Child mortality rate in North Korea
North Korea: Child mortality rate was 1.8% in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Child mortality rate in North Korea, 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 North Korea stood at 1.8%.
That represents a change of up 1.5% on the previous year and down 25.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, child mortality rate in North Korea peaked at 46.4% in 1950 and was at its lowest, 1.7%, in 2021.
That places North Korea 86th out of 236 countries with data for 2023, putting it 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 North Korea, year by year
| Year | % of children | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 46.4% | — |
| 1951 | 40.6% | -12.6% |
| 1952 | 26.6% | -34.5% |
| 1953 | 21.9% | -17.8% |
| 1954 | 17.0% | -22.5% |
| 1955 | 15.6% | -8.1% |
| 1956 | 14.4% | -7.5% |
| 1957 | 13.5% | -6.6% |
| 1958 | 12.7% | -5.7% |
| 1959 | 12.1% | -4.8% |
| 1960 | 11.6% | -4.0% |
| 1961 | 11.2% | -3.6% |
| 1962 | 10.8% | -3.5% |
| 1963 | 10.4% | -3.8% |
| 1964 | 10.0% | -4.2% |
| 1965 | 9.5% | -4.7% |
| 1966 | 9.0% | -5.3% |
| 1967 | 8.5% | -5.7% |
| 1968 | 8.0% | -6.0% |
| 1969 | 7.5% | -6.2% |
| 1970 | 7.0% | -6.1% |
| 1971 | 6.6% | -6.0% |
| 1972 | 6.2% | -5.7% |
| 1973 | 5.9% | -5.5% |
| 1974 | 5.6% | -5.2% |
| 1975 | 5.3% | -5.0% |
| 1976 | 5.0% | -4.7% |
| 1977 | 4.8% | -4.5% |
| 1978 | 4.6% | -4.4% |
| 1979 | 4.4% | -4.2% |
| 1980 | 4.2% | -4.1% |
| 1981 | 4.1% | -3.9% |
| 1982 | 3.9% | -3.5% |
| 1983 | 3.8% | -3.0% |
| 1984 | 3.7% | -2.1% |
| 1985 | 3.7% | -1.0% |
| 1986 | 3.7% | +0.2% |
| 1987 | 3.8% | +2.5% |
| 1988 | 3.8% | +1.5% |
| 1989 | 4.0% | +3.1% |
| 1990 | 4.1% | +3.1% |
| 1991 | 4.2% | +2.6% |
| 1992 | 4.3% | +1.6% |
| 1993 | 4.3% | +0.6% |
| 1994 | 4.3% | -0.5% |
| 1995 | 10.8% | +153.3% |
| 1996 | 10.6% | -1.4% |
| 1997 | 10.5% | -1.5% |
| 1998 | 10.3% | -1.4% |
| 1999 | 10.2% | -1.5% |
| 2000 | 10.1% | -1.4% |
| 2001 | 9.9% | -1.2% |
| 2002 | 9.8% | -1.3% |
| 2003 | 3.5% | -64.7% |
| 2004 | 3.4% | -2.1% |
| 2005 | 3.3% | -1.5% |
| 2006 | 3.3% | -1.6% |
| 2007 | 3.2% | -1.1% |
| 2008 | 3.1% | -4.2% |
| 2009 | 3.0% | -3.4% |
| 2010 | 2.9% | -4.3% |
| 2011 | 2.7% | -5.0% |
| 2012 | 2.6% | -5.6% |
| 2013 | 2.4% | -6.2% |
| 2014 | 2.3% | -6.2% |
| 2015 | 2.1% | -5.6% |
| 2016 | 2.1% | -3.5% |
| 2017 | 1.9% | -7.2% |
| 2018 | 1.8% | -3.7% |
| 2019 | 1.8% | -3.9% |
| 2020 | 1.7% | -1.4% |
| 2021 | 1.7% | -0.0% |
| 2022 | 1.8% | +1.6% |
| 2023 | 1.8% | +1.5% |
North Korea compared with similar countries
- North Korea's 1.8% is below the median for low income countries, which is 6.4%, 28% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- North Korea's 1.8% is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 1.6%, 1.2× the median. (37 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Child mortality rate in North Korea 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | +153.3% | 4.3% | 10.8% |
| 2003 | -64.7% | 9.8% | 3.5% |
| 1952 | -34.5% | 40.6% | 26.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 22.1% | 12.1% | 46.4% | 10 |
| 1960s | 9.6% | 7.5% | 11.6% | 10 |
| 1970s | 5.5% | 4.4% | 7.0% | 10 |
| 1980s | 3.9% | 3.7% | 4.2% | 10 |
| 1990s | 7.4% | 4.1% | 10.8% | 10 |
| 2000s | 5.3% | 3.0% | 10.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.3% | 1.8% | 2.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.8% | 1.7% | 1.8% | 4 |
Countries ranked near North Korea
More health data for North Korea
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.16 % change on previous year (2100)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 767 deaths (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate -0.2456 % change on previous year (2090)
- Population ages 0-14, male, per capita 0.0972 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, total, per capita 0.1893 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 65 and above, female, annual growth rate 2.07 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, total, annual growth rate 0.1729 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 15-64, female, annual growth rate -0.1835 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population, male, per capita 0.4951 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, male, annual growth rate 0.1972 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is child mortality rate in North Korea?
- Child mortality rate in North Korea was 1.8% in 2023, according to UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest child mortality rate recorded in North Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 46.4% in 1950.
- What is the lowest child mortality rate recorded in North Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.7% in 2021.
- How does North Korea rank for child mortality rate?
- North Korea ranks 86th out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is child mortality rate rising or falling in North Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 25.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this North Korea 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.