Child mortality rate in New Zealand
New Zealand: Child mortality rate was 0.5% in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
0.5%
Change on year
down 12.2%
World rank
189th
of 236 countries
All-time high
3.6%
in 1952
All-time low
0.4%
in 2016
Years of data
74
1950–2023
Child mortality rate in New Zealand, 1950–2023
Source: UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in % of children.
Analysis
New Zealand recorded 0.5% for child mortality rate in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 12.2% on the previous year and up 6.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, child mortality rate in New Zealand peaked at 3.6% in 1952 and was at its lowest, 0.4%, in 2016.
New Zealand ranks 189th of 236 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Child mortality rate in New Zealand, year by year
| Year | % of children | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 3.5% | — |
| 1951 | 3.4% | -1.1% |
| 1952 | 3.6% | +6.0% |
| 1953 | 3.2% | -11.2% |
| 1954 | 3.1% | -3.7% |
| 1955 | 3.1% | -0.1% |
| 1956 | 2.9% | -5.2% |
| 1957 | 3.0% | +1.9% |
| 1958 | 3.0% | -0.9% |
| 1959 | 3.0% | +0.3% |
| 1960 | 2.8% | -7.1% |
| 1961 | 2.8% | +2.0% |
| 1962 | 2.5% | -11.2% |
| 1963 | 2.4% | -4.3% |
| 1964 | 2.3% | -2.2% |
| 1965 | 2.3% | -0.6% |
| 1966 | 2.2% | -5.5% |
| 1967 | 2.2% | +1.1% |
| 1968 | 2.3% | +3.9% |
| 1969 | 2.1% | -9.4% |
| 1970 | 2.0% | -2.3% |
| 1971 | 2.1% | +0.7% |
| 1972 | 1.9% | -5.5% |
| 1973 | 2.0% | +0.9% |
| 1974 | 1.9% | -5.1% |
| 1975 | 2.0% | +5.0% |
| 1976 | 1.7% | -13.5% |
| 1977 | 1.7% | +2.4% |
| 1978 | 1.6% | -7.2% |
| 1979 | 1.5% | -4.2% |
| 1980 | 1.5% | -0.4% |
| 1981 | 1.5% | -5.0% |
| 1982 | 1.4% | -1.9% |
| 1983 | 1.5% | +2.9% |
| 1984 | 1.4% | -4.5% |
| 1985 | 1.3% | -7.0% |
| 1986 | 1.4% | +6.5% |
| 1987 | 1.2% | -11.0% |
| 1988 | 1.3% | +6.5% |
| 1989 | 1.2% | -5.7% |
| 1990 | 1.1% | -14.1% |
| 1991 | 1.0% | -8.7% |
| 1992 | 0.9% | -9.5% |
| 1993 | 0.9% | +1.7% |
| 1994 | 0.9% | -4.6% |
| 1995 | 0.8% | -5.9% |
| 1996 | 0.9% | +7.8% |
| 1997 | 0.8% | -4.3% |
| 1998 | 0.7% | -19.0% |
| 1999 | 0.7% | +3.4% |
| 2000 | 0.8% | +9.9% |
| 2001 | 0.7% | -13.0% |
| 2002 | 0.7% | +2.2% |
| 2003 | 0.6% | -6.5% |
| 2004 | 0.7% | +5.1% |
| 2005 | 0.6% | -6.0% |
| 2006 | 0.6% | -1.5% |
| 2007 | 0.6% | +4.6% |
| 2008 | 0.6% | -8.0% |
| 2009 | 0.6% | +0.3% |
| 2010 | 0.6% | +1.8% |
| 2011 | 0.5% | -10.1% |
| 2012 | 0.5% | -5.7% |
| 2013 | 0.5% | -1.0% |
| 2014 | 0.6% | +27.4% |
| 2015 | 0.5% | -22.0% |
| 2016 | 0.4% | -17.8% |
| 2017 | 0.5% | +11.3% |
| 2018 | 0.4% | -3.0% |
| 2019 | 0.5% | +22.1% |
| 2020 | 0.4% | -19.6% |
| 2021 | 0.5% | +23.2% |
| 2022 | 0.6% | +13.4% |
| 2023 | 0.5% | -12.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 3.2% | 2.9% | 3.6% | 10 |
| 1960s | 2.4% | 2.1% | 2.8% | 10 |
| 1970s | 1.8% | 1.5% | 2.1% | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.4% | 1.2% | 1.5% | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.9% | 0.7% | 1.1% | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.7% | 0.6% | 0.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.5% | 0.4% | 0.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.5% | 0.4% | 0.6% | 4 |
Countries ranked near New Zealand
More health data for New Zealand
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -2.94 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate -0.4815 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,116 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 33 deaths (2100)
- Population ages 75-79, female, annual growth rate 4.22 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 75-79, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 75-79, female, per capita 0.019 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 75-79, male, annual growth rate 4.19 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 75-79, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 75-79, male, per capita 0.0172 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is child mortality rate in New Zealand?
- Child mortality rate in New Zealand was 0.5% in 2023, according to UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest child mortality rate recorded in New Zealand?
- The highest recorded value was 3.6% in 1952.
- What is the lowest child mortality rate recorded in New Zealand?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.4% in 2016.
- How does New Zealand rank for child mortality rate?
- New Zealand ranks 189th out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is child mortality rate rising or falling in New Zealand?
- Over the last ten years it is up 6.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this New Zealand 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.