Child mortality rate in Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico: Child mortality rate was 0.6% in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
0.6%
Change on year
down 3.6%
World rank
178th
of 236 countries
All-time high
8.4%
in 1950
All-time low
0.6%
in 2023
Years of data
74
1950–2023
Child mortality rate in Puerto Rico, 1950–2023
Source: UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in % of children.
Analysis
Puerto Rico recorded 0.6% for child mortality rate in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 74 years on record.
The figure is down 3.6% on the previous year and down 20.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, child mortality rate in Puerto Rico peaked at 8.4% in 1950 and was at its lowest, 0.6%, in 2023.
That places Puerto Rico 178th 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 Puerto Rico, year by year
| Year | % of children | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 8.4% | — |
| 1951 | 8.3% | -0.7% |
| 1952 | 7.7% | -7.8% |
| 1953 | 6.7% | -13.4% |
| 1954 | 6.2% | -6.8% |
| 1955 | 6.0% | -3.5% |
| 1956 | 6.0% | -0.7% |
| 1957 | 5.6% | -5.4% |
| 1958 | 5.7% | +0.4% |
| 1959 | 5.3% | -6.9% |
| 1960 | 5.0% | -5.1% |
| 1961 | 4.9% | -1.1% |
| 1962 | 4.8% | -2.2% |
| 1963 | 4.9% | +1.8% |
| 1964 | 5.2% | +5.8% |
| 1965 | 4.7% | -9.6% |
| 1966 | 4.2% | -10.1% |
| 1967 | 3.9% | -7.2% |
| 1968 | 3.8% | -4.2% |
| 1969 | 3.7% | -0.4% |
| 1970 | 3.7% | -1.0% |
| 1971 | 3.5% | -5.8% |
| 1972 | 3.5% | -1.0% |
| 1973 | 3.3% | -4.0% |
| 1974 | 3.2% | -3.6% |
| 1975 | 3.0% | -6.2% |
| 1976 | 3.0% | -1.3% |
| 1977 | 2.9% | -1.4% |
| 1978 | 2.8% | -2.5% |
| 1979 | 2.8% | -0.2% |
| 1980 | 2.7% | -4.5% |
| 1981 | 2.7% | -1.2% |
| 1982 | 2.6% | -3.0% |
| 1983 | 2.5% | -3.2% |
| 1984 | 2.4% | -4.1% |
| 1985 | 2.7% | +12.1% |
| 1986 | 2.3% | -15.0% |
| 1987 | 2.3% | -1.0% |
| 1988 | 2.2% | -4.2% |
| 1989 | 2.4% | +11.2% |
| 1990 | 2.3% | -5.2% |
| 1991 | 2.0% | -12.7% |
| 1992 | 2.0% | -0.1% |
| 1993 | 2.0% | -0.5% |
| 1994 | 1.8% | -9.1% |
| 1995 | 1.8% | +0.7% |
| 1996 | 1.6% | -11.1% |
| 1997 | 1.6% | -2.9% |
| 1998 | 1.4% | -8.7% |
| 1999 | 1.4% | -6.2% |
| 2000 | 1.3% | -7.3% |
| 2001 | 1.1% | -9.0% |
| 2002 | 1.1% | -5.4% |
| 2003 | 1.1% | -1.4% |
| 2004 | 1.0% | -8.6% |
| 2005 | 1.1% | +10.5% |
| 2006 | 1.0% | -5.2% |
| 2007 | 1.0% | -3.8% |
| 2008 | 0.9% | -3.5% |
| 2009 | 0.9% | -6.2% |
| 2010 | 0.9% | -0.5% |
| 2011 | 0.9% | +5.3% |
| 2012 | 1.0% | +4.8% |
| 2013 | 0.8% | -22.1% |
| 2014 | 0.7% | -1.4% |
| 2015 | 0.7% | -1.2% |
| 2016 | 0.8% | +7.2% |
| 2017 | 1.1% | +44.4% |
| 2018 | 0.7% | -38.9% |
| 2019 | 0.7% | +0.3% |
| 2020 | 0.6% | -10.8% |
| 2021 | 0.6% | +2.0% |
| 2022 | 0.6% | -2.2% |
| 2023 | 0.6% | -3.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 6.6% | 5.3% | 8.4% | 10 |
| 1960s | 4.5% | 3.7% | 5.2% | 10 |
| 1970s | 3.2% | 2.8% | 3.7% | 10 |
| 1980s | 2.5% | 2.2% | 2.7% | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.8% | 1.4% | 2.3% | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.0% | 0.9% | 1.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.8% | 0.7% | 1.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.6% | 0.6% | 0.6% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Puerto Rico
- 175 Andorra 0.6% compare
- 176 Saint Barthelemy 0.6% compare
- 177 French Polynesia 0.6% compare
- 179 United Arab Emirates 0.6% compare
- 180 Bosnia and Herzegovina 0.6% compare
- 181 Romania 0.6% compare
More health data for Puerto Rico
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -20 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 1.45 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 2,519 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 4 deaths (2100)
- Population ages 15-64, total 2.02 million (2025)
- Age population, age 12, male, interpolated 15,521 (2025)
- Population ages 15-64, female 62.3% (2025)
- Population ages 15-64, male 971,601 (2025)
- Population ages 15-64, male 64.8% (2025)
- Age population, age 11, female, interpolated 14,230 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is child mortality rate in Puerto Rico?
- Child mortality rate in Puerto Rico was 0.6% in 2023, according to UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest child mortality rate recorded in Puerto Rico?
- The highest recorded value was 8.4% in 1950.
- What is the lowest child mortality rate recorded in Puerto Rico?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.6% in 2023.
- How does Puerto Rico rank for child mortality rate?
- Puerto Rico ranks 178th out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is child mortality rate rising or falling in Puerto Rico?
- Over the last ten years it is down 20.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Puerto Rico 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.