Photo: Luis Rizo derivative work: Jjtkk · Public domain · via Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale
Topic 05 of 18 · Country Index 2026
Brazil: Health & Wellbeing
How long, and how well fed, do people live?
Brazil is placed 63rd of 200 countries on health & wellbeing in the Country Index 2026, from 4 of its 4 key statistics. Readings behind it: Life Expectancy at Birth 75.85 (2023); Under-Five Mortality Rate 14.22 (2024).
Share
Health & Wellbeing
63rd
of 200 countries placed
Placed from 4 of 4 key statistics
- 75.85Life Expectancy at Birth, 2023Years a newborn would live at current death rates
- 14.22Under-Five Mortality Rate, 2024Deaths before age five (per 1,000 live births)
- 7.989Stunting Prevalence in Children Under Five, 2024Children under 5 who are stunted (%)
- 0.6Prevalence of Severe Food Insecurity, 2024Population in severe food insecurity (%)
01The evidence
The 4 key statistics that decide it
Only these place Brazil on health & wellbeing — one vote each. Every value is the publisher’s own, read at the edition the Country Index 2026 used — or, for a survey-based key, each country’s latest reading; the grey ticks are every other country it was compared with, lowest on the left.
Key 1 of 4
Life Expectancy at Birth
UN DESA Population Division
2023 edition · data for 2023 · CC BY 3.0 IGO
75.85
Years a newborn would live at current death rates
Higher is better
Brazil: 75.85. Across the 222 countries in this edition, values run from 54.46 (Nigeria) to 86.37 (Monaco); the world median is 74.63.
- World median
- 74.63
- Best in South America
- 81.17 Chile
- Land neighbours
- Argentina 77.39 · Bolivia 68.58 · Colombia 77.72 · France 83.33 · Guyana 70.18 · Peru 77.74 · Paraguay 73.84 · Suriname 73.63 · Uruguay 78.14 · Venezuela 72.51
Key 2 of 4
Under-Five Mortality Rate
UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME)
2024 edition · data for 2024 · CC BY 3.0 IGO
14.22
Deaths before age five (per 1,000 live births)
Lower is better
Brazil: 14.22. Across the 200 countries in this edition, values run from 1.26 (San Marino) to 115.65 (Nigeria); the world median is 14.54.
- World median
- 14.54
- Best in South America
- 6.753 Chile
- Land neighbours
- Argentina 9.514 · Bolivia 15.7 · Colombia 11.54 · France 4.343 · Guyana 25.21 · Peru 12.9 · Paraguay 16.31 · Suriname 15.79 · Uruguay 7.447 · Venezuela 24.2
Key 3 of 4
Stunting Prevalence in Children Under Five
UNICEF, WHO and World Bank Group (Joint Malnutrition Estimates)
Latest reading per country, 2014–2024 · Brazil’s is from 2019 · CC BY 3.0 IGO
7.989
Children under 5 who are stunted (%)
Lower is better
Brazil: 7.989. Across the 162 countries at their latest reading, values run from 0.518 (Latvia) to 52.8 (Burundi); the world median is 13.8.
- World median
- 13.8
- Best in South America
- 1.8 Chile
- Land neighbours
- Argentina 8.683 · Bolivia 16.09 · Colombia 12.74 · Guyana 9.527 · Peru 11.55 · Paraguay 5.598 · Suriname 8.311 · Uruguay 6.93 · Venezuela 13.4
Key 4 of 4
Prevalence of Severe Food Insecurity
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
2024 edition · data for 2024 · CC BY 4.0
0.6
Population in severe food insecurity (%)
Lower is better
Brazil: 0.6. Across the 125 countries in this edition, values run from 0.6 (Brazil) to 62.9 (South Sudan); the world median is 4.9.
- World median
- 4.9
- Best in South America
- 0.6 Brazil
- Land neighbours
- Argentina 11 · Bolivia 5 · Colombia 5.2 · France 3.3 · Guyana 4.7 · Peru 3.7 · Paraguay 7 · Uruguay 2.4
02Over time
Which way Brazil is moving
Each key’s published value, edition by edition, beside the world median. The Country Index 2026 is the first edition of the standing, so the standing itself has no history to chart yet.
