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

Numbers on a page can easily obscure what they measure, but behind every statistic lies a profound human reality. For Togo, these figures map out the fragile beginnings of human life across generations. Every value represents lives actually lived, counting the infants who took their first breaths and the parents who held them. This data captures the quiet weight of history, measuring the heavy toll of loss and the gradual easing of that burden over time, transforming abstract data into a chronicle of survival.

The historical arc reveals a slow, monumental shift. In the 1800s estimate, child mortality stood at 450 per 1,000 births, remaining high through the century. By 1900 it was 430 per 1,000 births, marking the beginning of a downward trend that continued through the subsequent decades. This trajectory of decline persisted through the 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, 2000s, and 2010s, signaling a steady, hard-won transition toward a world where more children survive their earliest years.

For someone born in Togo today, the landscape of survival has changed significantly, though challenges remain. In the 2020s, child mortality (under 5) in Togo stands at 75 per 1,000 births — ranking #153 of 157 countries. While the current ranking reflects a stark global disparity, the future holds promise. Projections suggest a continued descent, reaching a 2100s projection at 12.58. You are witnessing a pivotal era where the probability of reaching adulthood is higher than at any other point in history.

Explore MYRIAD to compute your own parallel lives across the centuries.