Child mortality in United States
United States: Child mortality was 0.6472 deaths per 100 live births in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
0.6472 deaths per 100 live births
Change on year
down 0.2%
World rank
146th
of 203 countries
All-time high
32.9 deaths per 100 live births
in 1800
All-time low
0.6465 deaths per 100 live births
in 2021
Years of data
225
1800–2024
Child mortality in United States, 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
In 2024, child mortality in United States stood at 0.6472 deaths per 100 live births.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.2% on the previous year and down 5.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, child mortality in United States peaked at 32.9 deaths per 100 live births in 1800 and was at its lowest, 0.6465 deaths per 100 live births, in 2021.
That places United States 146th out of 203 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Child mortality in United States, year by year
| Year | deaths per 100 live births | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1800 | 32.9 deaths per 100 live births | — |
| 1801 | 32.9 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1802 | 32.9 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1803 | 32.9 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1804 | 32.9 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1805 | 32.9 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1806 | 32.9 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1807 | 32.9 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1808 | 32.9 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1809 | 32.9 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1810 | 32.9 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1811 | 32.9 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1812 | 32.9 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1813 | 32.9 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1814 | 32.9 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1815 | 32.9 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1816 | 32.9 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1817 | 32.9 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1818 | 32.9 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1819 | 32.9 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1820 | 32.9 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1821 | 32.9 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1822 | 32.9 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1823 | 32.9 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1824 | 32.9 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1825 | 32.9 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1826 | 32.9 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1827 | 32.9 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1828 | 32.9 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1829 | 32.9 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1830 | 32.9 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1831 | 32.9 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1832 | 32.9 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1833 | 32.9 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1834 | 32.9 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1835 | 32.9 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1836 | 32.9 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1837 | 32.9 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1838 | 32.9 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1839 | 32.9 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1840 | 32.9 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1841 | 32.9 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1842 | 32.9 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1843 | 32.9 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1844 | 32.9 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1845 | 32.9 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1846 | 32.9 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1847 | 32.9 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1848 | 32.9 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1849 | 32.9 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1850 | 32.9 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1851 | 32.9 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1852 | 32.9 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1853 | 32.9 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1854 | 32.9 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1855 | 32.9 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1856 | 32.9 