Life Expectancy at Birth
Years a newborn would live at current death rates · higher is better
BrazilWorld median
Brazil rose from 69.58 in 2000 to 75.85 in 2023; the world median went from 70.68 to 74.63.
Every year’s figures
Year Brazil World median 2023 75.85 74.630 2022 74.87 74.313 2021 73.04 72.433 2020 74.51 73.063 2019 75.81 74.196 2018 75.63 74.081 2017 75.38 74.029 2016 75.08 74.013 2015 75.11 73.783 2014 74.82 73.330 2013 74.61 73.386 2012 74.33 73.210 2011 74.05 73.003 2010 73.78 72.827 2009 73.46 72.426 2008 73.11 72.264 2007 72.73 72.113 2006 72.30 72.027 2005 71.83 71.876 2004 71.36 71.477 2003 70.88 71.409 2002 70.40 71.173 2001 69.98 70.926 2000 69.58 70.678 Under-Five Mortality Rate
Deaths before age five (per 1,000 live births) · lower is better
BrazilWorld median
Brazil fell from 34.44 in 2000 to 14.22 in 2024; the world median went from 30.43 to 14.54.
Every year’s figures
Year Brazil World median 2024 14.2 14.5 2023 14.4 15.2 2022 14.6 14.7 2021 14.7 15.1 2020 14.9 15.3 2019 15.0 15.7 2018 15.2 16.3 2017 15.4 16.8 2016 16.8 17.5 2015 16.0 17.9 2014 16.3 18.3 2013 16.7 18.7 2012 17.2 18.8 2011 17.9 19.0 2010 18.6 19.2 2009 19.5 20.8 2008 20.5 20.7 2007 21.7 21.8 2006 23.1 22.8 2005 24.6 24.0 2004 26.3 25.9 2003 28.2 26.9 2002 30.1 28.0 2001 32.2 29.1 2000 34.4 30.4 Prevalence of Severe Food Insecurity
Population in severe food insecurity (%) · lower is better
BrazilWorld median
Brazil fell from 0.7 in 2015 to 0.6 in 2024; the world median went from 3.4 to 4.9.
Every year’s figures
Year Brazil World median 2024 0.6 4.9 2023 3.1 4.7 2022 6.6 5.4 2021 8.5 5.7 2020 6.3 5.6 2019 3.1 5.0 2018 1.1 4.2 2017 0.9 4.0 2016 0.7 3.4 2015 0.7 3.4
03In context
Brazil beside its neighbours
A position reads best beside the countries around it. Every position below is a place among all 200 countries on health & wellbeing, never a place within the region.
Brazil and the countries it borders
Standing among all 200; the key columns are the publishers’ own values.
| Country | Standing | Life Expectancy at BirthYears a newborn would live at current death rates | Under-Five Mortality RateDeaths before age five (per 1,000 live births) | Stunting Prevalence in Children Under FiveChildren under 5 who are stunted (%) | Prevalence of Severe Food InsecurityPopulation in severe food insecurity (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 France | 42nd | 83.33 | 4.343 | — | 3.3 |
 Uruguay | 54th | 78.14 | 7.447 | 6.93 | 2.4 |
| Brazil | 63rd | 75.85 | 14.22 | 7.989 | 0.6 |
 Peru | 79th | 77.74 | 12.9 | 11.55 | 3.7 |
 Argentinacompare | 88th | 77.39 | 9.514 | 8.683 | 11 |
 Colombia | 89th | 77.72 | 11.54 | 12.74 | 5.2 |
 Suriname | 93rd | 73.63 | 15.79 | 8.311 | — |
 Paraguay | 94th | 73.84 | 16.31 | 5.598 | 7 |
 Guyana | 112th | 70.18 | 25.21 | 9.527 | 4.7 |
 Bolivia | 124th | 68.58 | 15.7 | 16.09 | 5 |
 Venezuela | 135th | 72.51 | 24.2 | 13.4 | — |
“—”: no published reading in that edition. What a standing is
Across South America
Every country in the sub-region, by its place among all 200.
