NSA reports declining infant mortality

By: Selma Taapopi

Namibia has recorded a sustained decline in infant and child mortality over the past three decades, with the latest census data showing a significant improvement in child survival.

The 2023 Namibia Population and Housing Census estimates the Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) at 26.2 deaths per 1 000 live births. This represents a substantial decline compared with previous census rounds. Infant mortality fell from 67 deaths per 1 000 live births in 1991 to 52 in 2001, before dropping further to 44 in 2011 and 26.2 in 2023.

The long-term trend points to a considerable reduction in the risk of infants dying before their first birthday, with the latest figure showing less than half the rate recorded in 1991.

A similar improvement is evident in child mortality rates. Census data showa that child mortality stood at 87 deaths per 1 000 live births in 1991, compared with 12.6 deaths per 1 000 live births in 2023. The sharp decline indicates a substantial improvement in child survival over the period.

Data from the demographic and health surveys reinforce this trend. The under-five mortality rate declined from 83 deaths per 1 000 live births in 1992 to 54 deaths per 1 000 in 2013. Census estimates similarly show a decrease in under five mortality, from 87 deaths per 1 000 live births in 1991 to 38.8 in 2023.

Taken together, the census and survey data point to a clear and sustained reduction in infant and under-five mortality in the country which suggests improvements in child survival and overall health outcomes.

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