A higher proportion of infant deaths in Southern countries

Most infant deaths occur in developing countries. Africa accounts for 46 % of the total, though it comprises only 15 % of the world population. There are two reasons for this: many children are born there (26 % of the world total) and with 79 deaths per 1,000 live births, Africa has the highest infant mortality rate of all the world's continents.

A hundred-fold difference in infant mortality between countries

Iceland has the lowest infant mortality of all countries. Out of a thousand newborn babies, only two die before reaching their first birthday. Afghanistan is at the opposite extreme, with 152 deaths per 1,000 births. Infant mortality is generally low in rich countries and high in poor ones. But some countries are exceptions to this rule, such as Vietnam and Tunisia for example, where infant mortality is relatively low (18 deaths per 1.000 births). 

Combating infant mortality

In the past, infant mortality was high throughout the world. It has declined thanks to improved healthcare during pregnancy and childbirth, and thanks to progress in fighting infectious diseases through simple, inexpensivetechniques such as vaccination, antibiotics and rehydration of children affected by diarrhoea. A key priority today is to disseminate these techniques across the planet, notably in regions such as sub-Saharan Africa where they are still not available to many children.