Placed either side on health & wellbeing
The countries immediately above and below Brazil in the topic’s list.
04Context, no vote
Where Brazil is ahead of the world, and behind
52 more statistics filed under health & wellbeing, published in full and deliberately given no vote in the standing. Select a row for the publisher, the rank and the links.
Ahead of the world median27
Statistics on which Brazil does better than the middle country measured.
Demand for Family Planning Satisfied by Modern MethodsUN DESA Population Division · 2023 · world median 71.2589.771.25No real change since 2013
Brazil: 89.7 · world median 71.25 · Share of women aged 15–49 wanting to avoid pregnancy who use a modern method (%). UN DESA Population Division, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 8.4 to 92.4; higher is better.
Position 6th of 196 · derived.
Minimum Dietary Diversity, Children Aged 6–23 MonthsUNICEF · 2025 · world median 37.5763.337.57No earlier reading
Brazil: 63.3 · world median 37.57 · Children aged 6-23 months fed from at least 5 of 8 food groups (%). UNICEF, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 8.089 to 85.88; higher is better.
Position 20th of 115 · derived.
Antenatal Care Coverage, At Least Four VisitsUNICEF · 2025 · world median 8194.281No earlier reading
Brazil: 94.2 · world median 81 · Women with a live birth who had 4+ antenatal visits (%). UNICEF, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 22.6 to 100; higher is better.
Position 26th of 153 · derived.
Severe Child Food Poverty, Children Aged 6–23 MonthsUNICEF · 2024 · world median 21.268.421.26No earlier reading
Brazil: 8.4 · world median 21.26 · Children aged 6-23 months fed from at most 2 of 8 food groups (%). UNICEF, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 1.169 to 63.08; lower is better.
Position 94th of 113 · derived, 1st = worst.
HPV Vaccination Coverage, GirlsWUENIC · 2025 · world median 65.58665.5▲ Improved since 2018
Brazil: 86 · world median 65.5 · Girls in the target group given the final dose of HPV vaccine (%). WHO and UNICEF (WUENIC), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 1 to 99; higher is better.
Prevalence of UndernourishmentFAO · 2023 · world median 5.22.55.2▼ Worsened since 2013
Brazil: 2.5 · world median 5.2 · Population undernourished (%). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 2.5 to 54.2; lower is better.
Position 104th of 104 · derived, 1st = worst.
Malaria Mortality (P. falciparum)MAP · 2024 · world median 8.1060.0388.106No real change since 2014
Brazil: 0.038 · world median 8.106 · Deaths from P. falciparum malaria per 100,000 people per year. Malaria Atlas Project (MAP), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 133.27; lower is better.
Malaria Incidence (P. falciparum)MAP · 2025 · world median 52.470.23352.47No real change since 2015
Brazil: 0.233 · world median 52.47 · New P. falciparum malaria cases per 1,000 people per year. Malaria Atlas Project (MAP), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 334.75; lower is better.
Share of Dietary Energy Supply from Cereals, Roots and TubersFAO · 2022 · world median 413141▼ Worsened since 2012
Brazil: 31 · world median 41 · Share of dietary energy supply from cereals, roots and tubers (%). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2022 edition, data for 2022.
Published values in that edition run from 21 to 82; lower is better.
Dietary Energy SupplyFAO · 2024 · world median 2,9823,3962,982▼ Worsened since 2014
Brazil: 3,396 · world median 2,982 · Dietary energy supply (kcal per person per day). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 1,757 to 3,962; higher is better.
Position 37th of 155 · derived.
Institutional DeliveriesUNICEF · 2025 · world median 96.999.196.9No earlier reading
Brazil: 99.1 · world median 96.9 · Live births delivered in a health facility (%). UNICEF, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 11.5 to 100; higher is better.
Fruit Supply per PersonFAO · 2023 · world median 84.83106.7784.83No real change since 2013
Brazil: 106.77 · world median 84.83 · Fruit available as food, excluding wine (kg per person per year). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 4.27 to 379.63; higher is better.
