Child mortality rate in Iceland
Iceland: Child mortality rate was 0.2% in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
0.2%
Change on year
down 3.2%
World rank
235th
of 236 countries
All-time high
3.3%
in 1951
All-time low
0.2%
in 2023
Years of data
74
1950–2023
Child mortality rate in Iceland, 1950–2023
Source: UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in % of children.
Analysis
Iceland recorded 0.2% for child mortality rate in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 74 years on record.
That represents a change of down 3.2% on the previous year and down 44.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, child mortality rate in Iceland peaked at 3.3% in 1951 and was at its lowest, 0.2%, in 2023.
That places Iceland 235th out of 236 countries with data for 2023, 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 Iceland, year by year
| Year | % of children | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 2.7% | — |
| 1951 | 3.3% | +18.6% |
| 1952 | 2.6% | -19.5% |
| 1953 | 2.4% | -8.1% |
| 1954 | 2.4% | -0.8% |
| 1955 | 2.7% | +11.1% |
| 1956 | 2.3% | -12.8% |
| 1957 | 2.0% | -13.1% |
| 1958 | 2.4% | +18.4% |
| 1959 | 1.9% | -20.0% |
| 1960 | 1.8% | -4.4% |
| 1961 | 2.2% | +23.1% |
| 1962 | 2.2% | -2.2% |
| 1963 | 2.2% | +2.7% |
| 1964 | 2.2% | -3.1% |
| 1965 | 2.1% | -5.6% |
| 1966 | 1.7% | -15.2% |
| 1967 | 1.6% | -8.6% |
| 1968 | 1.7% | +7.1% |
| 1969 | 1.4% | -15.1% |
| 1970 | 1.6% | +8.2% |
| 1971 | 1.7% | +10.3% |
| 1972 | 1.4% | -17.7% |
| 1973 | 1.3% | -8.9% |
| 1974 | 1.5% | +13.2% |
| 1975 | 1.7% | +17.5% |
| 1976 | 1.0% | -39.9% |
| 1977 | 1.2% | +17.9% |
| 1978 | 1.4% | +16.4% |
| 1979 | 0.8% | -43.6% |
| 1980 | 1.0% | +23.4% |
| 1981 | 0.8% | -22.0% |
| 1982 | 0.8% | +9.3% |
| 1983 | 0.7% | -13.3% |
| 1984 | 0.6% | -11.7% |
| 1985 | 0.8% | +21.8% |
| 1986 | 0.4% | -48.9% |
| 1987 | 0.9% | +113.3% |
| 1988 | 0.8% | -4.6% |
| 1989 | 0.6% | -20.7% |
| 1990 | 0.7% | +9.4% |
| 1991 | 0.7% | -2.6% |
| 1992 | 0.7% | -3.9% |
| 1993 | 0.6% | -15.6% |
| 1994 | 0.4% | -27.1% |
| 1995 | 0.9% | +126.3% |
| 1996 | 0.5% | -47.4% |
| 1997 | 0.6% | +24.6% |
| 1998 | 0.5% | -19.3% |
| 1999 | 0.3% | -43.2% |
| 2000 | 0.4% | +52.2% |
| 2001 | 0.4% | -15.8% |
| 2002 | 0.4% | +7.5% |
| 2003 | 0.3% | -13.6% |
| 2004 | 0.3% | +3.4% |
| 2005 | 0.3% | +0.2% |
| 2006 | 0.3% | -25.5% |
| 2007 | 0.4% | +38.1% |
| 2008 | 0.4% | +7.6% |
| 2009 | 0.3% | -30.5% |
| 2010 | 0.3% | +29.6% |
| 2011 | 0.2% | -49.4% |
| 2012 | 0.2% | +12.4% |
| 2013 | 0.3% | +43.8% |
| 2014 | 0.3% | -4.1% |
| 2015 | 0.3% | +21.5% |
| 2016 | 0.2% | -35.2% |
| 2017 | 0.4% | +77.4% |
| 2018 | 0.3% | -25.7% |
| 2019 | 0.2% | -36.1% |
| 2020 | 0.3% | +90.0% |
| 2021 | 0.4% | +28.8% |
| 2022 | 0.2% | -62.8% |
| 2023 | 0.2% | -3.2% |
Iceland compared with similar countries
- Iceland's 0.2% is below the median for high income countries, which is 0.6%, 28% of the median. (85 countries reporting)
- Iceland's 0.2% is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 0.4%, 37% of the median. (56 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 2.5% | 1.9% | 3.3% | 10 |
| 1960s | 1.9% | 1.4% | 2.2% | 10 |
| 1970s | 1.4% | 0.8% | 1.7% | 10 |
| 1980s | 0.8% | 0.4% | 1.0% | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.6% | 0.3% | 0.9% | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.3% | 0.3% | 0.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.3% | 0.2% | 0.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.3% | 0.2% | 0.4% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Iceland
- 232 Estonia 0.2% compare
- 233 Hong Kong 0.2% compare
- 234 Cayman Islands 0.2% compare
- 236 San Marino 0.1% compare
More health data for Iceland
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -100 % change on previous year (2085)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate -0.4982 % change on previous year (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 0 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 0.1533 % 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 0.0283 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 0.1097 % 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 0.0302 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is child mortality rate in Iceland?
- Child mortality rate in Iceland was 0.2% in 2023, according to UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest child mortality rate recorded in Iceland?
- The highest recorded value was 3.3% in 1951.
- What is the lowest child mortality rate recorded in Iceland?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.2% in 2023.
- How does Iceland rank for child mortality rate?
- Iceland ranks 235th out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is child mortality rate rising or falling in Iceland?
- Over the last ten years it is down 44.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Iceland 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.