Child mortality around the world in South Korea
South Korea: Child mortality around the world was 0.2754 in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
0.2754
Change on year
down 5.8%
World rank
221st
of 236 countries
All-time high
34.91
in 1950
All-time low
0.2754
in 2023
Years of data
74
1950–2023
Child mortality around the world in South Korea, 1950–2023
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for child mortality around the world in South Korea is 0.2754, measured in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 74 years on record.
The figure is down 5.8% on the previous year and down 26.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, child mortality around the world in South Korea peaked at 34.91 in 1950 and was at its lowest, 0.2754, in 2023.
That places South Korea 221st out of 236 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Child mortality around the world in South Korea, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 34.91 | — |
| 1951 | 30.66 | -12.2% |
| 1952 | 26.65 | -13.1% |
| 1953 | 23.11 | -13.3% |
| 1954 | 20.11 | -13.0% |
| 1955 | 17.68 | -12.1% |
| 1956 | 15.75 | -10.9% |
| 1957 | 14.32 | -9.1% |
| 1958 | 13.12 | -8.4% |
| 1959 | 12.21 | -7.0% |
| 1960 | 11.43 | -6.4% |
| 1961 | 10.8 | -5.5% |
| 1962 | 10.23 | -5.3% |
| 1963 | 9.69 | -5.3% |
| 1964 | 9.17 | -5.3% |
| 1965 | 8.67 | -5.5% |
| 1966 | 8.14 | -6.1% |
| 1967 | 7.61 | -6.5% |
| 1968 | 7.1 | -6.6% |
| 1969 | 6.66 | -6.3% |
| 1970 | 6.19 | -7.1% |
| 1971 | 5.79 | -6.4% |
| 1972 | 5.48 | -5.3% |
| 1973 | 5.13 | -6.4% |
| 1974 | 4.87 | -5.2% |
| 1975 | 4.64 | -4.8% |
| 1976 | 4.42 | -4.6% |
| 1977 | 4.23 | -4.2% |
| 1978 | 4.01 | -5.2% |
| 1979 | 3.81 | -5.2% |
| 1980 | 3.59 | -5.6% |
| 1981 | 3.37 | -6.3% |
| 1982 | 3.13 | -6.9% |
| 1983 | 2.9 | -7.5% |
| 1984 | 2.68 | -7.5% |
| 1985 | 2.46 | -8.5% |
| 1986 | 2.25 | -8.5% |
| 1987 | 2.07 | -7.7% |
| 1988 | 1.88 | -9.5% |
| 1989 | 1.72 | -8.3% |
| 1990 | 1.59 | -7.9% |
| 1991 | 1.45 | -8.3% |
| 1992 | 1.34 | -8.2% |
| 1993 | 1.23 | -7.6% |
| 1994 | 1.14 | -7.5% |
| 1995 | 1.06 | -7.2% |
| 1996 | 0.9874 | -6.8% |
| 1997 | 0.9169 | -7.1% |
| 1998 | 0.8811 | -3.9% |
| 1999 | 0.8092 | -8.2% |
| 2000 | 0.7608 | -6.0% |
| 2001 | 0.7188 | -5.5% |
| 2002 | 0.6801 | -5.4% |
| 2003 | 0.6366 | -6.4% |
| 2004 | 0.5947 | -6.6% |
| 2005 | 0.5574 | -6.3% |
| 2006 | 0.5232 | -6.1% |
| 2007 | 0.4898 | -6.4% |
| 2008 | 0.4618 | -5.7% |
| 2009 | 0.4377 | -5.2% |
| 2010 | 0.4181 | -4.5% |
| 2011 | 0.4044 | -3.3% |
| 2012 | 0.3872 | -4.3% |
| 2013 | 0.3739 | -3.4% |
| 2014 | 0.3636 | -2.8% |
| 2015 | 0.3522 | -3.1% |
| 2016 | 0.3415 | -3.0% |
| 2017 | 0.3312 | -3.0% |
| 2018 | 0.3208 | -3.1% |
| 2019 | 0.3108 | -3.1% |
| 2020 | 0.3024 | -2.7% |
| 2021 | 0.2909 | -3.8% |
| 2022 | 0.2925 | +0.6% |
| 2023 | 0.2754 | -5.8% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 0.2754 is below the median for high income countries, which is 0.5518, 50% of the median. (85 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 0.2754 is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 1.56, 18% of the median. (37 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 20.85 | 12.21 | 34.91 | 10 |
| 1960s | 8.95 | 6.66 | 11.43 | 10 |
| 1970s | 4.86 | 3.81 | 6.19 | 10 |
| 1980s | 2.6 | 1.72 | 3.59 | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.14 | 0.8092 | 1.59 | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.5861 | 0.4377 | 0.7608 | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.3604 | 0.3108 | 0.4181 | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.2903 | 0.2754 | 0.3024 | 4 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
More health data for South Korea
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.43 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.1935 % change on previous year (2090)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 69 (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -2.66 % 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 0.0118 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -2.76 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per capita 0.0124 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is child mortality around the world in South Korea?
- Child mortality around the world in South Korea was 0.2754 in 2023, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest child mortality around the world recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 34.91 in 1950.
- What is the lowest child mortality around the world recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.2754 in 2023.
- How does South Korea rank for child mortality around the world?
- South Korea ranks 221st out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is child mortality around the world rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 26.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Korea data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Child mortality around the world. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 74 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).