Prevalence of Moderate or Severe Food InsecurityFAO · 2024 · world median 20.99.620.9▲ Improved since 2015
Brazil: 9.6 · world median 20.9 · Population in moderate or severe food insecurity (%). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 1 to 88.8; lower is better.
Position 93rd of 135 · derived, 1st = worst.
Early Initiation of BreastfeedingUNICEF · 2024 · world median 52.9562.452.95No earlier reading
Brazil: 62.4 · world median 52.95 · Newborns put to the breast within one hour of birth (%). UNICEF, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 7.749 to 93.1; higher is better.
Position 44th of 136 · derived.
Life Expectancy at Age 65UN DESA Population Division · 2023 · world median 16.3917.7916.39▼ Worsened since 2013
Brazil: 17.79 · world median 16.39 · Further years a 65-year-old would live at current death rates. UN DESA Population Division, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 12.13 to 23.21; higher is better.
Position 74th of 222 · derived.
Global Multidimensional Poverty IndexOPHI · 2025 · world median 0.0390.0160.039▼ Worsened since 2018
Brazil: 0.016 · world median 0.039 · MPI (0–1). Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 0.517; lower is better.
Position 73rd of 109 · derived, 1st = worst.
Low Birthweight PrevalenceUNICEF and WHO (Joint Low Birthweight Estimates) · 2020 · world median 10.218.69810.21No real change since 2010
Brazil: 8.698 · world median 10.21 · Live births weighing under 2,500 g (%). UNICEF and WHO (Joint Low Birthweight Estimates), 2020 edition, data for 2020.
Published values in that edition run from 3.993 to 27.44; lower is better.
Position 99th of 158 · derived, 1st = worst.
Exclusive Breastfeeding Under Six MonthsUNICEF · 2024 · world median 40.7445.840.74No earlier reading
Brazil: 45.8 · world median 40.74 · Infants under 6 months exclusively breastfed (%). UNICEF, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 3.497 to 83.3; higher is better.
Position 52nd of 136 · derived.
Stillbirth RateUN IGME · 2023 · world median 8.1636.2168.163▲ Improved since 2013
Brazil: 6.216 · world median 8.163 · Stillbirths (per 1,000 total births). UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 1.18 to 34.9; lower is better.
Position 124th of 200 · derived, 1st = worst.
Agreement That Vaccines Are SafeWellcome Trust · 2018 · world median 77.6579.9877.65No earlier reading
Brazil: 79.98 · world median 77.65 · People aged 15+ who agree that vaccines are safe (% of those who had heard of vaccines). Wellcome Trust, 2018 edition, data for 2018.
Published values in that edition run from 29.29 to 97.91; higher is better.
Position 63rd of 144 · derived.
Human Development IndexUNDP Human Development Report Office · 2023 · world median 0.7620.7860.762No real change since 2013
Brazil: 0.786 · world median 0.762 · HDI score (0–1). UNDP Human Development Report Office, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.388 to 0.972; higher is better.
Ranked 84th of 193 by UNDP Human Development Report Office.
Share of Population Unable to Afford a Healthy DietFAO · 2025 · world median 26.421.126.4No real change since 2017
Brazil: 21.1 · world median 26.4 · Share of the population unable to afford a healthy diet (%). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.6 to 93.9; lower is better.
Position 81st of 145 · derived, 1st = worst.
Neonatal Mortality RateUN IGME · 2024 · world median 8.1347.1258.134No real change since 2014
Brazil: 7.125 · world median 8.134 · Deaths in the first 28 days (per 1,000 live births). UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.544 to 39.47; lower is better.
Position 111th of 200 · derived, 1st = worst.
Adult Mortality (Probability of Dying Between 15 and 60)UN DESA Population Division · 2023 · world median 133.7127.63133.7▲ Improved since 2013
Brazil: 127.63 · world median 133.7 · Deaths before age 60 per 1,000 people alive at 15, at that year's death rates. UN DESA Population Division, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 25.15 to 415.44; lower is better.
Position 120th of 222 · derived, 1st = worst.
