Child mortality in China
China: Child mortality was 0.5724 deaths per 100 live births in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
0.5724 deaths per 100 live births
Change on year
down 6.5%
World rank
153rd
of 203 countries
All-time high
50.03 deaths per 100 live births
in 1856
All-time low
0.5724 deaths per 100 live births
in 2024
Years of data
225
1800–2024
Child mortality in China, 1800–2024
Source: Gapminder (2015); UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (2025) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in deaths per 100 live births.
Analysis
The most recent figure for child mortality in China is 0.5724 deaths per 100 live births, measured in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 225 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 6.5% on the previous year and down 50.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, child mortality in China peaked at 50.03 deaths per 100 live births in 1856 and was at its lowest, 0.5724 deaths per 100 live births, in 2024.
That places China 153rd out of 203 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Child mortality in China, year by year
| Year | deaths per 100 live births | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1800 | 41.74 deaths per 100 live births | — |
| 1801 | 41.74 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1802 | 41.74 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1803 | 41.74 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1804 | 41.74 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1805 | 41.74 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1806 | 41.74 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1807 | 41.74 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1808 | 41.74 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1809 | 41.74 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1810 | 41.74 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1811 | 41.74 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1812 | 41.74 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1813 | 41.74 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1814 | 41.74 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1815 | 41.74 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1816 | 41.74 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1817 | 41.74 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1818 | 41.74 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1819 | 41.74 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1820 | 41.74 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1821 | 41.74 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1822 | 41.74 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1823 | 41.74 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1824 | 41.74 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1825 | 41.74 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1826 | 41.74 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1827 | 41.74 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1828 | 41.74 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1829 | 41.74 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1830 | 41.74 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1831 | 41.74 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1832 | 41.74 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1833 | 41.74 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1834 | 41.74 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1835 | 41.74 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1836 | 41.74 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1837 | 41.74 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1838 | 41.74 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1839 | 41.74 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1840 | 41.74 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1841 | 41.74 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1842 | 41.74 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1843 | 41.74 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1844 | 41.74 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1845 | 41.74 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1846 | 41.74 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1847 | 41.74 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1848 | 41.74 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1849 | 41.74 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1850 | 41.74 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1851 | 43.05 deaths per 100 live births | +3.1% |
| 1852 | 44.38 deaths per 100 live births | +3.1% |
| 1853 | 45.74 deaths per 100 live births | +3.1% |
| 1854 | 47.14 deaths per 100 live births | +3.1% |
| 1855 | 48.57 deaths per 100 live births | +3.0% |
