Child mortality rate in Belgium
Belgium: Child mortality rate was 0.4% in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
0.4%
Change on year
down 9.7%
World rank
204th
of 236 countries
All-time high
6.0%
in 1950
All-time low
0.4%
in 2020
Years of data
74
1950–2023
Child mortality rate in Belgium, 1950–2023
Source: UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in % of children.
Analysis
Belgium recorded 0.4% for child mortality rate in 2023.
That represents a change of down 9.7% on the previous year and down 9.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, child mortality rate in Belgium peaked at 6.0% in 1950 and was at its lowest, 0.4%, in 2020.
Belgium ranks 204th of 236 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Child mortality rate in Belgium, year by year
| Year | % of children | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 6.0% | — |
| 1951 | 5.7% | -5.3% |
| 1952 | 5.2% | -9.0% |
| 1953 | 4.7% | -8.4% |
| 1954 | 4.7% | -0.2% |
| 1955 | 4.6% | -1.5% |
| 1956 | 4.4% | -4.6% |
| 1957 | 4.1% | -7.5% |
| 1958 | 3.6% | -12.6% |
| 1959 | 3.5% | -1.4% |
| 1960 | 3.5% | -1.7% |
| 1961 | 3.2% | -7.6% |
| 1962 | 3.1% | -3.4% |
| 1963 | 3.1% | +0.9% |
| 1964 | 2.9% | -7.8% |
| 1965 | 2.7% | -6.7% |
| 1966 | 2.8% | +3.8% |
| 1967 | 2.6% | -7.2% |
| 1968 | 2.5% | -3.3% |
| 1969 | 2.5% | -0.1% |
| 1970 | 2.5% | -1.7% |
| 1971 | 2.4% | -3.5% |
| 1972 | 2.2% | -7.2% |
| 1973 | 2.0% | -8.7% |
| 1974 | 2.0% | -0.7% |
| 1975 | 1.9% | -6.5% |
| 1976 | 1.8% | -2.2% |
| 1977 | 1.6% | -11.4% |
| 1978 | 1.6% | -3.0% |
| 1979 | 1.5% | -4.8% |
| 1980 | 1.5% | -1.5% |
| 1981 | 1.4% | -6.5% |
| 1982 | 1.3% | -4.9% |
| 1983 | 1.3% | -4.1% |
| 1984 | 1.2% | -4.4% |
| 1985 | 1.1% | -4.6% |
| 1986 | 1.1% | -1.7% |
| 1987 | 1.1% | -0.3% |
| 1988 | 1.1% | -4.3% |
| 1989 | 1.0% | -6.7% |
| 1990 | 1.0% | -3.0% |
| 1991 | 1.0% | -0.2% |
| 1992 | 0.9% | -2.3% |
| 1993 | 0.9% | -3.0% |
| 1994 | 0.9% | -5.1% |
| 1995 | 0.7% | -14.7% |
| 1996 | 0.6% | -13.5% |
| 1997 | 0.7% | +2.6% |
| 1998 | 0.6% | -3.6% |
| 1999 | 0.6% | -6.1% |
| 2000 | 0.6% | +1.3% |
| 2001 | 0.6% | -4.8% |
| 2002 | 0.5% | -5.2% |
| 2003 | 0.5% | -4.8% |
| 2004 | 0.5% | -9.5% |
| 2005 | 0.5% | +1.6% |
| 2006 | 0.5% | +4.5% |
| 2007 | 0.5% | -0.5% |
| 2008 | 0.5% | -8.2% |
| 2009 | 0.4% | -3.3% |
| 2010 | 0.4% | +0.9% |
| 2011 | 0.4% | -5.5% |
| 2012 | 0.5% | +8.9% |
| 2013 | 0.4% | -6.3% |
| 2014 | 0.4% | -5.6% |
| 2015 | 0.4% | -3.4% |
| 2016 | 0.4% | -3.6% |
| 2017 | 0.4% | +12.0% |
| 2018 | 0.4% | +3.2% |
| 2019 | 0.4% | -5.0% |
| 2020 | 0.4% | -12.0% |
| 2021 | 0.4% | +1.9% |
| 2022 | 0.4% | +15.7% |
| 2023 | 0.4% | -9.7% |
Belgium compared with similar countries
- Belgium's 0.4% is below the median for high income countries, which is 0.6%, 70% of the median. (85 countries reporting)
- Belgium's 0.4% is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 0.4%, 93% of the median. (56 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 4.7% | 3.5% | 6.0% | 10 |
| 1960s | 2.9% | 2.5% | 3.5% | 10 |
| 1970s | 1.9% | 1.5% | 2.5% | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.2% | 1.0% | 1.5% | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.8% | 0.6% | 1.0% | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.5% | 0.4% | 0.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.4% | 0.4% | 0.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.4% | 0.4% | 0.4% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Belgium
More health data for Belgium
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -3.28 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate -0.2923 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,160 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 59 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -2.11 % 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 0.0229 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -1.96 % 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 child mortality rate in Belgium?
- Child mortality rate in Belgium was 0.4% in 2023, according to UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest child mortality rate recorded in Belgium?
- The highest recorded value was 6.0% in 1950.
- What is the lowest child mortality rate recorded in Belgium?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.4% in 2020.
- How does Belgium rank for child mortality rate?
- Belgium ranks 204th out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is child mortality rate rising or falling in Belgium?
- Over the last ten years it is down 9.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Belgium data come from?
- The figures come from UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Child mortality rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of children who die before reaching the age of 5.