Child Mortality Rate Plunging Throughout Africa

The Economist’s daily chart from May 19^th highlighted child mortality rates among 20 nations in Africa.  According to Gabriel Demombynes and Karina Trommlerova of the World Bank, since 2005, 16 of 20 African countries on which detailed living condition surveys have been conducted experienced a drop in child-mortality rates.  Of the 20 nations, only Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Nambia, and Liberia endured an increase in the child-mortality rate.  12 nations had a decrease of at least 4.4% a year, and Senegal and Rwanda boasted a drop of nearly 10% a year.  In fact, the plunge in child mortality is actually speeding up.  Throughout most African nations, the rate is decreasing twice as fast compared to the early 2000s and 1990s.