Child mortality rate in Canada
Canada: Child mortality rate was 0.5% in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
0.5%
Change on year
down 1.2%
World rank
195th
of 236 countries
All-time high
4.9%
in 1950
All-time low
0.5%
in 2023
Years of data
74
1950–2023
Child mortality rate in Canada, 1950–2023
Source: UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in % of children.
Analysis
In 2023, child mortality rate in Canada stood at 0.5%. That is the lowest value across all 74 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 1.2% on the previous year and down 15.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, child mortality rate in Canada peaked at 4.9% in 1950 and was at its lowest, 0.5%, in 2023.
Canada ranks 195th 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 Canada, year by year
| Year | % of children | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 4.9% | — |
| 1951 | 4.6% | -7.1% |
| 1952 | 4.7% | +3.5% |
| 1953 | 4.4% | -5.8% |
| 1954 | 4.1% | -8.3% |
| 1955 | 4.0% | -1.7% |
| 1956 | 4.1% | +1.6% |
| 1957 | 3.9% | -4.2% |
| 1958 | 3.6% | -7.3% |
| 1959 | 3.4% | -6.8% |
| 1960 | 3.2% | -4.1% |
| 1961 | 3.1% | -2.7% |
| 1962 | 3.2% | +0.7% |
| 1963 | 3.0% | -4.8% |
| 1964 | 2.8% | -5.8% |
| 1965 | 2.6% | -7.2% |
| 1966 | 2.6% | -1.3% |
| 1967 | 2.5% | -3.1% |
| 1968 | 2.4% | -4.6% |
| 1969 | 2.3% | -3.8% |
| 1970 | 2.2% | -3.0% |
| 1971 | 2.1% | -8.1% |
| 1972 | 2.0% | -1.6% |
| 1973 | 1.8% | -9.4% |
| 1974 | 1.8% | -1.7% |
| 1975 | 1.7% | -3.7% |
| 1976 | 1.6% | -9.1% |
| 1977 | 1.5% | -5.1% |
| 1978 | 1.4% | -3.6% |
| 1979 | 1.3% | -8.0% |
| 1980 | 1.3% | -3.3% |
| 1981 | 1.2% | -9.3% |
| 1982 | 1.1% | -4.9% |
| 1983 | 1.0% | -6.5% |
| 1984 | 1.0% | -3.5% |
| 1985 | 1.0% | -3.4% |
| 1986 | 1.0% | -0.5% |
| 1987 | 0.9% | -6.9% |
| 1988 | 0.9% | -1.4% |
| 1989 | 0.9% | -0.6% |
| 1990 | 0.8% | -5.6% |
| 1991 | 0.8% | -8.3% |
| 1992 | 0.7% | -5.1% |
| 1993 | 0.7% | +3.1% |
| 1994 | 0.8% | +0.8% |
| 1995 | 0.7% | -5.1% |
| 1996 | 0.7% | -6.9% |
| 1997 | 0.7% | -1.7% |
| 1998 | 0.6% | -4.5% |
| 1999 | 0.6% | +0.5% |
| 2000 | 0.6% | -5.1% |
| 2001 | 0.6% | +4.5% |
| 2002 | 0.6% | +1.1% |
| 2003 | 0.6% | -0.9% |
| 2004 | 0.6% | -2.3% |
| 2005 | 0.6% | +3.1% |
| 2006 | 0.6% | -5.7% |
| 2007 | 0.6% | +1.2% |
| 2008 | 0.6% | -1.9% |
| 2009 | 0.6% | -4.2% |
| 2010 | 0.6% | +3.2% |
| 2011 | 0.6% | -3.9% |
| 2012 | 0.5% | -1.7% |
| 2013 | 0.6% | +4.9% |
| 2014 | 0.5% | -7.0% |
| 2015 | 0.5% | -1.3% |
| 2016 | 0.5% | -0.2% |
| 2017 | 0.5% | -1.6% |
| 2018 | 0.5% | +4.4% |
| 2019 | 0.5% | -5.8% |
| 2020 | 0.5% | -0.3% |
| 2021 | 0.5% | -0.2% |
| 2022 | 0.5% | -2.8% |
| 2023 | 0.5% | -1.2% |
Canada compared with similar countries
- Canada's 0.5% is below the median for high income countries, which is 0.6%, 88% of the median. (85 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 4.2% | 3.4% | 4.9% | 10 |
| 1960s | 2.8% | 2.3% | 3.2% | 10 |
| 1970s | 1.8% | 1.3% | 2.2% | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.0% | 0.9% | 1.3% | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.7% | 0.6% | 0.8% | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.6% | 0.6% | 0.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.5% | 0.5% | 0.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.5% | 0.5% | 0.5% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Canada
More health data for Canada
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.79 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate -0.3588 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,083 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 385 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 0.5214 % 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 0.023 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 0.5024 % 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 Canada?
- Child mortality rate in Canada was 0.5% in 2023, according to UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest child mortality rate recorded in Canada?
- The highest recorded value was 4.9% in 1950.
- What is the lowest child mortality rate recorded in Canada?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.5% in 2023.
- How does Canada rank for child mortality rate?
- Canada ranks 195th out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is child mortality rate rising or falling in Canada?
- Over the last ten years it is down 15.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Canada 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.
Download this data
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About this data
Share of children who die before reaching the age of 5.