Child mortality rate in China
China: Child mortality rate was 0.7% in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Child mortality rate in China, 1950–2023
Source: UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in % of children.
Analysis
In 2023, child mortality rate in China stood at 0.7%.
That represents a change of up 4.3% on the previous year and down 42.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, child mortality rate in China peaked at 33.6% in 1960 and was at its lowest, 0.7%, in 2022.
China ranks 160th of 236 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 China, year by year
| Year | % of children | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 20.6% | — |
| 1951 | 20.1% | -2.6% |
| 1952 | 19.5% | -2.7% |
| 1953 | 19.0% | -2.7% |
| 1954 | 18.6% | -2.2% |
| 1955 | 18.0% | -3.1% |
| 1956 | 17.6% | -2.6% |
| 1957 | 17.1% | -2.7% |
| 1958 | 16.6% | -2.7% |
| 1959 | 25.6% | +54.3% |
| 1960 | 33.6% | +31.1% |
| 1961 | 25.8% | -23.2% |
| 1962 | 14.8% | -42.5% |
| 1963 | 14.4% | -3.0% |
| 1964 | 13.9% | -3.1% |
| 1965 | 13.5% | -3.2% |
| 1966 | 13.0% | -3.3% |
| 1967 | 12.6% | -3.5% |
| 1968 | 12.1% | -3.8% |
| 1969 | 11.6% | -4.1% |
| 1970 | 11.1% | -4.5% |
| 1971 | 10.5% | -4.9% |
| 1972 | 10.0% | -5.1% |
| 1973 | 9.5% | -5.3% |
| 1974 | 9.0% | -5.4% |
| 1975 | 8.5% | -5.3% |
| 1976 | 8.1% | -4.2% |
| 1977 | 7.5% | -7.7% |
| 1978 | 7.1% | -5.4% |
| 1979 | 6.7% | -5.1% |
| 1980 | 6.4% | -4.4% |
| 1981 | 6.2% | -4.2% |
| 1982 | 5.9% | -3.6% |
| 1983 | 5.8% | -2.9% |
| 1984 | 5.6% | -2.3% |
| 1985 | 5.5% | -1.6% |
| 1986 | 5.5% | -1.3% |
| 1987 | 5.4% | -1.0% |
| 1988 | 5.4% | -0.7% |
| 1989 | 5.3% | -0.9% |
| 1990 | 5.3% | -1.2% |
| 1991 | 5.2% | -1.4% |
| 1992 | 5.1% | -2.0% |
| 1993 | 5.0% | -2.4% |
| 1994 | 4.8% | -2.9% |
| 1995 | 4.7% | -3.4% |
| 1996 | 4.5% | -4.0% |
| 1997 | 4.3% | -4.7% |
| 1998 | 4.1% | -5.0% |
| 1999 | 3.8% | -5.8% |
| 2000 | 3.6% | -6.3% |
| 2001 | 3.3% | -6.8% |
| 2002 | 3.1% | -7.2% |
| 2003 | 2.9% | -7.7% |
| 2004 | 2.6% | -8.0% |
| 2005 | 2.4% | -8.1% |
| 2006 | 2.2% | -8.2% |
| 2007 | 2.0% | -8.2% |
| 2008 | 1.9% | -6.0% |
| 2009 | 1.7% | -10.1% |
| 2010 | 1.6% | -7.5% |
| 2011 | 1.5% | -7.9% |
| 2012 | 1.4% | -7.5% |
| 2013 | 1.3% | -7.4% |
| 2014 | 1.2% | -7.3% |
| 2015 | 1.1% | -7.3% |
| 2016 | 1.0% | -7.0% |
| 2017 | 0.9% | -7.1% |
| 2018 | 0.9% | -6.8% |
| 2019 | 0.8% | -6.7% |
| 2020 | 0.8% | -6.6% |
| 2021 | 0.7% | -6.5% |
| 2022 | 0.7% | -2.6% |
| 2023 | 0.7% | +4.3% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 0.7% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 1.4%, 52% of the median. (58 countries reporting)
- China's 0.7% is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 1.6%, 46% of the median. (37 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Child mortality rate 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1959 | +54.3% | 16.6% | 25.6% |
| 1962 | -42.5% | 25.8% | 14.8% |
| 1960 | +31.1% | 25.6% | 33.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 19.3% | 16.6% | 25.6% | 10 |
| 1960s | 16.5% | 11.6% | 33.6% | 10 |
| 1970s | 8.8% | 6.7% | 11.1% | 10 |
| 1980s | 5.7% | 5.3% | 6.4% | 10 |
| 1990s | 4.7% | 3.8% | 5.3% | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.6% | 1.7% | 3.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.2% | 0.8% | 1.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.7% | 0.7% | 0.8% | 4 |
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)
- 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)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per capita 0.0176 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is child mortality rate in China?
- Child mortality rate in China was 0.7% in 2023, according to UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest child mortality rate recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 33.6% in 1960.
- What is the lowest child mortality rate recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.7% in 2022.
- How does China rank for child mortality rate?
- China ranks 160th out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is child mortality rate rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is down 42.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this China data come from?
- The figures come from UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Child mortality rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of children who die before reaching the age of 5.