Countries With the Fastest Growth in Infant mortality rate (5-Year Change)
Change in Infant mortality rate over the five years to each country's latest year, in points (a share or rate is not shown as a % of itself). Only countries that rose are listed. Source: The World Bank (CC BY 4.0).
Summary
Zimbabwe rose the most: by 6.6, from 55.8 deaths per 1,000 live births to 62.4 deaths per 1,000 live births in the five years to 2024. West Bank and Gaza is second (+3.4), followed by Fiji (+3.2). 22 countries rose over that period; the median change among them was +0.55.
- #1
- Zimbabwe · +6.6
- Median
- +0.55
- Coverage
- 22 countries
- Data year
- 2024
- Last updated
- 2026-11-14
Full ranking
| Rank | Country | From | To | 5-year change (deaths per 1,000 live births) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Zimbabwe | 55.8 | 62.4 | +6.6 |
| 2 | West Bank and Gaza | 13.6 | 17 | +3.4 |
| 3 | Fiji | 20.3 | 23.5 | +3.2 |
| 4 | Lebanon | 12.6 | 15.3 | +2.7 |
| 5 | Dominica | 30.6 | 33.3 | +2.7 |
| 6 | Cyprus | 2.5 | 4.1 | +1.6 |
| 7 | Cuba | 5.4 | 6.8 | +1.4 |
| 8 | Costa Rica | 7.9 | 9.1 | +1.2 |
| 9 | Moldova | 14.1 | 15.1 | +1 |
| 10 | Bahrain | 6.5 | 7.3 | +0.8 |
| 11 | Nigeria | 69.1 | 69.8 | +0.7 |
| 12 | Romania | 5.6 | 6 | +0.4 |
| 13 | Ireland | 3 | 3.4 | +0.4 |
| 14 | Albania | 8 | 8.3 | +0.3 |
| 15 | United Kingdom | 3.8 | 4.1 | +0.3 |
| 16 | Slovak Republic | 5 | 5.3 | +0.3 |
| 17 | Canada | 4.5 | 4.7 | +0.2 |
| 18 | Denmark | 3.3 | 3.5 | +0.2 |
| 19 | Malaysia | 6.8 | 7 | +0.2 |
| 20 | Singapore | 2 | 2.2 | +0.2 |
| 21 | France | 3.3 | 3.4 | +0.1 |
| 22 | Croatia | 4 | 4.1 | +0.1 |
About the top 10
#1 Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe ranks #1 on this list with +6.6.
- Capital
- Harare
- Continent
- Africa
- Income group
- Lower middle income
- Population
- 16.95 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$51.22 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$3,021 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 63.1 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 40.5% of population (2025)
Largest cities: Harare, Masvingo.
Also ranks #2 in lending interest rate · #3 in inflation rate · #4 in income share of richest 10%.
#2 West Bank and Gaza
West Bank and Gaza ranks #2 on this list with +3.4.
- Capital
- Ramallah, East Jerusalem
- Continent
- Asia
- Income group
- Lower middle income
- Population
- 5.41 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$17.17 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$3,171 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 69.2 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 87.4% of population (2025)
Also ranks #5 in unemployment rate · #10 in crop production index · #12 in population density.
#3 Fiji
Fiji ranks #3 on this list with +3.2.
- Capital
- Suva
- Continent
- Oceania
- Income group
- Upper middle income
- Population
- 933,150 people (2025)
- GDP
- US$6.2 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$6,642 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 67.5 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 59.5% of population (2025)
Also ranks #1 in mobile subscriptions per 100 · #5 in completion rate (primary) · #6 in livestock production index.
#4 Lebanon
Lebanon ranks #4 on this list with +2.7.
- Capital
- Beirut
- Continent
- Asia
- Income group
- Lower middle income
- Population
- 5.85 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$25.97 billion (2024)
- GDP per person
- US$4,473 (2024)
- Life expectancy
- 77.9 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 91% of population (2025)
Largest cities: Beirut.
Also ranks #1 in official exchange rate · #2 in smoking prevalence · #7 in refugee population by asylum.
#5 Dominica
Dominica ranks #5 on this list with +2.7.
- Capital
- Roseau
- Continent
- North America
- Income group
- Upper middle income
- Population
- 65,871 people (2025)
- GDP
- US$723.86 million (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$10,989 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 71.3 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 74% of population (2025)
Also ranks #9 in forest area share · #9 in political stability score · #13 in homicide rate.
#6 Cyprus
Cyprus ranks #6 on this list with +1.6.
- Capital
- Nicosia
- Continent
- Europe
- Income group
- High income
- Population
- 1.37 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$41.23 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$41,783 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 81.8 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 66.7% of population (2025)
Also ranks #3 in school enrolment (tertiary) · #4 in secure internet servers per million · #4 in immunisation (measles) rate.
#7 Cuba
Cuba ranks #7 on this list with +1.4.
- Capital
- Havana
- Continent
- North America
- Income group
- Upper middle income
- Population
- 10.94 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$107.35 billion (2020)
- GDP per person
- US$9,605 (2020)
- Life expectancy
- 78.3 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 77.2% of population (2025)
Largest cities: Havana.
Also ranks #1 in physicians per 1,000 · #2 in women in parliament share · #3 in immunisation (measles) rate.
#8 Costa Rica
Costa Rica ranks #8 on this list with +1.2.
- Capital
- San José
- Continent
- North America
- Income group
- High income
- Population
- 5.15 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$102.9 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$19,970 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 81 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 79.7% of population (2025)
Also ranks #3 in immunisation (dpt) rate · #4 in fertiliser consumption · #8 in women in parliament share.
#9 Moldova
Moldova ranks #9 on this list with +1.
- Capital
- Chișinău
- Continent
- Europe
- Income group
- Upper middle income
- Population
- 2.36 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$20.35 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$8,622 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 71.3 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 43.7% of population (2025)
Also ranks #1 in real effective exchange rate index · #2 in female population share · #5 in arable land share.
#10 Bahrain
Bahrain ranks #10 on this list with +0.8.
- Capital
- Manama
- Continent
- Asia
- Income group
- High income
- Population
- 1.6 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$48.97 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$30,597 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 81.4 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 100% of population (2025)
Also ranks #1 in urban population share · #1 in immunisation (measles) rate · #2 in internet users share.
Profile facts: World Bank (CC BY 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0); weather links go to Purr Weather, another ChowChow Labs site.
Source and method
Change in Infant mortality rate over the five years to each country's latest year, in points (a share or rate is not shown as a % of itself). Only countries that rose are listed.
Source: The World Bank, indicator SP.DYN.IMRT.IN. Licence: CC BY 4.0. Retrieved: 2026-11-14.
The World Bank: Mortality rate, infant (per 1,000 live births): UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation, UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) (via World Development Indicators)
Original data provider, as recorded by the World Bank: UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation, UN Children's Fund (UNICEF); World Health Organization (WHO); World Bank (WB).
Values are shown as published (changes are computed from the published values). Provider terms: The World Bank. All licences: Sources & licences.