Child mortality rate (aged 1-4 years) in South Korea
South Korea: Child mortality rate was 0.4687 in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
0.4687
Change on year
down 3.0%
World rank
183rd
of 200 countries
All-time high
164.18
in 1951
All-time low
0.4687
in 2024
Years of data
74
1951–2024
Child mortality rate in South Korea, 1951–2024
Source: UNICEF.
Analysis
South Korea recorded 0.4687 for child mortality rate in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 74 years on record.
That represents a change of down 3.0% on the previous year and down 32.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, child mortality rate in South Korea peaked at 164.18 in 1951 and was at its lowest, 0.4687, in 2024.
That places South Korea 183rd out of 200 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 rate in South Korea, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1951 | 164.18 | — |
| 1952 | 132.56 | -19.3% |
| 1953 | 108.05 | -18.5% |
| 1954 | 89.4 | -17.3% |
| 1955 | 75.32 | -15.7% |
| 1956 | 64.69 | -14.1% |
| 1957 | 56.61 | -12.5% |
| 1958 | 50.39 | -11.0% |
| 1959 | 45.48 | -9.7% |
| 1960 | 41.54 | -8.7% |
| 1961 | 38.23 | -8.0% |
| 1962 | 35.3 | -7.6% |
| 1963 | 32.56 | -7.8% |
| 1964 | 29.94 | -8.0% |
| 1965 | 27.42 | -8.4% |
| 1966 | 24.97 | -8.9% |
| 1967 | 22.65 | -9.3% |
| 1968 | 20.5 | -9.5% |
| 1969 | 18.54 | -9.6% |
| 1970 | 16.83 | -9.2% |
| 1971 | 15.36 | -8.7% |
| 1972 | 14.14 | -8.0% |
| 1973 | 13.13 | -7.1% |
| 1974 | 12.31 | -6.3% |
| 1975 | 11.6 | -5.7% |
| 1976 | 10.99 | -5.3% |
| 1977 | 10.41 | -5.3% |
| 1978 | 9.86 | -5.3% |
| 1979 | 9.31 | -5.6% |
| 1980 | 8.73 | -6.2% |
| 1981 | 8.14 | -6.8% |
| 1982 | 7.55 | -7.2% |
| 1983 | 6.96 | -7.8% |
| 1984 | 6.39 | -8.2% |
| 1985 | 5.84 | -8.6% |
| 1986 | 5.32 | -8.9% |
| 1987 | 4.85 | -8.8% |
| 1988 | 4.44 | -8.6% |
| 1989 | 4.06 | -8.4% |
| 1990 | 3.73 | -8.1% |
| 1991 | 3.44 | -7.9% |
| 1992 | 3.17 | -7.8% |
| 1993 | 2.93 | -7.7% |
| 1994 | 2.7 | -7.7% |
| 1995 | 2.5 | -7.5% |
| 1996 | 2.31 | -7.3% |
| 1997 | 2.15 | -7.2% |
| 1998 | 2 | -6.9% |
| 1999 | 1.87 | -6.6% |
| 2000 | 1.75 | -6.2% |
| 2001 | 1.65 | -6.0% |
| 2002 | 1.54 | -6.3% |
| 2003 | 1.44 | -6.8% |
| 2004 | 1.33 | -7.3% |
| 2005 | 1.23 | -8.0% |
| 2006 | 1.13 | -8.2% |
| 2007 | 1.04 | -8.0% |
| 2008 | 0.9601 | -7.4% |
| 2009 | 0.8959 | -6.7% |
| 2010 | 0.8434 | -5.9% |
| 2011 | 0.7992 | -5.2% |
| 2012 | 0.7596 | -4.9% |
| 2013 | 0.723 | -4.8% |
| 2014 | 0.6891 | -4.7% |
| 2015 | 0.6582 | -4.5% |
| 2016 | 0.6298 | -4.3% |
| 2017 | 0.6036 | -4.2% |
| 2018 | 0.5789 | -4.1% |
| 2019 | 0.5558 | -4.0% |
| 2020 | 0.5347 | -3.8% |
| 2021 | 0.5152 | -3.6% |
| 2022 | 0.4979 | -3.4% |
| 2023 | 0.4833 | -2.9% |
| 2024 | 0.4687 | -3.0% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 0.4687 is below the median for high income countries, which is 0.6829, 69% of the median. (65 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 0.4687 is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 2.4, 20% of the median. (30 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 87.41 | 45.48 | 164.18 | 9 |
| 1960s | 29.17 | 18.54 | 41.54 | 10 |
| 1970s | 12.39 | 9.31 | 16.83 | 10 |
| 1980s | 6.23 | 4.06 | 8.73 | 10 |
| 1990s | 2.68 | 1.87 | 3.73 | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.3 | 0.8959 | 1.75 | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.684 | 0.5558 | 0.8434 | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.5 | 0.4687 | 0.5347 | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
- 180 Netherlands 0.4833 compare
- 181 Finland 0.4816 compare
- 182 Singapore 0.4768 compare
- 184 Montenegro 0.4543 compare
- 185 Monaco 0.453 compare
- 186 Switzerland 0.4451 compare
More health data for South Korea
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.43 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.1935 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 2,072 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 69 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -2.66 % 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 0.0118 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -2.76 % 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 South Korea?
- Child mortality rate in South Korea was 0.4687 in 2024, according to UNICEF.
- What is the highest child mortality rate recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 164.18 in 1951.
- What is the lowest child mortality rate recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.4687 in 2024.
- How does South Korea rank for child mortality rate?
- South Korea ranks 183rd out of 200 countries with data for 2024.
- Is child mortality rate rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 32.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Korea 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 — 74 observations, free to reuse under UNICEF Terms of Use (attribution required).