| 1856 | 50.03 deaths per 100 live births | +3.0% |
| 1857 | 49.16 deaths per 100 live births | -1.8% |
| 1858 | 48.14 deaths per 100 live births | -2.1% |
| 1859 | 47.28 deaths per 100 live births | -1.8% |
| 1860 | 46.44 deaths per 100 live births | -1.8% |
| 1861 | 45.6 deaths per 100 live births | -1.8% |
| 1862 | 44.65 deaths per 100 live births | -2.1% |
| 1863 | 43.85 deaths per 100 live births | -1.8% |
| 1864 | 43.05 deaths per 100 live births | -1.8% |
| 1865 | 42.92 deaths per 100 live births | -0.3% |
| 1866 | 42.66 deaths per 100 live births | -0.6% |
| 1867 | 42.52 deaths per 100 live births | -0.3% |
| 1868 | 42.27 deaths per 100 live births | -0.6% |
| 1869 | 42.13 deaths per 100 live births | -0.3% |
| 1870 | 41.87 deaths per 100 live births | -0.6% |
| 1871 | 41.74 deaths per 100 live births | -0.3% |
| 1872 | 41.74 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1873 | 41.74 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1874 | 41.74 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1875 | 41.74 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1876 | 41.74 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1877 | 41.74 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1878 | 41.74 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1879 | 41.74 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1880 | 41.74 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1881 | 41.74 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1882 | 41.74 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1883 | 41.74 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1884 | 41.74 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1885 | 41.74 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1886 | 41.74 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1887 | 41.74 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1888 | 41.74 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1889 | 41.74 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1890 | 41.74 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1891 | 41.74 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1892 | 41.74 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1893 | 41.74 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1894 | 41.74 deaths per 100 live births | -0.0% |
| 1895 | 41.74 deaths per 100 live births | -0.0% |
| 1896 | 41.73 deaths per 100 live births | -0.0% |
| 1897 | 41.72 deaths per 100 live births | -0.0% |
| 1898 | 41.7 deaths per 100 live births | -0.0% |
| 1899 | 41.68 deaths per 100 live births | -0.1% |
| 1900 | 41.65 deaths per 100 live births | -0.1% |
| 1901 | 41.62 deaths per 100 live births | -0.1% |
| 1902 | 41.58 deaths per 100 live births | -0.1% |
| 1903 | 41.53 deaths per 100 live births | -0.1% |
| 1904 | 41.47 deaths per 100 live births | -0.1% |
| 1905 | 41.41 deaths per 100 live births | -0.1% |
| 1906 | 41.34 deaths per 100 live births | -0.2% |
| 1907 | 41.27 deaths per 100 live births | -0.2% |
| 1908 | 41.18 deaths per 100 live births | -0.2% |
| 1909 | 41.1 deaths per 100 live births | -0.2% |
| 1910 | 41.01 deaths per 100 live births | -0.2% |
| 1911 | 40.91 deaths per 100 live births | -0.2% |
| 1912 | 40.81 deaths per 100 live births | -0.2% |
| 1913 | 40.72 deaths per 100 live births | -0.2% |
| 1914 | 40.62 deaths per 100 live births | -0.2% |
| 1915 | 40.52 deaths per 100 live births | -0.2% |
| 1916 | 40.42 deaths per 100 live births | -0.2% |
| 1917 | 40.32 deaths per 100 live births | -0.2% |
| 1918 | 40.23 deaths per 100 live births | -0.2% |
| 1919 | 40.13 deaths per 100 live births | -0.2% |
| 1920 | 40.03 deaths per 100 live births | -0.2% |
| 1921 | 39.93 deaths per 100 live births | -0.2% |
| 1922 | 39.83 deaths per 100 live births | -0.2% |
| 1923 | 39.73 deaths per 100 live births | -0.2% |
| 1924 | 39.64 deaths per 100 live births | -0.2% |
| 1925 | 39.54 deaths per 100 live births | -0.2% |
| 1926 | 39.44 deaths per 100 live births | -0.2% |
| 1927 | 39.34 deaths per 100 live births | -0.2% |
| 1928 | 39.25 deaths per 100 live births | -0.2% |
| 1929 | 39.15 deaths per 100 live births | -0.2% |
| 1930 | 39.05 deaths per 100 live births | -0.3% |
| 1931 | 38.36 deaths per 100 live births | -1.8% |
| 1932 | 37.67 deaths per 100 live births | -1.8% |
| 1933 | 36.99 deaths per 100 live births | -1.8% |
| 1934 | 36.32 deaths per 100 live births | -1.8% |
| 1935 | 35.67 deaths per 100 live births | -1.8% |
| 1936 | 35.01 deaths per 100 live births | -1.8% |
| 1937 | 34.59 deaths per 100 live births | -1.2% |
| 1938 | 34.06 deaths per 100 live births | -1.5% |
| 1939 | 33.65 deaths per 100 live births | -1.2% |
| 1940 | 33.24 deaths per 100 live births | -1.2% |
| 1941 | 33.09 deaths per 100 live births | -0.5% |
| 1942 | 32.93 deaths per 100 live births | -0.5% |