Wasting Prevalence in Children Under FiveUNICEF, WHO and World Bank Group (Joint Malnutrition Estimates) · 2024 · world median 3.5463.4353.546No earlier reading
Brazil: 3.435 · world median 3.546 · Children under 5 who are wasted (%). UNICEF, WHO and World Bank Group (Joint Malnutrition Estimates), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.1 to 22.74; lower is better.
Position 88th of 163 · derived, 1st = worst.
PM2.5 Air Pollution ExposureAtmospheric Composition Analysis Group, Washington University in St. Louis · 2023 · world median 14.4513.914.45▼ Worsened since 2013
Brazil: 13.9 · world median 14.45 · Population-weighted PM2.5 concentration (µg/m³). Atmospheric Composition Analysis Group, Washington University in St. Louis, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 2.5 to 68.2; lower is better.
Position 115th of 220 · derived, 1st = worst.
Mortality Rate, Ages 5–14UN IGME · 2024 · world median 2.8582.7622.858▼ Worsened since 2014
Brazil: 2.762 · world median 2.858 · Deaths between ages 5 and 14 (per 1,000 children aged 5). UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.392 to 59.04; lower is better.
Position 103rd of 200 · derived, 1st = worst.
Behind the world median14
Statistics on which Brazil does worse than the middle country measured.
Infant Mortality RateUN IGME · 2024 · world median 12.2612.2612.26▼ Worsened since 2014
Brazil: 12.26 · world median 12.26 · Deaths before age one (per 1,000 live births). UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 1.214 to 71.87; lower is better.
Position 100th of 200 · derived, 1st = worst.
Human Capital IndexWorld Bank Group · 2020 · world median 0.5640.5510.564▲ Improved since 2010
Brazil: 0.551 · world median 0.564 · HCI score (0–1). World Bank Group, 2020 edition, data for 2020.
Published values in that edition run from 0.292 to 0.879; higher is better.
Position 90th of 172 · derived.
Malaria Incidence (P. vivax)MAP · 2025 · world median 1.3821.4321.382▲ Improved since 2015
Brazil: 1.432 · world median 1.382 · New P. vivax malaria cases per 1,000 people per year. Malaria Atlas Project (MAP), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.001 to 184.62; lower is better.
Coefficient of Variation of Habitual Caloric ConsumptionFAO · 2024 · world median 0.250.260.25No real change since 2014
Brazil: 0.26 · world median 0.25 · Coefficient of variation of habitual calorie consumption across the population (standard deviation ÷ mean). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.17 to 0.4; lower is better.
Gender Inequality IndexUNDP Human Development Report Office · 2023 · world median 0.3510.390.351▲ Improved since 2013
Brazil: 0.39 · world median 0.351 · GII (0 = full equality, 1 = maximum inequality). UNDP Human Development Report Office, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.003 to 0.838; lower is better.
Ranked 96th of 172 by UNDP Human Development Report Office.
Maternal Mortality RatioMMEIG · 2023 · world median 46.6566.9146.65▼ Worsened since 2013
Brazil: 66.91 · world median 46.65 · Maternal deaths per 100,000 live births. UN Maternal Mortality Estimation Inter-Agency Group (MMEIG), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.11 to 992.83; lower is better.
Position 80th of 195 · derived, 1st = worst.
Immunisation Coverage, DTP3WUENIC · 2025 · world median 918691▼ Worsened since 2015
Brazil: 86 · world median 91 · Infants given a third dose of DTP vaccine (%). WHO and UNICEF (WUENIC), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 39 to 99; higher is better.
Births Attended by Skilled Health StaffUNICEF and WHO (Joint Database on Skilled Birth Attendance) · 2023 · world median 99.398.599.3▲ Improved since 2013
Brazil: 98.5 · world median 99.3 · Births attended by skilled health staff (%). UNICEF and WHO (Joint Database on Skilled Birth Attendance), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 60.9 to 100; higher is better.
Position 53rd of 84 · derived.
Adolescent Birth Rate (Ages 15–19)UN DESA Population Division · 2023 · world median 27.4642.6927.46▲ Improved since 2013
Brazil: 42.69 · world median 27.46 · Live births per 1,000 women aged 15–19. UN DESA Population Division, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.465 to 163.09; lower is better.
