Child deaths (aged 1-4 years) in North Korea
North Korea: Child deaths (aged 1-4 years) was 1,161 in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Child deaths in North Korea, 1955–2024
Source: UNICEF.
Analysis
The most recent figure for child deaths in North Korea is 1,161, measured in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 70 years on record.
The figure is down 3.8% on the previous year and down 21.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, child deaths in North Korea peaked at 20,207 in 1995 and was at its lowest, 1,161, in 2024.
That places North Korea 61st out of 200 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Child deaths (aged 1-4 years) in North Korea, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1955 | 13,862 | — |
| 1956 | 12,900 | -6.9% |
| 1957 | 12,958 | +0.4% |
| 1958 | 13,223 | +2.0% |
| 1959 | 13,601 | +2.9% |
| 1960 | 13,546 | -0.4% |
| 1961 | 13,283 | -1.9% |
| 1962 | 12,686 | -4.5% |
| 1963 | 11,759 | -7.3% |
| 1964 | 11,203 | -4.7% |
| 1965 | 10,842 | -3.2% |
| 1966 | 10,460 | -3.5% |
| 1967 | 10,103 | -3.4% |
| 1968 | 9,745 | -3.5% |
| 1969 | 9,360 | -4.0% |
| 1970 | 8,925 | -4.6% |
| 1971 | 8,451 | -5.3% |
| 1972 | 7,854 | -7.1% |
| 1973 | 7,277 | -7.3% |
| 1974 | 6,692 | -8.0% |
| 1975 | 6,004 | -10.3% |
| 1976 | 5,337 | -11.1% |
| 1977 | 4,664 | -12.6% |
| 1978 | 4,073 | -12.7% |
| 1979 | 3,656 | -10.2% |
| 1980 | 3,349 | -8.4% |
| 1981 | 3,143 | -6.2% |
| 1982 | 3,038 | -3.3% |
| 1983 | 2,991 | -1.5% |
| 1984 | 2,974 | -0.6% |
| 1985 | 2,992 | +0.6% |
| 1986 | 3,044 | +1.7% |
| 1987 | 3,206 | +5.3% |
| 1988 | 3,272 | +2.1% |
| 1989 | 3,440 | +5.1% |
| 1990 | 3,616 | +5.1% |
| 1991 | 3,782 | +4.6% |
| 1992 | 3,921 | +3.7% |
| 1993 | 4,020 | +2.5% |
| 1994 | 4,062 | +1.0% |
| 1995 | 20,207 | +397.5% |
| 1996 | 19,890 | -1.6% |
| 1997 | 19,525 | -1.8% |
| 1998 | 19,148 | -1.9% |
| 1999 | 18,677 | -2.5% |
| 2000 | 18,193 | -2.6% |
| 2001 | 17,648 | -3.0% |
| 2002 | 17,034 | -3.5% |
| 2003 | 2,854 | -83.2% |
| 2004 | 2,724 | -4.6% |
| 2005 | 2,623 | -3.7% |
| 2006 | 2,503 | -4.6% |
| 2007 | 2,428 | -3.0% |
| 2008 | 2,211 | -8.9% |
| 2009 | 2,094 | -5.3% |
| 2010 | 1,980 | -5.4% |
| 2011 | 1,858 | -6.2% |
| 2012 | 1,733 | -6.7% |
| 2013 | 1,595 | -8.0% |
| 2014 | 1,480 | -7.2% |
| 2015 | 1,398 | -5.5% |
| 2016 | 1,394 | -0.3% |
| 2017 | 1,256 | -9.9% |
| 2018 | 1,233 | -1.8% |
| 2019 | 1,173 | -4.9% |
| 2020 | 1,163 | -0.9% |
| 2021 | 1,165 | +0.2% |
| 2022 | 1,189 | +2.1% |
| 2023 | 1,207 | +1.5% |
| 2024 | 1,161 | -3.8% |
North Korea compared with similar countries
- North Korea's 1,161 is below the median for low income countries, which is 7,922, 15% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- North Korea's 1,161 is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 139, 8.4× the median. (30 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Child deaths (aged 1-4 years) in North Korea changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | +397.5% | 4,062 | 20,207 |
| 2003 | -83.2% | 17,034 | 2,854 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 13,309 | 12,900 | 13,862 | 5 |
| 1960s | 11,299 | 9,360 | 13,546 | 10 |
| 1970s | 6,293 | 3,656 | 8,925 | 10 |
| 1980s | 3,145 | 2,974 | 3,440 | 10 |
| 1990s | 11,685 | 3,616 | 20,207 | 10 |
| 2000s | 7,031 | 2,094 | 18,193 | 10 |
| 2010s | 1,510 | 1,173 | 1,980 | 10 |
| 2020s | 1,177 | 1,161 | 1,207 | 5 |
Countries ranked near North Korea
- 58 Tajikistan 1,280 compare
- 59 Guatemala 1,259 compare
- 60 Iran 1,223 compare
- 62 Mauritania 1,117 compare
- 63 Equatorial Guinea 1,095 compare
- 64 Zimbabwe 1,089 compare
More health data for North Korea
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate -0.2456 % change on previous year (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 767 deaths (2100)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.16 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population ages 65 and above, total, annual growth rate 2.78 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population, female, per capita 0.5049 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 65 and above, male, per capita 0.0541 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 65 and above, male, annual growth rate 3.75 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 65 and above, female, per capita 0.073 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 65 and above, female, annual growth rate 2.07 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 15-64, total, per capita 0.6836 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is child deaths in North Korea?
- Child deaths in North Korea was 1,161 in 2024, according to UNICEF.
- What is the highest child deaths recorded in North Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 20,207 in 1995.
- What is the lowest child deaths recorded in North Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 1,161 in 2024.
- How does North Korea rank for child deaths?
- North Korea ranks 61st out of 200 countries with data for 2024.
- Is child deaths rising or falling in North Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 21.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this North Korea data come from?
- The figures come from UNICEF, published as part of Child deaths (aged 1-4 years). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 70 observations, free to reuse under UNICEF Terms of Use (attribution required).