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1857 | 32.9 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1858 | 32.9 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1859 | 32.9 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1860 | 32.9 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1861 | 32.9 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1862 | 32.9 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1863 | 32.9 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1864 | 32.9 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1865 | 32.9 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1866 | 32.9 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1867 | 32.9 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1868 | 32.9 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1869 | 32.9 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1870 | 32.9 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1871 | 32.9 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1872 | 32.9 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1873 | 32.9 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1874 | 32.9 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1875 | 32.9 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1876 | 32.9 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1877 | 32.9 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1878 | 32.9 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1879 | 32.9 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1880 | 32.9 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1881 | 32.24 deaths per 100 live births | -2.0% |
| 1882 | 31.59 deaths per 100 live births | -2.0% |
| 1883 | 30.94 deaths per 100 live births | -2.1% |
| 1884 | 30.41 deaths per 100 live births | -1.7% |
| 1885 | 29.77 deaths per 100 live births | -2.1% |
| 1886 | 29.14 deaths per 100 live births | -2.1% |
| 1887 | 28.52 deaths per 100 live births | -2.1% |
| 1888 | 27.91 deaths per 100 live births | -2.2% |
| 1889 | 27.4 deaths per 100 live births | -1.8% |
| 1890 | 26.8 deaths per 100 live births | -2.2% |
| 1891 | 26.4 deaths per 100 live births | -1.5% |
| 1892 | 26 deaths per 100 live births | -1.5% |
| 1893 | 25.71 deaths per 100 live births | -1.1% |
| 1894 | 25.32 deaths per 100 live births | -1.5% |
| 1895 | 24.93 deaths per 100 live births | -1.5% |
| 1896 | 24.64 deaths per 100 live births | -1.2% |
| 1897 | 24.25 deaths per 100 live births | -1.6% |
| 1898 | 23.86 deaths per 100 live births | -1.6% |
| 1899 | 23.47 deaths per 100 live births | -1.6% |
| 1900 | 23.17 deaths per 100 live births | -1.3% |
| 1901 | 22.78 deaths per 100 live births | -1.7% |
| 1902 | 21.66 deaths per 100 live births | -4.9% |
| 1903 | 21.54 deaths per 100 live births | -0.5% |
| 1904 | 22.42 deaths per 100 live births | +4.1% |
| 1905 | 21.75 deaths per 100 live births | -3.0% |
| 1906 | 21.9 deaths per 100 live births | +0.7% |
| 1907 | 21.77 deaths per 100 live births | -0.6% |
| 1908 | 20.22 deaths per 100 live births | -7.1% |
| 1909 | 19.39 deaths per 100 live births | -4.1% |
| 1910 | 20.22 deaths per 100 live births | +4.3% |
| 1911 | 18.79 deaths per 100 live births | -7.0% |
| 1912 | 18.16 deaths per 100 live births | -3.4% |
| 1913 | 18.62 deaths per 100 live births | +2.5% |
| 1914 | 17.66 deaths per 100 live births | -5.1% |
| 1915 | 17.21 deaths per 100 live births | -2.6% |
| 1916 | 17.9 deaths per 100 live births | +4.0% |
| 1917 | 18.02 deaths per 100 live births | +0.7% |
| 1918 | 23.93 deaths per 100 live births | +32.8% |
| 1919 | 16.88 deaths per 100 live births | -29.5% |
| 1920 | 16.76 deaths per 100 live births | -0.7% |
| 1921 | 14.55 deaths per 100 live births | -13.2% |
| 1922 | 14.59 deaths per 100 live births | +0.3% |
| 1923 | 15.01 deaths per 100 live births | +2.9% |
| 1924 | 13.97 deaths per 100 live births | -6.9% |
| 1925 | 13 deaths per 100 live births | -6.9% |
| 1926 | 12.1 deaths per 100 live births | -6.9% |
| 1927 | 11.26 deaths per 100 live births | -6.9% |
| 1928 | 10.48 deaths per 100 live births | -6.9% |
| 1929 | 9.75 deaths per 100 live births | -6.9% |
| 1930 | 9.07 deaths per 100 live births | -6.9% |
| 1931 | 8.44 deaths per 100 live births | -7.0% |
| 1932 | 7.86 deaths per 100 live births | -6.9% |
| 1933 | 7.31 deaths per 100 live births | -6.9% |
| 1934 | 7.97 deaths per 100 live births | +9.0% |
| 1935 | 7.53 deaths per 100 live births | -5.5% |
| 1936 | 7.59 deaths per 100 live births | +0.8% |
| 1937 | 7.36 deaths per 100 live births | -3.1% |
| 1938 | 6.95 deaths per 100 live births | -5.5% |
| 1939 | 6.29 deaths per 100 live births | -9.6% |
| 1940 | 6.18 deaths per 100 live births | -1.6% |
| 1941 | 6.03 deaths per 100 live births | -2.5% |
