Child mortality by sex in India
India: Child mortality by sex was 2.65 in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
2.65
Change on year
down 4.8%
World rank
66th
of 199 countries
All-time high
26.08
in 1953
All-time low
2.65
in 2024
Years of data
72
1953–2024
Child mortality by sex in India, 1953–2024
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
India recorded 2.65 for child mortality by sex in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 72 years on record.
That represents a change of down 4.8% on the previous year and down 40.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, child mortality by sex in India peaked at 26.08 in 1953 and was at its lowest, 2.65, in 2024.
India ranks 66th of 199 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Child mortality by sex in India, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1953 | 26.08 | — |
| 1954 | 25.7 | -1.5% |
| 1955 | 25.3 | -1.6% |
| 1956 | 24.92 | -1.5% |
| 1957 | 24.54 | -1.5% |
| 1958 | 24.19 | -1.4% |
| 1959 | 23.84 | -1.4% |
| 1960 | 23.52 | -1.4% |
| 1961 | 23.21 | -1.3% |
| 1962 | 22.93 | -1.2% |
| 1963 | 22.64 | -1.2% |
| 1964 | 22.38 | -1.1% |
| 1965 | 22.15 | -1.0% |
| 1966 | 21.91 | -1.1% |
| 1967 | 21.69 | -1.0% |
| 1968 | 21.46 | -1.1% |
| 1969 | 21.22 | -1.1% |
| 1970 | 20.93 | -1.4% |
| 1971 | 20.61 | -1.5% |
| 1972 | 20.26 | -1.7% |
| 1973 | 19.89 | -1.8% |
| 1974 | 19.48 | -2.1% |
| 1975 | 19.04 | -2.2% |
| 1976 | 18.55 | -2.6% |
| 1977 | 18.04 | -2.8% |
| 1978 | 17.49 | -3.1% |
| 1979 | 16.95 | -3.1% |
| 1980 | 16.43 | -3.1% |
| 1981 | 15.93 | -3.0% |
| 1982 | 15.46 | -2.9% |
| 1983 | 15.02 | -2.8% |
| 1984 | 14.58 | -2.9% |
| 1985 | 14.18 | -2.8% |
| 1986 | 13.78 | -2.8% |
| 1987 | 13.36 | -3.0% |
| 1988 | 12.98 | -2.9% |
| 1989 | 12.59 | -3.0% |
| 1990 | 12.23 | -2.9% |
| 1991 | 11.86 | -3.0% |
| 1992 | 11.5 | -3.0% |
| 1993 | 11.14 | -3.1% |
| 1994 | 10.78 | -3.2% |
| 1995 | 10.42 | -3.4% |
| 1996 | 10.07 | -3.3% |
| 1997 | 9.71 | -3.6% |
| 1998 | 9.36 | -3.6% |
| 1999 | 9.07 | -3.1% |
| 2000 | 8.7 | -4.1% |
| 2001 | 8.35 | -4.1% |
| 2002 | 7.99 | -4.2% |
| 2003 | 7.66 | -4.2% |
| 2004 | 7.4 | -3.3% |
| 2005 | 7.07 | -4.6% |
| 2006 | 6.77 | -4.2% |
| 2007 | 6.44 | -4.8% |
| 2008 | 6.13 | -4.8% |
| 2009 | 5.83 | -4.8% |
| 2010 | 5.53 | -5.3% |
| 2011 | 5.25 | -5.0% |
| 2012 | 4.98 | -5.1% |
| 2013 | 4.72 | -5.3% |
| 2014 | 4.46 | -5.3% |
| 2015 | 4.23 | -5.2% |
| 2016 | 4.01 | -5.2% |
| 2017 | 3.81 | -5.2% |
| 2018 | 3.61 | -5.2% |
| 2019 | 3.43 | -5.0% |
| 2020 | 3.25 | -5.2% |
| 2021 | 3.09 | -5.0% |
| 2022 | 2.93 | -5.0% |
| 2023 | 2.79 | -5.1% |
| 2024 | 2.65 | -4.8% |
India compared with similar countries
- India's 2.65 is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 4.05, 65% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- India's 2.65 is above the median for South Asia, which is 2.27, 1.2× the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 24.94 | 23.84 | 26.08 | 7 |
| 1960s | 22.31 | 21.22 | 23.52 | 10 |
| 1970s | 19.12 | 16.95 | 20.93 | 10 |
| 1980s | 14.43 | 12.59 | 16.43 | 10 |
| 1990s | 10.61 | 9.07 | 12.23 | 10 |
| 2000s | 7.23 | 5.83 | 8.7 | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.4 | 3.43 | 5.53 | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.94 | 2.65 | 3.25 | 5 |
Countries ranked near India
More health data for India
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -2.12 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.4372 % change on previous year (2090)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 44,822 (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 38 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -0.3809 % 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 0.0372 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -0.5922 % 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 0.04 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is child mortality by sex in India?
- Child mortality by sex in India was 2.65 in 2024, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest child mortality by sex recorded in India?
- The highest recorded value was 26.08 in 1953.
- What is the lowest child mortality by sex recorded in India?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.65 in 2024.
- How does India rank for child mortality by sex?
- India ranks 66th out of 199 countries with data for 2024.
- Is child mortality by sex rising or falling in India?
- Over the last ten years it is down 40.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this India data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Child mortality by sex. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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