Child mortality rate in Iran
Iran: Child mortality rate was 1.2% in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
1.2%
Change on year
down 5.0%
World rank
129th
of 236 countries
All-time high
33.5%
in 1950
All-time low
1.2%
in 2023
Years of data
74
1950–2023
Child mortality rate in Iran, 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 Iran stood at 1.2%. That is the lowest value across all 74 years on record.
The figure is down 5.0% on the previous year and down 30.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, child mortality rate in Iran peaked at 33.5% in 1950 and was at its lowest, 1.2%, in 2023.
Iran ranks 129th 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 Iran, year by year
| Year | % of children | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 33.5% | — |
| 1951 | 32.8% | -1.9% |
| 1952 | 32.2% | -1.9% |
| 1953 | 31.6% | -1.7% |
| 1954 | 31.1% | -1.8% |
| 1955 | 30.3% | -2.5% |
| 1956 | 29.7% | -1.9% |
| 1957 | 29.1% | -2.0% |
| 1958 | 28.3% | -2.8% |
| 1959 | 27.6% | -2.4% |
| 1960 | 27.0% | -2.4% |
| 1961 | 26.3% | -2.5% |
| 1962 | 25.9% | -1.5% |
| 1963 | 25.0% | -3.7% |
| 1964 | 24.3% | -2.7% |
| 1965 | 23.6% | -2.8% |
| 1966 | 22.9% | -3.0% |
| 1967 | 22.1% | -3.3% |
| 1968 | 21.6% | -2.5% |
| 1969 | 20.5% | -4.8% |
| 1970 | 19.7% | -4.1% |
| 1971 | 18.8% | -4.5% |
| 1972 | 18.0% | -4.2% |
| 1973 | 17.0% | -5.5% |
| 1974 | 16.1% | -5.3% |
| 1975 | 15.2% | -5.6% |
| 1976 | 14.3% | -5.9% |
| 1977 | 13.4% | -6.1% |
| 1978 | 13.1% | -2.8% |
| 1979 | 11.7% | -10.6% |
| 1980 | 10.9% | -7.0% |
| 1981 | 10.1% | -6.6% |
| 1982 | 9.4% | -7.5% |
| 1983 | 8.7% | -6.7% |
| 1984 | 8.2% | -6.4% |
| 1985 | 7.7% | -6.1% |
| 1986 | 7.2% | -5.8% |
| 1987 | 6.8% | -5.4% |
| 1988 | 6.4% | -5.8% |
| 1989 | 6.1% | -5.2% |
| 1990 | 6.3% | +3.2% |
| 1991 | 5.5% | -12.6% |
| 1992 | 5.3% | -4.7% |
| 1993 | 5.0% | -4.0% |
| 1994 | 4.8% | -4.8% |
| 1995 | 4.6% | -4.3% |
| 1996 | 4.4% | -4.3% |
| 1997 | 4.2% | -3.7% |
| 1998 | 4.0% | -5.3% |
| 1999 | 3.8% | -5.0% |
| 2000 | 3.6% | -5.3% |
| 2001 | 3.4% | -5.1% |
| 2002 | 3.2% | -6.1% |
| 2003 | 3.3% | +2.9% |
| 2004 | 2.8% | -14.5% |
| 2005 | 2.7% | -6.0% |
| 2006 | 2.5% | -6.7% |
| 2007 | 2.3% | -6.3% |
| 2008 | 2.2% | -6.0% |
| 2009 | 2.1% | -5.8% |
| 2010 | 1.9% | -5.4% |
| 2011 | 1.8% | -5.1% |
| 2012 | 1.8% | -4.6% |
| 2013 | 1.7% | -4.6% |
| 2014 | 1.6% | -4.1% |
| 2015 | 1.6% | -3.9% |
| 2016 | 1.5% | -3.9% |
| 2017 | 1.4% | -3.3% |
| 2018 | 1.4% | -3.9% |
| 2019 | 1.3% | -3.1% |
| 2020 | 1.3% | -2.8% |
| 2021 | 1.3% | -1.6% |
| 2022 | 1.2% | -4.6% |
| 2023 | 1.2% | -5.0% |
Iran compared with similar countries
- Iran's 1.2% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 1.4%, 84% of the median. (58 countries reporting)
- Iran's 1.2% is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 1.7%, 69% of the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 30.6% | 27.6% | 33.5% | 10 |
| 1960s | 23.9% | 20.5% | 27.0% | 10 |
| 1970s | 15.7% | 11.7% | 19.7% | 10 |
| 1980s | 8.2% | 6.1% | 10.9% | 10 |
| 1990s | 4.8% | 3.8% | 6.3% | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.8% | 2.1% | 3.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.6% | 1.3% | 1.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.2% | 1.2% | 1.3% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Iran
- 126 New Caledonia 1.2% compare
- 127 Ecuador 1.2% compare
- 128 Greenland 1.2% compare
- 130 El Salvador 1.1% compare
- 131 Mayotte 1.1% compare
- 132 French Guiana 1.1% compare
More health data for Iran
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.38 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate -0.5627 % change on previous year (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 1,070 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -1.88 % 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 0.0311 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -1.95 % 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 0.0327 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is child mortality rate in Iran?
- Child mortality rate in Iran was 1.2% in 2023, according to UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest child mortality rate recorded in Iran?
- The highest recorded value was 33.5% in 1950.
- What is the lowest child mortality rate recorded in Iran?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.2% in 2023.
- How does Iran rank for child mortality rate?
- Iran ranks 129th out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is child mortality rate rising or falling in Iran?
- Over the last ten years it is down 30.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Iran 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.