Child mortality by sex in North Korea
North Korea: Child mortality by sex was 1.84 in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Child mortality by sex in North Korea, 1951–2024
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for child mortality by sex in North Korea is 1.84, measured in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 74 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 7.4% on the previous year and down 26.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, child mortality by sex in North Korea peaked at 41.7 in 1951 and was at its lowest, 1.84, in 2024.
North Korea ranks 89th 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 North Korea, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1951 | 41.7 | — |
| 1952 | 27.52 | -34.0% |
| 1953 | 22.71 | -17.5% |
| 1954 | 17.7 | -22.0% |
| 1955 | 16.32 | -7.8% |
| 1956 | 15.13 | -7.3% |
| 1957 | 14.16 | -6.4% |
| 1958 | 13.38 | -5.5% |
| 1959 | 12.76 | -4.6% |
| 1960 | 12.26 | -3.9% |
| 1961 | 11.83 | -3.6% |
| 1962 | 11.43 | -3.4% |
| 1963 | 11 | -3.7% |
| 1964 | 10.56 | -4.0% |
| 1965 | 10.09 | -4.5% |
| 1966 | 9.57 | -5.1% |
| 1967 | 9.05 | -5.4% |
| 1968 | 8.52 | -5.8% |
| 1969 | 8.02 | -5.9% |
| 1970 | 7.54 | -6.0% |
| 1971 | 7.1 | -5.8% |
| 1972 | 6.71 | -5.5% |
| 1973 | 6.35 | -5.3% |
| 1974 | 6.03 | -5.1% |
| 1975 | 5.74 | -4.8% |
| 1976 | 5.47 | -4.6% |
| 1977 | 5.23 | -4.4% |
| 1978 | 5.01 | -4.3% |
| 1979 | 4.8 | -4.1% |
| 1980 | 4.61 | -4.0% |
| 1981 | 4.44 | -3.7% |
| 1982 | 4.28 | -3.5% |
| 1983 | 4.16 | -2.8% |
| 1984 | 4.07 | -2.1% |
| 1985 | 4.03 | -1.0% |
| 1986 | 4.04 | +0.2% |
| 1987 | 4.14 | +2.4% |
| 1988 | 4.2 | +1.6% |
| 1989 | 4.32 | +2.9% |
| 1990 | 4.46 | +3.1% |
| 1991 | 4.57 | +2.6% |
| 1992 | 4.64 | +1.6% |
| 1993 | 4.67 | +0.5% |
| 1994 | 4.65 | -0.5% |
| 1995 | 11.34 | +144.1% |
| 1996 | 11.18 | -1.4% |
| 1997 | 11.02 | -1.4% |
| 1998 | 10.87 | -1.4% |
| 1999 | 10.71 | -1.4% |
| 2000 | 10.57 | -1.4% |
| 2001 | 10.43 | -1.3% |
| 2002 | 10.3 | -1.3% |
| 2003 | 3.79 | -63.2% |
| 2004 | 3.71 | -2.1% |
| 2005 | 3.66 | -1.4% |
| 2006 | 3.6 | -1.6% |
| 2007 | 3.56 | -1.1% |
| 2008 | 3.41 | -4.0% |
| 2009 | 3.3 | -3.4% |
| 2010 | 3.15 | -4.4% |
| 2011 | 2.99 | -5.0% |
| 2012 | 2.83 | -5.3% |
| 2013 | 2.66 | -6.2% |
| 2014 | 2.5 | -6.1% |
| 2015 | 2.35 | -5.7% |
| 2016 | 2.27 | -3.5% |
| 2017 | 2.11 | -7.3% |
| 2018 | 2.03 | -3.6% |
| 2019 | 1.95 | -4.0% |
| 2020 | 1.92 | -1.3% |
| 2021 | 1.92 | -0.0% |
| 2022 | 1.95 | +1.6% |
| 2023 | 1.98 | +1.5% |
| 2024 | 1.84 | -7.4% |
North Korea compared with similar countries
- North Korea's 1.84 is below the median for low income countries, which is 6.64, 28% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- North Korea's 1.84 is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 1.89, 97% of the median. (30 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Child mortality by sex in North Korea changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | +144.1% | 4.65 | 11.34 |
| 2003 | -63.2% | 10.3 | 3.79 |
| 1952 | -34.0% | 41.7 | 27.52 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 20.15 | 12.76 | 41.7 | 9 |
| 1960s | 10.23 | 8.02 | 12.26 | 10 |
| 1970s | 6 | 4.8 | 7.54 | 10 |
| 1980s | 4.23 | 4.03 | 4.61 | 10 |
| 1990s | 7.81 | 4.46 | 11.34 | 10 |
| 2000s | 5.63 | 3.3 | 10.57 | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.48 | 1.95 | 3.15 | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.92 | 1.84 | 1.98 | 5 |
Countries ranked near North Korea
- 86 Azerbaijan 1.89 compare
- 87 Saint Lucia 1.88 compare
- 88 Kyrgyzstan 1.87 compare
- 90 Vanuatu 1.83 compare
- 91 Moldova 1.82 compare
- 92 Paraguay 1.79 compare
More health data for North Korea
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 767 (2100)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.16 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate -0.2456 % change on previous year (2090)
- Diphtheria - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2022)
- Measles - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Diphtheria - number of reported cases, per capita 0 units per person (2022)
- Population ages 15-64, total, annual growth rate -0.1528 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 15-64, total, per capita 0.6836 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 65 and above, female, per capita 0.073 units per person (2025)
- Pertussis - number of reported cases, per capita 0 units per person (2022)
Frequently asked questions
- What is child mortality by sex in North Korea?
- Child mortality by sex in North Korea was 1.84 in 2024, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest child mortality by sex recorded in North Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 41.7 in 1951.
- What is the lowest child mortality by sex recorded in North Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.84 in 2024.
- How does North Korea rank for child mortality by sex?
- North Korea ranks 89th out of 199 countries with data for 2024.
- Is child mortality by sex rising or falling in North Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 26.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this North Korea 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.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 74 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).