| 1942 | 5.47 deaths per 100 live births | -9.3% |
| 1943 | 5.37 deaths per 100 live births | -1.9% |
| 1944 | 5.03 deaths per 100 live births | -6.3% |
| 1945 | 4.82 deaths per 100 live births | -4.2% |
| 1946 | 4.66 deaths per 100 live births | -3.3% |
| 1947 | 4.28 deaths per 100 live births | -8.3% |
| 1948 | 3.97 deaths per 100 live births | -7.2% |
| 1949 | 3.87 deaths per 100 live births | -2.6% |
| 1950 | 3.76 deaths per 100 live births | -2.7% |
| 1951 | 3.66 deaths per 100 live births | -2.7% |
| 1952 | 3.56 deaths per 100 live births | -2.7% |
| 1953 | 3.47 deaths per 100 live births | -2.7% |
| 1954 | 3.38 deaths per 100 live births | -2.5% |
| 1955 | 3.3 deaths per 100 live births | -2.3% |
| 1956 | 3.23 deaths per 100 live births | -2.1% |
| 1957 | 3.17 deaths per 100 live births | -1.9% |
| 1958 | 3.11 deaths per 100 live births | -1.8% |
| 1959 | 3.06 deaths per 100 live births | -1.7% |
| 1960 | 3.01 deaths per 100 live births | -1.8% |
| 1961 | 2.95 deaths per 100 live births | -1.9% |
| 1962 | 2.89 deaths per 100 live births | -1.9% |
| 1963 | 2.83 deaths per 100 live births | -2.0% |
| 1964 | 2.77 deaths per 100 live births | -2.1% |
| 1965 | 2.71 deaths per 100 live births | -2.3% |
| 1966 | 2.64 deaths per 100 live births | -2.5% |
| 1967 | 2.57 deaths per 100 live births | -2.7% |
| 1968 | 2.49 deaths per 100 live births | -3.0% |
| 1969 | 2.41 deaths per 100 live births | -3.3% |
| 1970 | 2.33 deaths per 100 live births | -3.5% |
| 1971 | 2.24 deaths per 100 live births | -3.8% |
| 1972 | 2.15 deaths per 100 live births | -4.0% |
| 1973 | 2.06 deaths per 100 live births | -4.2% |
| 1974 | 1.97 deaths per 100 live births | -4.4% |
| 1975 | 1.88 deaths per 100 live births | -4.5% |
| 1976 | 1.79 deaths per 100 live births | -4.6% |
| 1977 | 1.71 deaths per 100 live births | -4.6% |
| 1978 | 1.63 deaths per 100 live births | -4.5% |
| 1979 | 1.56 deaths per 100 live births | -4.3% |
| 1980 | 1.5 deaths per 100 live births | -4.2% |
| 1981 | 1.44 deaths per 100 live births | -3.9% |
| 1982 | 1.39 deaths per 100 live births | -3.6% |
| 1983 | 1.34 deaths per 100 live births | -3.2% |
| 1984 | 1.3 deaths per 100 live births | -2.9% |
| 1985 | 1.27 deaths per 100 live births | -2.5% |
| 1986 | 1.24 deaths per 100 live births | -2.3% |
| 1987 | 1.21 deaths per 100 live births | -2.2% |
| 1988 | 1.19 deaths per 100 live births | -2.3% |
| 1989 | 1.16 deaths per 100 live births | -2.5% |
| 1990 | 1.12 deaths per 100 live births | -2.9% |
| 1991 | 1.09 deaths per 100 live births | -3.2% |
| 1992 | 1.05 deaths per 100 live births | -3.4% |
| 1993 | 1.01 deaths per 100 live births | -3.5% |
| 1994 | 0.9781 deaths per 100 live births | -3.5% |
| 1995 | 0.9463 deaths per 100 live births | -3.3% |
| 1996 | 0.9182 deaths per 100 live births | -3.0% |
| 1997 | 0.8944 deaths per 100 live births | -2.6% |
| 1998 | 0.8748 deaths per 100 live births | -2.2% |
| 1999 | 0.8585 deaths per 100 live births | -1.9% |
| 2000 | 0.8447 deaths per 100 live births | -1.6% |
| 2001 | 0.833 deaths per 100 live births | -1.4% |
| 2002 | 0.8231 deaths per 100 live births | -1.2% |
| 2003 | 0.8142 deaths per 100 live births | -1.1% |
| 2004 | 0.8056 deaths per 100 live births | -1.1% |
| 2005 | 0.7963 deaths per 100 live births | -1.2% |
| 2006 | 0.7856 deaths per 100 live births | -1.3% |
| 2007 | 0.7735 deaths per 100 live births | -1.5% |
| 2008 | 0.7598 deaths per 100 live births | -1.8% |
| 2009 | 0.7451 deaths per 100 live births | -1.9% |
| 2010 | 0.7306 deaths per 100 live births | -2.0% |
| 2011 | 0.7167 deaths per 100 live births | -1.9% |
| 2012 | 0.7042 deaths per 100 live births | -1.7% |
| 2013 | 0.6935 deaths per 100 live births | -1.5% |
| 2014 | 0.6839 deaths per 100 live births | -1.4% |
| 2015 | 0.6753 deaths per 100 live births | -1.3% |
| 2016 | 0.6674 deaths per 100 live births | -1.2% |
| 2017 | 0.6602 deaths per 100 live births | -1.1% |
| 2018 | 0.654 deaths per 100 live births | -0.9% |
| 2019 | 0.6494 deaths per 100 live births | -0.7% |
| 2020 | 0.647 deaths per 100 live births | -0.4% |
| 2021 | 0.6465 deaths per 100 live births | -0.1% |
| 2022 | 0.6473 deaths per 100 live births | +0.1% |
| 2023 | 0.6483 deaths per 100 live births | +0.1% |
| 2024 | 0.6472 deaths per 100 live births | -0.2% |
United States compared with similar countries
- United States's 0.6472 deaths per 100 live births is above the median for high income countries, which is 0.4653 deaths per 100 live births, 1.4× the median. (67 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Child mortality in United States 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1918 | +32.8% | 18.02 deaths per 100 live births | 23.93 deaths per 100 live births |
