society
Infant mortality
Deaths before age one per 1,000 live births.
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Data insight
Global perspective
The world estimate was 19 per 1,000 births in 2024, down 22.4% from 2014. Across the longer period from 2004, the global estimate changed by -16.4 per 1,000 births (-46.5%). Latest country observations range from 1.2 per 1,000 births in San Marino (2024) to 69.8 per 1,000 births in Nigeria (2024), with the middle country observation at 12.3 per 1,000 births; observation years may differ. Across the derived regional aggregates, Africa reports 41.7 per 1,000 births, while Europe reports 3.69 per 1,000 births. Over roughly a decade, Africa changed by -6.43 per 1,000 births; Europe changed by -1.07 per 1,000 births. Among countries with sufficient history, the largest absolute decade increase was +7.7 per 1,000 births in Fiji, while the largest decrease was -42.9 per 1,000 births in Central African Republic. Coverage includes 193 countries; their latest observation years span 2024-2024, with a median latest year of 2024.
Belgium over time
Belgium reports 3.1 per 1,000 births in 2024. From 2014 to 2024, Belgium decreased by 0.3 per 1,000 births (8.8%). From 2004 to 2024, Belgium decreased by 1.1 per 1,000 births (26.2%). The latest decade changed by −0.3 per 1,000 births, versus −0.8 per 1,000 births in the preceding decade, indicating a smaller absolute movement.
Europe and world context
This is 0.59 per 1,000 births below Europe (2024). This is 15.86 per 1,000 births below the world estimate (2024). From 2014 to 2024, Europe decreased by 1.07 per 1,000 births (22.5%). The latest decade changed by −1.07 per 1,000 births, versus −2.51 per 1,000 births in the preceding decade, indicating a smaller absolute movement.
Belgium has the 166th-highest latest observation among 193 countries and 20th among 42 countries in Europe. Latest observation years span 2024-2024, so ranks are descriptive rather than perfectly synchronized.
- Regional spread: Africa is at 41.7 per 1,000 births (2024), compared with 3.69 per 1,000 births in Europe (2024).
- Largest observed decade increase: Fiji changed by +7.7 per 1,000 births.
- Largest observed decade decrease: Central African Republic changed by -42.9 per 1,000 births.
- Coverage: 193 countries; the median latest observation is 2024, with latest country observations spanning 2024-2024.
Source
World Bank
Source series SP.DYN.IMRT.IN. World and continent values are derived from available countries using population-weighted averages.