Position 80th of 222 · derived, 1st = worst.
Excess Mortality During the COVID-19 PandemicAriel Karlinsky and Dmitry Kobak (World Mortality Dataset) · 2026 · world median 272.35411.2272.35No earlier reading
Brazil: 411.2 · world median 272.35 · Excess deaths per 100,000 people, March 2020 to the end of each country's data (at most December 2023). Ariel Karlinsky and Dmitry Kobak (World Mortality Dataset), 2026 edition, data for 2026.
Published values in that edition run from -264.9 to 1,013; lower is better.
Vegetable Supply per PersonFAO · 2023 · world median 102.6952.4102.69▼ Worsened since 2013
Brazil: 52.4 · world median 102.69 · Vegetables available as food (kg per person per year). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 6.89 to 412.72; higher is better.
Days Above 35°CECMWF · 2025 · world median 3.4827.543.48▲ Improved since 2015
Brazil: 27.54 · world median 3.48 · Days a year with a maximum temperature above 35°C, averaged over the country’s land. World Bank Group (Climate Change Knowledge Portal), from Copernicus ERA5 (ECMWF), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 222.89; lower is better.
Care-Seeking for Children with Symptoms of PneumoniaUNICEF · 2024 · world median 67.749.767.7No earlier reading
Brazil: 49.7 · world median 67.7 · Children under 5 with pneumonia symptoms taken to a health provider (%). UNICEF, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 14 to 99.1; higher is better.
Position 99th of 127 · derived.
Overweight Prevalence in Children Under FiveUNICEF, WHO and World Bank Group (Joint Malnutrition Estimates) · 2024 · world median 5.510.885.5▼ Worsened since 2014
Brazil: 10.88 · world median 5.5 · Children under 5 who are overweight (%). UNICEF, WHO and World Bank Group (Joint Malnutrition Estimates), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.623 to 26.43; lower is better.
Position 28th of 163 · derived, 1st = worst.
Level with the median, or no median to compare1
Immunisation Coverage, Measles First Dose (MCV1)WUENIC · 2025 · world median 909090▼ Worsened since 2015
Brazil: 90 · world median 90 · Infants given a first dose of measles vaccine (%). WHO and UNICEF (WUENIC), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 13 to 99; higher is better.
No better end10
These describe the shape of a country — more is not better or worse, only different — so they are never ahead or behind.
Caesarean Section RateUNICEF · 2025 · world median 20.6556.420.65No earlier reading
Brazil: 56.4 · world median 20.65 · Live births delivered by caesarean section (%). UNICEF, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.6 to 72.2.
Modern Contraceptive PrevalenceUN DESA Population Division · 2023 · world median 35.465.135.4Moved since 2013
Brazil: 65.1 · world median 35.4 · Share of all women aged 15–49 using a modern contraceptive method (%). UN DESA Population Division, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 2 to 73.8.
Contraceptive Prevalence (Any Method)UN DESA Population Division · 2023 · world median 41.2566.641.25No real change since 2013
Brazil: 66.6 · world median 41.25 · Share of all women aged 15–49 using any contraceptive method (%). UN DESA Population Division, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 6.6 to 78.7.
Meat Supply per PersonFAO · 2023 · world median 57.83104.5757.83Moved since 2013
Brazil: 104.57 · world median 57.83 · Meat available as food (kg per person per year, carcass weight). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 3.49 to 156.95.
Adults Who Have Been Too Anxious or Depressed to Carry OnWellcome Trust · 2020 · world median 20.0533.0120.05No earlier reading
Brazil: 33.01 · world median 20.05 · People aged 15+ who have ever been too anxious or depressed to continue their usual activities for two weeks or more (%). Wellcome Trust, 2020 edition, data for 2020.
Published values in that edition run from 2.934 to 49.35.
Pesticide Use per HectareFAO · 2024 · world median 1.7311.851.73Moved since 2014
Brazil: 11.85 · world median 1.73 · Pesticide use (kg per hectare of cropland). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 37.72.
