Measles (MMR) Vaccination Rate by Country

Children are the most susceptible to the potentially deadly effects of Measles.
Children are the most susceptible to the potentially deadly effects of Measles.

Measles (a.k.a. morbilli or rubella) is a viral infection that can lead to severe diarrhea, encephalitis, pneumonia, and other lethal side effects. In the year 2014, there were close to 114,900 deaths caused by measles globally, which translates to an average of 314 deaths every day. Nonetheless, modern medicine has made great strides in the fight against measles in recent decades. In fact, there was a 79% decrement in measles-related deaths between the years 2000 and 2014 globally. Many countries have taken important steps in ensuring that all children are immunized against this disease. Measles outbreaks spread very fast because the disease is caused by a virus that is highly contagious, making the need for immunization all the more pressing.

Higher Immunization Standards For A New Millennium

The World Health Organization unveiled an ambitious program in the year 2010 to aid in the process of eradicating the disease. Some of the milestones established included increased immunization routines for children below one year of age in every part of the world, reduction and maintenance of annual incidences of measles, and reduction of infant mortality by almost 95% from estimates of such totals from the year 2000. Some countries are much further advanced in the journey towards the complete elimination of measles, and have achieved great success in immunizing children between 12 and 23 months. There are measures that have been put in place to drive this agenda, and the results are evidenced by the very few cases of measles outbreaks reported in such countries. This is a journey similar to what has been seen with the DPT vaccine.

Global Success Stories in Measles Immunization

Many developed countries with robust healthcare systems have achieved a near 100% rate of immunization against measles in children. China and other countries that have assumed the responsibility of providing free healthcare to children have closed in on such nearly absolute success rates. Most European countries fall in this category as well, owing to efficient healthcare systems and a high availability of funds to provide those better healthcare services. The following countries have achieved the highest rates of measles immunization, at 99%:

  • Andorra
  • UAE
  • Bahrain
  • Brunei
  • China
  • Cabo Verde
  • Cuba
  • Eritrea
  • Hungary
  • Iran
  • Kaakhstan
  • Kuwait
  • Sri Lanka
  • Luxembourg
  • Morocco
  • Maldives
  • Mongolia
  • Mauritius
  • Nicaragua
  • Nauru
  • Oman
  • Portugal
  • Qatar
  • Rwanda
  • Turkmenistan
  • Tanzania
  • St. Vincent and the Grenadines

In the following countries, the MMR vaccine is mandatory by law:

  • Bulgaria
  • Croatia
  • Czechia
  • France
  • Hungary
  • Italy
  • Poland
  • Slovakia
  • Slovenia

Winning the War Against Measles

Some countries have done very well in the fight against measles, even amidst very limited resources. It all depends on what the government considers the most deserving of its attention, and how diligently the medical practitioners within countries are willing to work. Because the World Health Organization plays a very important role in assisting governments in their quests to eradicate measles, coordinating with WHO is an integral component for many countries’ respective efforts. In the end, immunizing all of the world’s young children is a vision that is realizable, but only with the concerted effort of all parties involved.

Countries With The Highest Measles Vaccination Rates

RankCountryVaccination Rate (%)
1Andorra99
2United Arab Emirates99
3Bahrain99
4Brunei Darussalam99
5China99
6Cabo Verde99
7Cuba99
8Eritrea99
9Hungary99
10Iran, Islamic Rep.99
11Kazakhstan99
12Kuwait99
13Sri Lanka99
14Luxembourg99
15Morocco99
16Maldives99
17Mongolia99
18Mauritius99
19Nicaragua99
20Nauru99
21Oman99
22Portugal99
23Qatar99
24Rwanda99
25Turkmenistan99
26Tanzania99
27St. Vincent and the Grenadines99
28Georgia98
29Guyana98
30Israel98
31Korea, Rep.98
32Latvia98
33Panama98
34Korea, Dem. People’s Rep.98
35Russian Federation98
36Saudi Arabia98
37Suriname98
38Tajikistan98
39Bangladesh97
40Belarus97
41Belize97
42Bhutan97
43Botswana97
44Germany97
45Spain97
46Greece97
47Japan97
48Libya97
49Mexico97
50Sweden97
51Uruguay97
52Vietnam97
53Antigua and Barbuda96
54Azerbaijan96
55Belgium96
56Switzerland96
57Czech Republic96
58Finland96
59Kyrgyz Republic96
60St. Kitts and Nevis96
61Malta96
62Malaysia96
63Norway96
64Slovak Republic96
65Seychelles96
66Thailand96
67Tunisia96
68Turkey96
69Uzbekistan96
70Armenia95
71Australia95
72Colombia95
73Denmark95
74Dominican Republic95
75Singapore95
76Sao Tome and Principe95
77Albania94
78Argentina94
79Austria94
80Costa Rica94
81Egypt, Arab Rep.94
82Fiji94
83Zambia94
84Bulgaria93
85Chile93
86Croatia93
87Iceland93
88Italy93
89Moldova93
90Myanmar93
91Netherlands93
92Poland93
93Paraguay93
94Solomon Islands93
95Slovenia93
96United Kingdom92
97Ghana92
98Ireland92
99Jordan92
100Lithuania92
101New Zealand92
102Serbia92
103United States92
104Gambia, The91
105Liberia91
106Nepal91
107Ukraine91
108Canada90
109Comoros90
110Cyprus90
111France90
112India90
113Lesotho90
114Palau90
115Romania90
116Trinidad and Tobago90
117Bahamas, The89
118Bolivia89
119Honduras89
120Jamaica89
121Kenya89
122San Marino89
123Eswatini89
124Burundi88
125Burkina Faso88
126Sudan88
127Tuvalu88
128Zimbabwe88
129Estonia87
130Guatemala87
131Monaco87
132Malawi87
133Djibouti86
134Guinea-Bissau86
135St. Lucia86
136Uganda86
137Barbados85
138Mozambique85
139Peru85
140Togo85
141Tonga85
142Brazil84
143Dominica84
144Grenada84
145Cambodia84
146Kiribati84
147Ecuador83
148Iraq83
149Marshall Islands83
150North Macedonia83
151Lebanon82
152Namibia82
153Senegal82
154El Salvador81
155Congo, Dem. Rep.80
156Algeria80
157Sierra Leone80
158Mauritania78
159Niger77
160Timor-Leste77
161Pakistan76
162Congo, Rep.75
163Indonesia75
164Vanuatu75
165Venezuela, RB74
166Micronesia, Fed. Sts.73
167Benin71
168Cote d'Ivoire71
169Cameroon71
170Mali70
171South Africa70
172Haiti69
173Lao PDR69
174Bosnia and Herzegovina68
175Philippines67
176Nigeria65
177Afghanistan64
178Yemen, Rep.64
179Syrian Arab Republic63
180Madagascar62
181Ethiopia61
182Papua New Guinea61
183Gabon59
184Montenegro58
185South Sudan51
186Angola50
187Central African Republic49
188Guinea48
189Somalia46
190Chad37
191Samoa31
192Equatorial Guinea30
Share

More in World Facts