| 1919 | -29.5% | 23.93 deaths per 100 live births | 16.88 deaths per 100 live births |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1800s | 32.9 deaths per 100 live births | 32.9 deaths per 100 live births | 32.9 deaths per 100 live births | 10 |
| 1810s | 32.9 deaths per 100 live births | 32.9 deaths per 100 live births | 32.9 deaths per 100 live births | 10 |
| 1820s | 32.9 deaths per 100 live births | 32.9 deaths per 100 live births | 32.9 deaths per 100 live births | 10 |
| 1830s | 32.9 deaths per 100 live births | 32.9 deaths per 100 live births | 32.9 deaths per 100 live births | 10 |
| 1840s | 32.9 deaths per 100 live births | 32.9 deaths per 100 live births | 32.9 deaths per 100 live births | 10 |
| 1850s | 32.9 deaths per 100 live births | 32.9 deaths per 100 live births | 32.9 deaths per 100 live births | 10 |
| 1860s | 32.9 deaths per 100 live births | 32.9 deaths per 100 live births | 32.9 deaths per 100 live births | 10 |
| 1870s | 32.9 deaths per 100 live births | 32.9 deaths per 100 live births | 32.9 deaths per 100 live births | 10 |
| 1880s | 30.08 deaths per 100 live births | 27.4 deaths per 100 live births | 32.9 deaths per 100 live births | 10 |
| 1890s | 25.14 deaths per 100 live births | 23.47 deaths per 100 live births | 26.8 deaths per 100 live births | 10 |
| 1900s | 21.66 deaths per 100 live births | 19.39 deaths per 100 live births | 23.17 deaths per 100 live births | 10 |
| 1910s | 18.74 deaths per 100 live births | 16.88 deaths per 100 live births | 23.93 deaths per 100 live births | 10 |
| 1920s | 13.15 deaths per 100 live births | 9.75 deaths per 100 live births | 16.76 deaths per 100 live births | 10 |
| 1930s | 7.64 deaths per 100 live births | 6.29 deaths per 100 live births | 9.07 deaths per 100 live births | 10 |
| 1940s | 4.97 deaths per 100 live births | 3.87 deaths per 100 live births | 6.18 deaths per 100 live births | 10 |
| 1950s | 3.37 deaths per 100 live births | 3.06 deaths per 100 live births | 3.76 deaths per 100 live births | 10 |
| 1960s | 2.73 deaths per 100 live births | 2.41 deaths per 100 live births | 3.01 deaths per 100 live births | 10 |
| 1970s | 1.93 deaths per 100 live births | 1.56 deaths per 100 live births | 2.33 deaths per 100 live births | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.3 deaths per 100 live births | 1.16 deaths per 100 live births | 1.5 deaths per 100 live births | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.9745 deaths per 100 live births | 0.8585 deaths per 100 live births | 1.12 deaths per 100 live births | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.7981 deaths per 100 live births | 0.7451 deaths per 100 live births | 0.8447 deaths per 100 live births | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.6835 deaths per 100 live births | 0.6494 deaths per 100 live births | 0.7306 deaths per 100 live births | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.6473 deaths per 100 live births | 0.6465 deaths per 100 live births | 0.6483 deaths per 100 live births | 5 |
Countries ranked near United States
- 143 Romania 0.7311 deaths per 100 live births compare
- 144 Bosnia and Herzegovina 0.6905 deaths per 100 live births compare
- 145 Chile 0.6753 deaths per 100 live births compare
- 147 Montserrat 0.6354 deaths per 100 live births compare
- 148 Slovakia 0.6286 deaths per 100 live births compare
- 149 Saudi Arabia 0.5958 deaths per 100 live births compare
More health data for United States
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.67 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate -0.1867 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,069 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 4,015 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2023)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 0.056 % 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 0.0261 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 0.1919 % 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 United States?
- Child mortality in United States was 0.6472 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 United States?
- The highest recorded value was 32.9 deaths per 100 live births in 1800.
- What is the lowest child mortality recorded in United States?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.6465 deaths per 100 live births in 2021.
- How does United States rank for child mortality?
- United States ranks 146th out of 203 countries with data for 2024.
- Is child mortality rising or falling in United States?
- Over the last ten years it is down 5.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this United States 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.