 2023
- Net migration rateMalawi: -0.3 per 1,000 people in 2023Zambia: 0.5 per 1,000 people in 2023
Economy
Education
Politics
Conflict
Military
- Military spendingMalawi: 1.15% of GDP in 2025Zambia: 1.26% of GDP in 2025
- Military spending in US dollarsMalawi: $128M in 2025Zambia: $343M in 2025
- Military spending per personMalawi: $7 in 2025Zambia: $19 in 2025
- Military share of state spendingMalawi: 3.8% of government spending in 2025Zambia: 4.5% of government spending in 2025
- Armed forces personnelMalawi: 15,000 people in 2020Zambia: 16,000 people in 2020
- National powerMalawi: 0.07% of world capability in 2022Zambia: 0.1% of world capability in 2022
- Armed forces, share of workersMalawi: 0.2% of the labour force in 2020Zambia: 0.24% of the labour force in 2020
- Arms importsMalawi: 2 million TIV in 2024Zambia: 1 million TIV in 2024
- Arms exportsMalawi: 1 million TIV in 2000Zambia: 2 million TIV in 1990