| 1943 | 32.78 deaths per 100 live births | -0.5% |
| 1944 | 32.62 deaths per 100 live births | -0.5% |
| 1945 | 32.47 deaths per 100 live births | -0.5% |
| 1946 | 32.32 deaths per 100 live births | -0.5% |
| 1947 | 32.16 deaths per 100 live births | -0.5% |
| 1948 | 32.01 deaths per 100 live births | -0.5% |
| 1949 | 31.86 deaths per 100 live births | -0.5% |
| 1950 | 31.71 deaths per 100 live births | -0.5% |
| 1951 | 31.17 deaths per 100 live births | -1.7% |
| 1952 | 30.64 deaths per 100 live births | -1.7% |
| 1953 | 30.12 deaths per 100 live births | -1.7% |
| 1954 | 29.6 deaths per 100 live births | -1.7% |
| 1955 | 29.1 deaths per 100 live births | -1.7% |
| 1956 | 27.03 deaths per 100 live births | -7.1% |
| 1957 | 25.11 deaths per 100 live births | -7.1% |
| 1958 | 23.33 deaths per 100 live births | -7.1% |
| 1959 | 26.84 deaths per 100 live births | +15.1% |
| 1960 | 30.9 deaths per 100 live births | +15.1% |
| 1961 | 26.19 deaths per 100 live births | -15.3% |
| 1962 | 16.78 deaths per 100 live births | -35.9% |
| 1963 | 14.81 deaths per 100 live births | -11.7% |
| 1964 | 13.08 deaths per 100 live births | -11.7% |
| 1965 | 11.54 deaths per 100 live births | -11.7% |
| 1966 | 12.08 deaths per 100 live births | +4.7% |
| 1967 | 13.01 deaths per 100 live births | +7.7% |
| 1968 | 13.07 deaths per 100 live births | +0.5% |
| 1969 | 11.8 deaths per 100 live births | -9.8% |
| 1970 | 11.21 deaths per 100 live births | -5.0% |
| 1971 | 10.63 deaths per 100 live births | -5.2% |
| 1972 | 10.08 deaths per 100 live births | -5.2% |
| 1973 | 9.52 deaths per 100 live births | -5.5% |
| 1974 | 8.97 deaths per 100 live births | -5.8% |
| 1975 | 8.43 deaths per 100 live births | -6.0% |
| 1976 | 7.91 deaths per 100 live births | -6.2% |
| 1977 | 7.42 deaths per 100 live births | -6.2% |
| 1978 | 6.98 deaths per 100 live births | -5.9% |
| 1979 | 6.59 deaths per 100 live births | -5.5% |
| 1980 | 6.26 deaths per 100 live births | -5.0% |
| 1981 | 5.99 deaths per 100 live births | -4.4% |
| 1982 | 5.77 deaths per 100 live births | -3.6% |
| 1983 | 5.61 deaths per 100 live births | -2.9% |
| 1984 | 5.49 deaths per 100 live births | -2.0% |
| 1985 | 5.42 deaths per 100 live births | -1.3% |
| 1986 | 5.39 deaths per 100 live births | -0.7% |
| 1987 | 5.38 deaths per 100 live births | -0.1% |
| 1988 | 5.39 deaths per 100 live births | +0.1% |
| 1989 | 5.38 deaths per 100 live births | -0.1% |
| 1990 | 5.36 deaths per 100 live births | -0.4% |
| 1991 | 5.3 deaths per 100 live births | -1.0% |
| 1992 | 5.21 deaths per 100 live births | -1.8% |
| 1993 | 5.08 deaths per 100 live births | -2.4% |
| 1994 | 4.92 deaths per 100 live births | -3.1% |
| 1995 | 4.74 deaths per 100 live births | -3.7% |
| 1996 | 4.55 deaths per 100 live births | -4.0% |
| 1997 | 4.35 deaths per 100 live births | -4.5% |
| 1998 | 4.14 deaths per 100 live births | -5.0% |
| 1999 | 3.91 deaths per 100 live births | -5.5% |
| 2000 | 3.66 deaths per 100 live births | -6.2% |
| 2001 | 3.41 deaths per 100 live births | -7.0% |
| 2002 | 3.14 deaths per 100 live births | -7.7% |
| 2003 | 2.88 deaths per 100 live births | -8.3% |
| 2004 | 2.63 deaths per 100 live births | -8.7% |
| 2005 | 2.4 deaths per 100 live births | -8.8% |
| 2006 | 2.19 deaths per 100 live births | -8.6% |
| 2007 | 2.01 deaths per 100 live births | -8.3% |
| 2008 | 1.85 deaths per 100 live births | -8.1% |
| 2009 | 1.71 deaths per 100 live births | -7.8% |
| 2010 | 1.57 deaths per 100 live births | -7.6% |
| 2011 | 1.46 deaths per 100 live births | -7.5% |
| 2012 | 1.35 deaths per 100 live births | -7.4% |
| 2013 | 1.25 deaths per 100 live births | -7.5% |
| 2014 | 1.16 deaths per 100 live births | -7.3% |
| 2015 | 1.07 deaths per 100 live births | -7.3% |
| 2016 | 0.9957 deaths per 100 live births | -7.2% |
| 2017 | 0.9253 deaths per 100 live births | -7.1% |
| 2018 | 0.8613 deaths per 100 live births | -6.9% |
| 2019 | 0.8033 deaths per 100 live births | -6.7% |
| 2020 | 0.7501 deaths per 100 live births | -6.6% |
| 2021 | 0.701 deaths per 100 live births | -6.5% |
| 2022 | 0.6558 deaths per 100 live births | -6.4% |
| 2023 | 0.6123 deaths per 100 live births | -6.6% |
| 2024 | 0.5724 deaths per 100 live births | -6.5% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 0.5724 deaths per 100 live births is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 1.3 deaths per 100 live births, 44% of the median. (58 countries reporting)
- China's 0.5724 deaths per 100 live births is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 1.71 deaths per 100 live births, 33% of the median. (31 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Child mortality in China 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1962 | -35.9% | 26.19 deaths per 100 live births | 16.78 deaths per 100 live births |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1800s | 41.74 deaths per 100 live births | 41.74 deaths per 100 live births | 41.74 deaths per 100 live births | 10 |