Position 26th of 178 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Catastrophic Out-of-Pocket Health SpendingWorld Bank Group · 2019 · world median 6.8811.816.88No earlier reading
Brazil: 11.81 · world median 6.88 · Population in households spending more than 10% of their budget on health out of pocket (%). World Bank Group, 2019 edition, data for 2019.
Published values in that edition run from 0.133 to 31.21.
Cost of a Healthy DietFAO · 2025 · world median 4.554.894.55Moved since 2017
Brazil: 4.89 · world median 4.55 · Cost of the cheapest locally available healthy diet, PPP dollars per person per day. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 2.66 to 8.27.
Average Weekly Hours WorkedILO · 2025 · world median 38.8938.0438.89No real change since 2015
Brazil: 38.04 · world median 38.89 · Average weekly hours actually worked per employed person. International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 23.64 to 54.7.
Position 102nd of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Fish and Seafood Supply per PersonFAO · 2023 · world median 16.178.1816.17Moved since 2013
Brazil: 8.18 · world median 16.17 · Fish and seafood available as food (kg per person per year, live-weight equivalent). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.38 to 83.81.
No current reading for Brazil
Children with Functional Difficulties, Fatal Occupational Injuries (last 2011), Female Genital Mutilation Prevalence, Global Report on Food Crises, INFORM Severity Index (last 2024), Insecticide-Treated Net Use, Oral Rehydration Salts for Children with Diarrhoea, Postnatal Care for Newborns Within Two Days and Violent Discipline of Children. Listed rather than hidden, so the page can be checked against it.
“Position · derived” is this site’s ordering of the published values, 1st = best unless the row says otherwise; the publisher ranks no country on it. Rank, position and standing
05Country Index 2026
Health & Wellbeing among Brazil’s 15 topics
Health & Wellbeing is Brazil’s 6th best-placed topic of 15. Strongest first, each marker at its share of that topic’s field.
- Digital & Technology4th of 1984/4 keys
- Economy & Innovationjoint 46th of 1764/4 keys
- Food & Agriculture52nd of 1844/4 keys
- Governance & Institutions57th of 1944/4 keys
- Work & Labourjoint 56th of 1824/4 keys
- Health & Wellbeing63rd of 2004/4 keys
- Democracy & Civil Liberties70th of 1984/4 keys
- Environment & Sustainability67th of 1864/4 keys
- Education & Knowledgejoint 72nd of 1983/4 keys
- Gender & Equality69th of 1834/4 keys
- Development & Human Capital87th of 1963/3 keys
- Mobility & Trade80th of 1774/4 keys
- Risk & Resilience109th of 1934/4 keys
- Peace & Security106th of 1774/4 keys
- Poverty & Inequality113th of 1593/3 keys
No standing on Energy: too few of those topics’ key statistics are published for this country.
06The top of the list
Who leads on health & wellbeing
The three countries placed highest of 200, and the leaders Brazil can most readily be measured against.
1
San MarinoSouthern Europe
1st of 200 · 2 of 4 keys
Photo: Matl derivative work: Jjtkk · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
2
MonacoWestern Europe
2nd of 200 · 2 of 4 keys
Photo: Martin Weber derivative work: Jjtkk · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
3
AndorraSouthern Europe
3rd of 200 · 2 of 4 keys
Photo: Tiia Monto derivative work: Jjtkk · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
Placed highest nearby
Highest placed on all 4 keys
South Korea5th4/4 keysHighest in Americas
United States=30th4/4 keysHighest in South America
Chile46th4/4 keysThis page
Brazil63rd4/4 keys
Positions out of 200 placed on the topic. A country needs readings on enough keys to be placed, and the top of the list is often held on fewer of them.
07Analysis
Charts and analysis about Brazil and health & wellbeing
On health & wellbeing
Global Hunger Index 2025: Countries with the Most Alarming Hunger Crisis
Thirteen countries scored across four editions — 2000, 2008, 2016 and 2025 — and five the report could not score at all. DR Congo and South Sudan share 121st place on 37.5.
