Countries with the lowest and the highest newborn mortality rates, 2018 report

Japan leads the world for lowest newborn mortality, according to the latest report by the (UNICEF), followed by Iceland (1.0), Singapore (1.1), Finland (1.2) and Slovenia (1.3).

At the other end of the spectrum, Pakistan is the riskiest country to be born in, with one in 22 babies born there die before they turn one month old.

The differences are stark. A baby born in Pakistan (the country with the highest newborn mortality rate) faced a one in 22 chance of death.

While, a baby born in Japan (the country with the lowest newborn mortality rate) had the best chances, with only a 1 in 1,111 risks of dying.

Each year, some 2.6 million babies do not survive through their first month — an average of 7,000 deaths every day. Neonatal mortality rate (NMR) is defined as the number of baby deaths per 1,000 live births during the first 28 days of life.

Countries with lowest newborn mortality rates:

1. Japan
Newborn mortality rate (deaths per 1,000 live births): 0.9
Skilled health professionals per 10,000 population: 131

2. Iceland
Newborn mortality rate (deaths per 1,000 live births): 1.0
Skilled health professionals per 10,000 population: 201 (2015)

3. Singapore
Newborn mortality rate (deaths per 1,000 live births): 1.1
Skilled health professionals per 10,000 population: 76

4. Finland
Newborn mortality rate (deaths per 1,000 live births): 1.2
Skilled health professionals per 10,000 population: 175

5. Estonia
Newborn mortality rate (deaths per 1,000 live births): 1.3
Skilled health professionals per 10,000 population: 93

6. Slovenia
Newborn mortality rate (deaths per 1,000 live births): 1.3
Skilled health professionals per 10,000 population: 114

7. Cyprus
Newborn mortality rate (deaths per 1,000 live births): 1.4
Skilled health professionals per 10,000 population: 64

8. Belarus
Newborn mortality rate (deaths per 1,000 live births): 1.5
Skilled health professionals per 10,000 population: 150

9. South Korea
Newborn mortality rate (deaths per 1,000 live births): 1.5
Skilled health professionals per 10,000 population: 79

10. Norway
Newborn mortality rate (deaths per 1,000 live births): 1.5
Skilled health professionals per 10,000 population: 218

11. Luxembourg
Newborn mortality rate (deaths per 1,000 live births): 1.5
Skilled health professionals per 10,000 population: 152

Countries with the highest newborn mortality rates:

1. Pakistan
Newborn mortality rate (deaths per 1,000 live births): 45.6
Skilled health professionals per 10,000 population: 14

2. The central African Republic
Newborn mortality rate (deaths per 1,000 live births): 42.3
Skilled health professionals per 10,000 population: 3

3. Afghanistan
Newborn mortality rate (deaths per 1,000 live births): 40.0
Skilled health professionals per 10,000 population: 7

4. Somalia
Newborn mortality rate (deaths per 1,000 live births): 38.8
Skilled health professionals per 10,000 population: 1

5. Lesotho
Newborn mortality rate (deaths per 1,000 live births): 38.5
Skilled health professionals per 10,000 population: 6

6. Guinea-Bissau
Newborn mortality rate (deaths per 1,000 live births): 38.2
Skilled health professionals per 10,000 population: 7

7. South Sudan
Newborn mortality rate (deaths per 1,000 live births): 37.9

8. Côte d’lvoire
Newborn mortality rate (deaths per 1,000 live births): 36.6
Skilled health professionals per 10,000 population: 6

9. Mali
Newborn mortality rate (deaths per 1,000 live births): 35.7
Skilled health professionals per 10,000 population: 5

10. Chad
Newborn mortality rate (deaths per 1,000 live births): 35.1
Skilled health professionals per 10,000 population: 4