Child mortality rate in Laos
Laos: Child mortality rate was 3.9% in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
3.9%
Change on year
down 3.6%
World rank
48th
of 236 countries
All-time high
31.1%
in 1950
All-time low
3.9%
in 2023
Years of data
74
1950–2023
Child mortality rate in Laos, 1950–2023
Source: UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in % of children.
Analysis
The most recent figure for child mortality rate in Laos is 3.9%, measured in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 74 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 3.6% on the previous year and down 33.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, child mortality rate in Laos peaked at 31.1% in 1950 and was at its lowest, 3.9%, in 2023.
Laos ranks 48th of 236 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Child mortality rate in Laos, year by year
| Year | % of children | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 31.1% | — |
| 1951 | 30.8% | -1.0% |
| 1952 | 30.4% | -1.1% |
| 1953 | 30.1% | -1.1% |
| 1954 | 29.7% | -1.1% |
| 1955 | 29.4% | -1.2% |
| 1956 | 29.0% | -1.2% |
| 1957 | 28.7% | -1.2% |
| 1958 | 28.3% | -1.2% |
| 1959 | 28.0% | -1.2% |
| 1960 | 27.7% | -1.3% |
| 1961 | 27.3% | -1.3% |
| 1962 | 27.0% | -1.2% |
| 1963 | 26.6% | -1.4% |
| 1964 | 26.2% | -1.3% |
| 1965 | 25.9% | -1.4% |
| 1966 | 25.7% | -0.7% |
| 1967 | 25.2% | -2.1% |
| 1968 | 24.8% | -1.3% |
| 1969 | 24.5% | -1.3% |
| 1970 | 24.2% | -1.3% |
| 1971 | 23.9% | -1.4% |
| 1972 | 23.5% | -1.4% |
| 1973 | 23.2% | -1.4% |
| 1974 | 22.9% | -1.2% |
| 1975 | 22.6% | -1.4% |
| 1976 | 22.4% | -0.8% |
| 1977 | 22.0% | -1.8% |
| 1978 | 21.6% | -1.9% |
| 1979 | 21.1% | -2.3% |
| 1980 | 20.4% | -3.3% |
| 1981 | 19.9% | -2.6% |
| 1982 | 19.4% | -2.7% |
| 1983 | 18.8% | -2.8% |
| 1984 | 18.3% | -2.6% |
| 1985 | 17.8% | -2.8% |
| 1986 | 17.3% | -2.8% |
| 1987 | 16.8% | -2.8% |
| 1988 | 16.3% | -3.1% |
| 1989 | 15.8% | -3.1% |
| 1990 | 15.4% | -2.9% |
| 1991 | 14.8% | -3.5% |
| 1992 | 14.4% | -3.1% |
| 1993 | 13.9% | -3.4% |
| 1994 | 13.4% | -3.1% |
| 1995 | 12.9% | -4.0% |
| 1996 | 12.4% | -3.7% |
| 1997 | 11.9% | -3.8% |
| 1998 | 11.5% | -3.6% |
| 1999 | 11.1% | -3.7% |
| 2000 | 10.7% | -3.7% |
| 2001 | 10.2% | -4.0% |
| 2002 | 9.8% | -4.0% |
| 2003 | 9.4% | -4.2% |
| 2004 | 9.0% | -4.3% |
| 2005 | 8.6% | -4.5% |
| 2006 | 8.2% | -4.4% |
| 2007 | 7.8% | -4.8% |
| 2008 | 7.5% | -4.6% |
| 2009 | 7.1% | -4.7% |
| 2010 | 6.8% | -4.9% |
| 2011 | 6.5% | -4.6% |
| 2012 | 6.1% | -5.0% |
| 2013 | 5.9% | -4.4% |
| 2014 | 5.6% | -4.9% |
| 2015 | 5.3% | -4.5% |
| 2016 | 5.1% | -4.3% |
| 2017 | 4.9% | -4.2% |
| 2018 | 4.7% | -3.2% |
| 2019 | 4.5% | -4.5% |
| 2020 | 4.3% | -3.8% |
| 2021 | 4.2% | -3.6% |
| 2022 | 4.0% | -3.6% |
| 2023 | 3.9% | -3.6% |
Laos compared with similar countries
- Laos's 3.9% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 3.9%, 100% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Laos's 3.9% is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 1.6%, 2.5× the median. (37 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 29.6% | 28.0% | 31.1% | 10 |
| 1960s | 26.1% | 24.5% | 27.7% | 10 |
| 1970s | 22.8% | 21.1% | 24.2% | 10 |
| 1980s | 18.1% | 15.8% | 20.4% | 10 |
| 1990s | 13.2% | 11.1% | 15.4% | 10 |
| 2000s | 8.8% | 7.1% | 10.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 5.5% | 4.5% | 6.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.1% | 3.9% | 4.3% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Laos
More health data for Laos
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -2.76 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.5667 % change on previous year (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 317 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 15 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -0.5161 % 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 0.0489 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -0.5055 % 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 0.0511 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is child mortality rate in Laos?
- Child mortality rate in Laos was 3.9% in 2023, according to UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest child mortality rate recorded in Laos?
- The highest recorded value was 31.1% in 1950.
- What is the lowest child mortality rate recorded in Laos?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.9% in 2023.
- How does Laos rank for child mortality rate?
- Laos ranks 48th out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is child mortality rate rising or falling in Laos?
- Over the last ten years it is down 33.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Laos 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.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 74 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Share of children who die before reaching the age of 5.