Number of child deaths by age in United States
United States: Number of child deaths by age was 3,661 deaths in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
3,661 deaths
Change on year
down 0.5%
World rank
43rd
of 199 countries
All-time high
17,698 deaths
in 1955
All-time low
3,661 deaths
in 2024
Years of data
70
1955–2024
Number of child deaths by age in United States, 1955–2024
Source: United Nations Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (2025) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in deaths.
Analysis
In 2024, number of child deaths by age in United States stood at 3,661 deaths. That is the lowest value across all 70 years on record.
That represents a change of down 0.5% on the previous year and down 8.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of child deaths by age in United States peaked at 17,698 deaths in 1955 and was at its lowest, 3,661 deaths, in 2024.
That places United States 43rd out of 199 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Number of child deaths by age in United States, year by year
| Year | deaths | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1955 | 17,698 deaths | — |
| 1956 | 17,658 deaths | -0.2% |
| 1957 | 17,595 deaths | -0.4% |
| 1958 | 17,581 deaths | -0.1% |
| 1959 | 17,574 deaths | -0.0% |
| 1960 | 17,513 deaths | -0.3% |
| 1961 | 17,387 deaths | -0.7% |
| 1962 | 17,188 deaths | -1.1% |
| 1963 | 16,876 deaths | -1.8% |
| 1964 | 16,437 deaths | -2.6% |
| 1965 | 15,926 deaths | -3.1% |
| 1966 | 15,266 deaths | -4.1% |
| 1967 | 14,484 deaths | -5.1% |
| 1968 | 13,694 deaths | -5.5% |
| 1969 | 12,917 deaths | -5.7% |
| 1970 | 12,317 deaths | -4.6% |
| 1971 | 11,972 deaths | -2.8% |
| 1972 | 11,701 deaths | -2.3% |
| 1973 | 11,287 deaths | -3.5% |
| 1974 | 10,675 deaths | -5.4% |
| 1975 | 9,955 deaths | -6.7% |
| 1976 | 9,280 deaths | -6.8% |
| 1977 | 8,797 deaths | -5.2% |
| 1978 | 8,531 deaths | -3.0% |
| 1979 | 8,363 deaths | -2.0% |
| 1980 | 8,255 deaths | -1.3% |
| 1981 | 8,218 deaths | -0.4% |
| 1982 | 8,167 deaths | -0.6% |
| 1983 | 8,103 deaths | -0.8% |
| 1984 | 8,016 deaths | -1.1% |
| 1985 | 7,885 deaths | -1.6% |
| 1986 | 7,756 deaths | -1.6% |
| 1987 | 7,626 deaths | -1.7% |
| 1988 | 7,495 deaths | -1.7% |
| 1989 | 7,382 deaths | -1.5% |
| 1990 | 7,276 deaths | -1.4% |
| 1991 | 7,171 deaths | -1.4% |
| 1992 | 7,036 deaths | -1.9% |
| 1993 | 6,832 deaths | -2.9% |
| 1994 | 6,564 deaths | -3.9% |
| 1995 | 6,244 deaths | -4.9% |
| 1996 | 5,925 deaths | -5.1% |
| 1997 | 5,644 deaths | -4.7% |
| 1998 | 5,410 deaths | -4.1% |
| 1999 | 5,228 deaths | -3.4% |
| 2000 | 5,096 deaths | -2.5% |
| 2001 | 5,002 deaths | -1.8% |
| 2002 | 4,938 deaths | -1.3% |
| 2003 | 4,871 deaths | -1.4% |
| 2004 | 4,806 deaths | -1.3% |
| 2005 | 4,739 deaths | -1.4% |
| 2006 | 4,669 deaths | -1.5% |
| 2007 | 4,624 deaths | -1.0% |
| 2008 | 4,594 deaths | -0.6% |
| 2009 | 4,546 deaths | -1.0% |
| 2010 | 4,473 deaths | -1.6% |
| 2011 | 4,360 deaths | -2.5% |
| 2012 | 4,218 deaths | -3.3% |
| 2013 | 4,088 deaths | -3.1% |
| 2014 | 3,985 deaths | -2.5% |
| 2015 | 3,924 deaths | -1.5% |
| 2016 | 3,894 deaths | -0.8% |
| 2017 | 3,871 deaths | -0.6% |
| 2018 | 3,846 deaths | -0.6% |
| 2019 | 3,808 deaths | -1.0% |
| 2020 | 3,769 deaths | -1.0% |
| 2021 | 3,722 deaths | -1.2% |
| 2022 | 3,685 deaths | -1.0% |
| 2023 | 3,679 deaths | -0.2% |
| 2024 | 3,661 deaths | -0.5% |
United States compared with similar countries
- United States's 3,661 deaths is above the median for high income countries, which is 43 deaths, 85.1× the median. (65 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 17,621 deaths | 17,574 deaths | 17,698 deaths | 5 |
| 1960s | 15,769 deaths | 12,917 deaths | 17,513 deaths | 10 |
| 1970s | 10,288 deaths | 8,363 deaths | 12,317 deaths | 10 |
| 1980s | 7,890 deaths | 7,382 deaths | 8,255 deaths | 10 |
| 1990s | 6,333 deaths | 5,228 deaths | 7,276 deaths | 10 |
| 2000s | 4,788 deaths | 4,546 deaths | 5,096 deaths | 10 |
| 2010s | 4,047 deaths | 3,808 deaths | 4,473 deaths | 10 |
| 2020s | 3,703 deaths | 3,661 deaths | 3,769 deaths | 5 |
Countries ranked near United States
More health data for United States
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.67 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate -0.1867 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,069 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 4,015 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2023)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 0.056 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.0261 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 0.1919 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is number of child deaths by age in United States?
- Number of child deaths by age in United States was 3,661 deaths in 2024, according to United Nations Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (2025) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest number of child deaths by age recorded in United States?
- The highest recorded value was 17,698 deaths in 1955.
- What is the lowest number of child deaths by age recorded in United States?
- The lowest recorded value was 3,661 deaths in 2024.
- How does United States rank for number of child deaths by age?
- United States ranks 43rd out of 199 countries with data for 2024.
- Is number of child deaths by age rising or falling in United States?
- Over the last ten years it is down 8.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this United States data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (2025) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Number of child deaths by age. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Estimated number of deaths of children aged between 1 and 4 .