Child mortality rate (aged 1-4 years) in China
China: Child mortality rate was 1.65 in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
1.65
Change on year
down 4.6%
World rank
104th
of 200 countries
All-time high
32.01
in 1969
All-time low
1.65
in 2024
Years of data
56
1969–2024
Child mortality rate in China, 1969–2024
Source: UNICEF.
Analysis
In 2024, child mortality rate in China stood at 1.65. That is the lowest value across all 56 years on record.
The figure is down 4.6% on the previous year and down 38.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, child mortality rate in China peaked at 32.01 in 1969 and was at its lowest, 1.65, in 2024.
That places China 104th out of 200 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 rate in China, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1969 | 32.01 | — |
| 1970 | 30 | -6.3% |
| 1971 | 28.06 | -6.4% |
| 1972 | 26.19 | -6.7% |
| 1973 | 24.39 | -6.9% |
| 1974 | 22.64 | -7.2% |
| 1975 | 20.94 | -7.5% |
| 1976 | 19.37 | -7.5% |
| 1977 | 17.9 | -7.6% |
| 1978 | 16.58 | -7.4% |
| 1979 | 15.46 | -6.8% |
| 1980 | 14.49 | -6.3% |
| 1981 | 13.67 | -5.7% |
| 1982 | 12.99 | -5.0% |
| 1983 | 12.42 | -4.4% |
| 1984 | 11.98 | -3.5% |
| 1985 | 11.66 | -2.7% |
| 1986 | 11.4 | -2.2% |
| 1987 | 11.22 | -1.6% |
| 1988 | 11.08 | -1.3% |
| 1989 | 10.93 | -1.4% |
| 1990 | 10.75 | -1.6% |
| 1991 | 10.53 | -2.0% |
| 1992 | 10.24 | -2.7% |
| 1993 | 9.91 | -3.3% |
| 1994 | 9.52 | -3.9% |
| 1995 | 9.1 | -4.3% |
| 1996 | 8.69 | -4.6% |
| 1997 | 8.27 | -4.8% |
| 1998 | 7.84 | -5.2% |
| 1999 | 7.39 | -5.7% |
| 2000 | 6.94 | -6.2% |
| 2001 | 6.47 | -6.8% |
| 2002 | 5.99 | -7.3% |
| 2003 | 5.54 | -7.6% |
| 2004 | 5.1 | -7.8% |
| 2005 | 4.71 | -7.8% |
| 2006 | 4.36 | -7.4% |
| 2007 | 4.05 | -7.0% |
| 2008 | 3.79 | -6.6% |
| 2009 | 3.55 | -6.2% |
| 2010 | 3.34 | -5.8% |
| 2011 | 3.16 | -5.6% |
| 2012 | 2.98 | -5.4% |
| 2013 | 2.82 | -5.5% |
| 2014 | 2.67 | -5.2% |
| 2015 | 2.54 | -5.2% |
| 2016 | 2.41 | -5.0% |
| 2017 | 2.29 | -4.9% |
| 2018 | 2.18 | -4.8% |
| 2019 | 2.08 | -4.7% |
| 2020 | 1.99 | -4.5% |
| 2021 | 1.9 | -4.5% |
| 2022 | 1.81 | -4.4% |
| 2023 | 1.73 | -4.6% |
| 2024 | 1.65 | -4.6% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 1.65 is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 1.62, 1.0× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- China's 1.65 is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 2.4, 69% of the median. (30 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 32.01 | 32.01 | 32.01 | 1 |
| 1970s | 22.15 | 15.46 | 30 | 10 |
| 1980s | 12.18 | 10.93 | 14.49 | 10 |
| 1990s | 9.22 | 7.39 | 10.75 | 10 |
| 2000s | 5.05 | 3.55 | 6.94 | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.65 | 2.08 | 3.34 | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.82 | 1.65 | 1.99 | 5 |
Countries ranked near China
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 rate in China?
- Child mortality rate in China was 1.65 in 2024, according to UNICEF.
- What is the highest child mortality rate recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 32.01 in 1969.
- What is the lowest child mortality rate recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.65 in 2024.
- How does China rank for child mortality rate?
- China ranks 104th out of 200 countries with data for 2024.
- Is child mortality rate rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is down 38.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this China data come from?
- The figures come from UNICEF, published as part of Child mortality rate (aged 1-4 years). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 56 observations, free to reuse under UNICEF Terms of Use (attribution required).