Health in Afar, Ethiopia: official figures
For every 1,000 babies born in Afar in the ten years before the 2024-25 survey, 54 died before their first birthday and 78 before their fifth; the under-five rate is the highest of the 14 regions and city administrations (Ethiopia, last five years: 39 and 51).
How many children in Afar are vaccinated?
21.3% of children aged 12 to 23 months in Afar had all basic vaccines (BCG, three doses each of pentavalent and polio, and measles) in 2024-25, 16.2% had every vaccine in the national schedule and 42.8% had none; joint 5th lowest of the 14 regions and city administrations for basic vaccines (Ethiopia: 30.1%, 20.7% and 19.8%).
Source: Ethiopian Statistical Service (with ICF, The DHS Program) · saved copyHow many children in Afar are malnourished?
46.0% of children under five in Afar were stunted (too short for their age, a sign of long-term undernutrition), 10.5% were wasted (too thin for their height) and 38.9% were underweight; the stunting rate is 2nd highest of the 14 regions and city administrations (Ethiopia: 39.9%).
Source: Ethiopian Statistical Service (with ICF, The DHS Program) · saved copyDo women in Afar give birth in a health facility?
46.2% of women in Afar who gave birth in the two years before the survey had at least four antenatal visits, 33.3% of births were in a health facility and 17.1% of mothers had a postnatal check within two days; the share of facility births is the lowest of the 14 regions and city administrations (Ethiopia: 53.0%, 61.4% and 35.6%).
Source: Ethiopian Statistical Service (with ICF, The DHS Program) · saved copyHow common is teenage pregnancy in Afar?
23.3% of young women aged 15 to 19 in Afar had already been pregnant, the highest of the 14 regions and city administrations (Ethiopia: 10.2%).
Source: Ethiopian Statistical Service (with ICF, The DHS Program) · saved copyCan women in Afar get family planning?
8.8% of married women in Afar used a modern contraceptive method, and 40.7% of those wanting to avoid pregnancy had their need met by one; 2nd lowest of the 14 regions and city administrations (Ethiopia: 34.5% and 67.7%).
Source: Ethiopian Statistical Service (with ICF, The DHS Program) · saved copyMore figures
- 39.2% of women aged 15 to 49 in Afar had ever been tested for HIV, 4th lowest of the 14 regions and city administrations (Ethiopia: 52.3%). Source: Ethiopian Statistical Service (with ICF, The DHS Program) · saved copy
How Afar compares with other regional states
Under-five deaths per 1,000 live births (10 years before the survey) (2015-2025)
Afar ranks 1 of 14, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Under-five deaths per 1,000 live births (10 years before the survey) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Afar | 78 |
| 2 | Benishangul-Gumuz | 72 |
| 3 | Harari | 71 |
| 4 | Tigray | 66 |
| 5 | Oromia | 60 |
| 6 | Dire Dawa | 58 |
| 7 | South Ethiopia | 57 |
Children 12-23 months with all basic vaccines (2024-25)
Afar ranks 9 of 14, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Children 12-23 months with all basic vaccines |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | Sidama | 32.0% |
| 7 | Oromia | 23.9% |
| 8 | South Ethiopia | 23.8% |
| 9 | Afar | 21.3% |
| 10 | South West Ethiopia Peoples' Region | 21.3% |
| 11 | Benishangul-Gumuz | 21.1% |
| 12 | Central Ethiopia | 19.1% |
Children under 5 stunted (2024-25)
Afar ranks 2 of 14, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Children under 5 stunted |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Benishangul-Gumuz | 51.6% |
| 2 | Afar | 46.0% |
| 3 | Amhara | 43.1% |
| 4 | South West Ethiopia Peoples' Region | 41.8% |
| 5 | Tigray | 41.6% |
| 6 | South Ethiopia | 41.6% |
| 7 | Oromia | 41.3% |
Births in a health facility (2 years before the survey) (2024-25)
Afar ranks 14 of 14, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Births in a health facility (2 years before the survey) |
|---|---|---|
| 8 | Sidama | 64.2% |
| 9 | Benishangul-Gumuz | 61.5% |
| 10 | Oromia | 53.7% |
| 11 | South West Ethiopia Peoples' Region | 53.2% |
| 12 | South Ethiopia | 48.7% |
| 13 | Somali | 34.2% |
| 14 | Afar | 33.3% |
More on Afar: overview · economy and jobs · Ethiopia
Sources
- Ethiopian Statistical Service (with ICF, The DHS Program): Ethiopia Demographic and Health Survey 2024-25, Summary Report: regional indicator table (water, sanitation, fertility, child mortality), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 11639969304a…)
- Ethiopian Statistical Service (with ICF, The DHS Program): Ethiopia Demographic and Health Survey 2024-25, Key Indicators Report: Tables 4, 7, 9, 10, 12, 17.1 and 18 by region, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 36b60096ac11…)
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