| 1810s | 41.74 deaths per 100 live births | 41.74 deaths per 100 live births | 41.74 deaths per 100 live births | 10 |
| 1820s | 41.74 deaths per 100 live births | 41.74 deaths per 100 live births | 41.74 deaths per 100 live births | 10 |
| 1830s | 41.74 deaths per 100 live births | 41.74 deaths per 100 live births | 41.74 deaths per 100 live births | 10 |
| 1840s | 41.74 deaths per 100 live births | 41.74 deaths per 100 live births | 41.74 deaths per 100 live births | 10 |
| 1850s | 46.52 deaths per 100 live births | 41.74 deaths per 100 live births | 50.03 deaths per 100 live births | 10 |
| 1860s | 43.61 deaths per 100 live births | 42.13 deaths per 100 live births | 46.44 deaths per 100 live births | 10 |
| 1870s | 41.76 deaths per 100 live births | 41.74 deaths per 100 live births | 41.87 deaths per 100 live births | 10 |
| 1880s | 41.74 deaths per 100 live births | 41.74 deaths per 100 live births | 41.74 deaths per 100 live births | 10 |
| 1890s | 41.73 deaths per 100 live births | 41.68 deaths per 100 live births | 41.74 deaths per 100 live births | 10 |
| 1900s | 41.41 deaths per 100 live births | 41.1 deaths per 100 live births | 41.65 deaths per 100 live births | 10 |
| 1910s | 40.57 deaths per 100 live births | 40.13 deaths per 100 live births | 41.01 deaths per 100 live births | 10 |
| 1920s | 39.59 deaths per 100 live births | 39.15 deaths per 100 live births | 40.03 deaths per 100 live births | 10 |
| 1930s | 36.14 deaths per 100 live births | 33.65 deaths per 100 live births | 39.05 deaths per 100 live births | 10 |
| 1940s | 32.55 deaths per 100 live births | 31.86 deaths per 100 live births | 33.24 deaths per 100 live births | 10 |
| 1950s | 28.47 deaths per 100 live births | 23.33 deaths per 100 live births | 31.71 deaths per 100 live births | 10 |
| 1960s | 16.33 deaths per 100 live births | 11.54 deaths per 100 live births | 30.9 deaths per 100 live births | 10 |
| 1970s | 8.77 deaths per 100 live births | 6.59 deaths per 100 live births | 11.21 deaths per 100 live births | 10 |
| 1980s | 5.61 deaths per 100 live births | 5.38 deaths per 100 live births | 6.26 deaths per 100 live births | 10 |
| 1990s | 4.76 deaths per 100 live births | 3.91 deaths per 100 live births | 5.36 deaths per 100 live births | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.59 deaths per 100 live births | 1.71 deaths per 100 live births | 3.66 deaths per 100 live births | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.14 deaths per 100 live births | 0.8033 deaths per 100 live births | 1.57 deaths per 100 live births | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.6583 deaths per 100 live births | 0.5724 deaths per 100 live births | 0.7501 deaths per 100 live births | 5 |
Countries ranked near China
- 150 Qatar 0.5885 deaths per 100 live births compare
- 151 Sri Lanka 0.5881 deaths per 100 live births compare
- 152 Bulgaria 0.5736 deaths per 100 live births compare
- 154 Croatia 0.5646 deaths per 100 live births compare
- 155 Anguilla 0.5608 deaths per 100 live births compare
- 156 Maldives 0.5439 deaths per 100 live births compare
More health data for China
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.15 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate -0.0985 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 2,029 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 4,642 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 10 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -8.22 % 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 0.0159 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -8.73 % 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 in China?
- Child mortality in China was 0.5724 deaths per 100 live births in 2024, according to Gapminder (2015); UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (2025) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest child mortality recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 50.03 deaths per 100 live births in 1856.
- What is the lowest child mortality recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.5724 deaths per 100 live births in 2024.
- How does China rank for child mortality?
- China ranks 153rd out of 203 countries with data for 2024.
- Is child mortality rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is down 50.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this China data come from?
- The figures come from Gapminder (2015); UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (2025) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Child mortality. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Estimated share of newborns who die before reaching the age of five.