On health & wellbeing
World Happiness Report 2025: Finland Leads Again as the US and UK Face Major Declines
The ten highest life evaluations of 2025, drawn on a world map, and the six things the report uses to explain them. Costa Rica and Mexico are the only two outside Europe and the Middle East.
08Questions
Brazil on health & wellbeing: questions answered
Every answer is built from the numbers on this page, so none can say something the page does not.
How does Brazil rank on health & wellbeing?
Brazil is placed 63rd of 200 countries on Health & Wellbeing in the Country Index 2026, from 4 of its 4 key statistics (Life Expectancy at Birth, Under-Five Mortality Rate, Stunting Prevalence in Children Under Five and Prevalence of Severe Food Insecurity). The position is this site’s ordering of published statistics, not a rank any publisher printed.
What is the latest Life Expectancy at Birth figure for Brazil?
75.85 in 2023 (years a newborn would live at current death rates), according to UN DESA Population Division. The world median in the same edition was 74.63.
What is the latest Under-Five Mortality Rate figure for Brazil?
14.22 in 2024 (deaths before age five (per 1,000 live births)), according to UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME). The world median in the same edition was 14.54.
How does Brazil compare with France on health & wellbeing?
France is placed 42nd of 200, and Brazil 63rd. Life Expectancy at Birth: France 83.33, Brazil 75.85; Under-Five Mortality Rate: France 4.343, Brazil 14.22; Prevalence of Severe Food Insecurity: France 3.3, Brazil 0.6.
How have Brazil’s health & wellbeing figures changed?
Life Expectancy at Birth rose from 69.58 in 2000 to 75.85 in 2023; Under-Five Mortality Rate fell from 34.44 in 2000 to 14.22 in 2024; Prevalence of Severe Food Insecurity fell from 0.7 in 2015 to 0.6 in 2024.
Which health & wellbeing statistics are missing for Brazil?
No current reading is published for Brazil on Children with Functional Difficulties, Fatal Occupational Injuries, Female Genital Mutilation Prevalence, Global Report on Food Crises, INFORM Severity Index, Insecticide-Treated Net Use, Oral Rehydration Salts for Children with Diarrhoea, Postnatal Care for Newborns Within Two Days and Violent Discipline of Children. They are listed rather than hidden, so the evidence on the page can be checked against it.
09Method
Method, sources and how to cite
What this topic does not measure
Health spending, hospital beds and doctors per person are not measured, because more of any of them does not guarantee better outcomes. Mental health and self-reported happiness are not part of this topic. Food supply per person is measured under Food & Agriculture. Maternal mortality and many other indicators are published here as context; maternal mortality is a key in Development & Human Capital instead.
How the Health & Wellbeing standing is decided
A standing is this site’s ordering, named with its edition — never a publisher’s rank. 4 key statistics vote, one vote each; every country’s published value becomes a place within that key’s own field, the places are averaged, and the average is never published. A country needs 2 of the 4 keys to be placed.
The health & wellbeing method, step by stepHow every standing on this site is built
The key statistics and their licences
- Life Expectancy at Birth — UN DESA Population Division, CC BY 3.0 IGO
- Under-Five Mortality Rate — UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME), CC BY 3.0 IGO
- Stunting Prevalence in Children Under Five — UNICEF, WHO and World Bank Group (Joint Malnutrition Estimates), CC BY 3.0 IGO
- Prevalence of Severe Food Insecurity — Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), CC BY 4.0
The other 52 statistics on this page come from 18 publishers, each named beside its numbers, with every edition and licence on the datasets pages.
The standing itself is part of the Country Index 2026, published under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Photographs
Brazil’s banner and the countries placed highest, from their profiles: Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale, each used under the licence named.
- Brazil (banner) — Luis Rizo derivative work: Jjtkk, Public domain
- San Marino — Matl derivative work: Jjtkk, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Monaco — Martin Weber derivative work: Jjtkk, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Andorra — Tiia Monto derivative work: Jjtkk, CC BY-SA 3.0
Cite this page
Nations Inquiry (2026). Brazil: Health & Wellbeing — standing and statistics, Country Index 2026. https://nationsinquiry.com/countries/brazil/health