Child Mortality (under 5) in Sierra Leone: 1800 to Today (and Tomorrow)

Data journalism is rarely just about numbers; it is about the quiet weight of human lives measured in fractions of a thousand. When we examine child mortality under five in Sierra Leone, we are tracking the profound vulnerability of early life. Every data point represents countless families navigating the fragile boundary between birth and a child's fifth birthday. These figures are not mere statistics but a record of the collective memory of a nation, charting a reality that shapes the very contours of households and communities.

The historical arc reveals a slow, persistent transformation over more than two centuries. In the 1800s estimate, the toll was immense at 450 per 1,000 births. This burden eased gradually across the nineteenth century, and by 1900 it was 430 per 1,000 births. Through the twentieth century, the trajectory continued downward, shifting the probabilities of survival for each passing generation. By the 2020s, child mortality (under 5) in Sierra Leone stands at 75 per 1,000 births.

Despite this progress, the statistical landscape remains stark compared to global trends, with the country ranking #148 of 157 countries. For a child born into this time and place, the likelihood of survival has improved dramatically, yet the risk remains significant. Looking forward, projections suggest this decline will persist through the 2100s projection, promising a different lived experience for those yet to be born. You can now explore the data to see where you rank among everyone ever born.

Discover how your own history compares to these generational shifts on MYRIAD.