Somalia health numbers since 1990: child deaths, mothers, vaccines, water and life expectancy

Where these numbers come from

Every number on this page was taken on 12 November 2026 from the World Health Organization's Global Health Observatory, which publishes the raw figures through an open data service (WHO Global Health Observatory). The child death figures are made by the UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME, childmortality.org). The water and sanitation figures come from the WHO and UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme (JMP, washdata.org).

Somalia has had no census with full published results since the 1970s, and few national surveys, so most of these are modelled estimates. The UN builds them from the surveys that exist, such as the Somali Health and Demographic Survey 2020, and from patterns in similar countries. Treat any one year as a best guess, and the trend as more reliable than the level. For the 2020 survey results, see Health in Somalia: the key numbers.

The full table is in the data file somalia-health-1990-2025.csv on this page.

Children

Deaths before age five, per 1,000 live births (UN IGME via WHO GHO):

• 1990: 180
• 2000: 173
• 2010: 187
• 2015: 134
• 2020: 115
• 2024: 101

The UN counts deaths from famine and war in the years they happened. That is why the series jumps to about 367 in 1991, 377 in 1992, 363 in 2011, 156 in 2017 and 143 in 2022, the years of the 1991 to 1992 famine, the 2011 famine and the 2017 and 2022 droughts (UN IGME).

• Infant deaths (before age one) fell from 106 per 1,000 in 1990 to 65 in 2024.
• Newborn deaths (first 28 days) fell from 46 per 1,000 in 1990 to 34 in 2024. Newborn deaths have fallen more slowly than other child deaths, so they are now about a third of all deaths under five.
• Rich and poor: in 2024, children in the poorest fifth of households died before age five at about 120 per 1,000, against 71 in the richest fifth (WHO GHO, under-five mortality by wealth quintile).
• Stunting (too short for their age) fell from 34 percent of children under five in 2000 to 24 percent in 2024 (WHO GHO, JME estimates).

Vaccines

Share of one-year-olds vaccinated, WHO and UNICEF estimates (WHO GHO, immunization):

• DTP3 (diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, three doses): 33 percent in 2000, 48 percent in 2015, 72 percent in 2025.
• Measles, first dose: 24 percent in 2000, 50 percent in 2015, 61 percent in 2025.
• Measles, second dose: first given in national schedules in recent years; 32 percent in 2024 and 31 percent in 2025.

Mothers

Maternal deaths per 100,000 live births (WHO and UN MMEIG via WHO GHO):

• 1990: 1,358
• 2000: 1,150
• 2010: 1,063
• 2015: 784
• 2020: 655
• 2023: 563

Births with a skilled health worker present rose from 9 percent in 2006 to 32 percent in 2019 to 2020, by household surveys (same source).

Water, toilets and disease

• At least basic drinking water (an improved source within a 30-minute round trip): 27 percent of people in 2000, 54 percent in 2015, 75 percent in 2024 (JMP).
• At least basic sanitation (an improved toilet not shared with other households): 20 percent in 2000, 35 percent in 2015, 44 percent in 2024 (same source).
• Tuberculosis: new cases fell from 266 per 100,000 people in 2000 to 149 in 2025 (WHO Global TB Programme via GHO).

Life, doctors and money for health

• Life expectancy at birth: 49 years in 2000, 54 in 2020 and 56 in 2023 (WHO GHO, life expectancy). A person who reaches 60 can expect about 13 more years.
• Doctors: 0.27 per 10,000 people in 2006, 0.48 in 2014 and 0.65 in 2024. Nurses and midwives: 0.88, 2.61 and 3.16 per 10,000 in the same years (WHO National Health Workforce Accounts via GHO). The WHO uses 44.5 doctors, nurses and midwives per 10,000 people as a benchmark for basic coverage.
• Health service coverage index: 14 out of 100 in 2000, 30 in 2023 (WHO GHO, UHC index).
• Health spending: about 3.7 percent of GDP in 2023, from all sources (same source).