Child mortality rate (aged 1-4 years) in India
India: Child mortality rate was 3.31 in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
3.31
Change on year
down 8.4%
World rank
65th
of 200 countries
All-time high
121.83
in 1953
All-time low
3.31
in 2024
Years of data
72
1953–2024
Child mortality rate in India, 1953–2024
Source: UNICEF.
Analysis
In 2024, child mortality rate in India stood at 3.31. That is the lowest value across all 72 years on record.
That represents a change of down 8.4% on the previous year and down 61.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, child mortality rate in India peaked at 121.83 in 1953 and was at its lowest, 3.31, in 2024.
India ranks 65th of 200 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 rate in India, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1953 | 121.83 | — |
| 1954 | 119.58 | -1.9% |
| 1955 | 117.29 | -1.9% |
| 1956 | 115.09 | -1.9% |
| 1957 | 113.03 | -1.8% |
| 1958 | 110.92 | -1.9% |
| 1959 | 108.95 | -1.8% |
| 1960 | 107.07 | -1.7% |
| 1961 | 105.24 | -1.7% |
| 1962 | 103.57 | -1.6% |
| 1963 | 102.01 | -1.5% |
| 1964 | 100.54 | -1.4% |
| 1965 | 99.07 | -1.5% |
| 1966 | 97.67 | -1.4% |
| 1967 | 96.32 | -1.4% |
| 1968 | 94.93 | -1.4% |
| 1969 | 93.43 | -1.6% |
| 1970 | 91.96 | -1.6% |
| 1971 | 90.32 | -1.8% |
| 1972 | 88.55 | -2.0% |
| 1973 | 86.66 | -2.1% |
| 1974 | 84.57 | -2.4% |
| 1975 | 82.29 | -2.7% |
| 1976 | 79.88 | -2.9% |
| 1977 | 77.3 | -3.2% |
| 1978 | 74.59 | -3.5% |
| 1979 | 71.84 | -3.7% |
| 1980 | 69.08 | -3.9% |
| 1981 | 66.43 | -3.8% |
| 1982 | 63.92 | -3.8% |
| 1983 | 61.55 | -3.7% |
| 1984 | 59.3 | -3.7% |
| 1985 | 57.12 | -3.7% |
| 1986 | 54.98 | -3.8% |
| 1987 | 52.85 | -3.9% |
| 1988 | 50.73 | -4.0% |
| 1989 | 48.61 | -4.2% |
| 1990 | 46.57 | -4.2% |
| 1991 | 44.57 | -4.3% |
| 1992 | 42.62 | -4.4% |
| 1993 | 40.69 | -4.5% |
| 1994 | 38.78 | -4.7% |
| 1995 | 36.87 | -4.9% |
| 1996 | 34.93 | -5.3% |
| 1997 | 32.99 | -5.5% |
| 1998 | 31.06 | -5.8% |
| 1999 | 29.15 | -6.2% |
| 2000 | 27.28 | -6.4% |
| 2001 | 25.46 | -6.7% |
| 2002 | 23.72 | -6.8% |
| 2003 | 22.04 | -7.1% |
| 2004 | 20.43 | -7.3% |
| 2005 | 18.9 | -7.5% |
| 2006 | 17.44 | -7.7% |
| 2007 | 16.06 | -7.9% |
| 2008 | 14.75 | -8.2% |
| 2009 | 13.51 | -8.4% |
| 2010 | 12.35 | -8.6% |
| 2011 | 11.26 | -8.8% |
| 2012 | 10.25 | -9.0% |
| 2013 | 9.33 | -9.0% |
| 2014 | 8.47 | -9.1% |
| 2015 | 7.69 | -9.2% |
| 2016 | 6.99 | -9.1% |
| 2017 | 6.35 | -9.2% |
| 2018 | 5.77 | -9.1% |
| 2019 | 5.26 | -9.0% |
| 2020 | 4.78 | -9.1% |
| 2021 | 4.35 | -9.1% |
| 2022 | 3.96 | -9.0% |
| 2023 | 3.61 | -8.8% |
| 2024 | 3.31 | -8.4% |
India compared with similar countries
- India's 3.31 is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 4.43, 75% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- India's 3.31 is above the median for South Asia, which is 3.12, 1.1× the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 115.24 | 108.95 | 121.83 | 7 |
| 1960s | 99.99 | 93.43 | 107.07 | 10 |
| 1970s | 82.8 | 71.84 | 91.96 | 10 |
| 1980s | 58.46 | 48.61 | 69.08 | 10 |
| 1990s | 37.82 | 29.15 | 46.57 | 10 |
| 2000s | 19.96 | 13.51 | 27.28 | 10 |
| 2010s | 8.37 | 5.26 | 12.35 | 10 |
| 2020s | 4 | 3.31 | 4.78 | 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)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,332 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 44,822 deaths (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)
Frequently asked questions
- What is child mortality rate in India?
- Child mortality rate in India was 3.31 in 2024, according to UNICEF.
- What is the highest child mortality rate recorded in India?
- The highest recorded value was 121.83 in 1953.
- What is the lowest child mortality rate recorded in India?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.31 in 2024.
- How does India rank for child mortality rate?
- India ranks 65th out of 200 countries with data for 2024.
- Is child mortality rate rising or falling in India?
- Over the last ten years it is down 61.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this India 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 — 72 observations, free to reuse under UNICEF Terms of Use (attribution required).