Newborn survival improved unevenly across West Africa
Ghana’s estimated newborn mortality rate fell from 42.0 deaths per 1,000 live births in 1990 to 18.1 in 2024. Nigeria’s declined from 49.5 to 39.0 and was slightly above its 2010 rate. The series follows deaths in the first 28 days of life.
Sources checked
West Africa Dispatch Editorial Team
1990 to 2024Newborn mortality milestones
1990
Nigeria and Côte d’Ivoire have the highest rates in this group. 49.5 and 47.6 deaths before day 28 per 1,000 live births.
Ghana’s 2024 estimate was 18.1 and Senegal’s was 20.9. Both began above 39 per 1,000 in 1990. Ghana’s estimated rate fell 23.9 points over that period and Senegal’s fell 19.0. Source 1
Benin and Côte d’Ivoire ended close together
Benin reached 27.2 in 2024, slightly below Côte d’Ivoire’s 27.4. Côte d’Ivoire was 3.1 points above Benin in 1990. A difference of 0.2 in the central estimates is small and the table does not display uncertainty bounds. Source 1
Nigeria’s recent trend was flatter
Nigeria’s estimate declined from 49.5 in 1990 to 37.9 in 2010. It then read 38.0 in 2015, 39.2 in 2020 and 39.0 in 2024. The modeled series shows a limited change since 2010, rather than a continuation of the earlier decline. Source 1
The first 28 days are a separate period of risk
This rate uses live births as the denominator and deaths before 28 days as the event. The UN group fits country trends using records from sources such as birth and death registration, surveys and censuses. Estimates are revised as new information comes in. Source 2Source 3