Morocco has nearly cut newborn mortality by three… but 6,024 still died in one year

The neonatal mortality rate in Morocco fell from 28.4 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2000 to 9.6 in 2024. Over twenty-four years, the risk of dying during the first four weeks of life therefore declined by approximately 66%, almost a threefold reduction.

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These figures come from the latest estimates by the United Nations Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME), bringing together, in particular, UNICEF, the World Health Organization, the World Bank and the United Nations Population Division. They appear in the report published by UNICEF in March 2026.

Despite this progress, the toll remains heavy. The UN estimates that 6,024 neonatal deaths occurred in Morocco in 2024. Over the entire first year of life, the number of deaths is estimated at 9,215.

Seven out of ten child deaths occur during the first month

Child mortality is now largely concentrated in the first weeks following birth. According to UNICEF Morocco, approximately 70% of deaths among children before their first birthday occur during the first 28 days of life.

Worldwide, the main causes of neonatal mortality remain, in particular, prematurity, complications related to childbirth and infections. UNICEF also stresses the importance of pregnancy monitoring, care around childbirth and postnatal care.

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Morocco’s progress is therefore considerable: in 2000, more than 28 out of every 1,000 newborns died during their first month. In 2024, the figure was fewer than 10. But according to the latest international estimates, this improvement still represents 6,024 neonatal deaths in a single year.