Child mortality rate in Sweden
Sweden: Child mortality rate was 0.2% in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
0.2%
Change on year
down 8.4%
World rank
227th
of 236 countries
All-time high
2.6%
in 1951
All-time low
0.2%
in 2021
Years of data
74
1950–2023
Child mortality rate in Sweden, 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 Sweden stood at 0.2%.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 8.4% on the previous year and down 24.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, child mortality rate in Sweden peaked at 2.6% in 1951 and was at its lowest, 0.2%, in 2021.
Sweden ranks 227th 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 Sweden, year by year
| Year | % of children | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 2.5% | — |
| 1951 | 2.6% | +1.6% |
| 1952 | 2.5% | -4.8% |
| 1953 | 2.3% | -7.5% |
| 1954 | 2.2% | -3.0% |
| 1955 | 2.2% | -2.3% |
| 1956 | 2.1% | -2.0% |
| 1957 | 2.1% | +0.9% |
| 1958 | 1.9% | -9.5% |
| 1959 | 2.0% | +2.5% |
| 1960 | 2.0% | -0.1% |
| 1961 | 1.9% | -3.8% |
| 1962 | 1.9% | -2.4% |
| 1963 | 1.8% | -1.2% |
| 1964 | 1.7% | -5.7% |
| 1965 | 1.6% | -9.2% |
| 1966 | 1.5% | -3.2% |
| 1967 | 1.5% | -3.5% |
| 1968 | 1.5% | +1.0% |
| 1969 | 1.4% | -7.5% |
| 1970 | 1.3% | -2.4% |
| 1971 | 1.3% | -2.6% |
| 1972 | 1.3% | -3.1% |
| 1973 | 1.1% | -10.3% |
| 1974 | 1.1% | -0.5% |
| 1975 | 1.0% | -10.8% |
| 1976 | 1.0% | -4.7% |
| 1977 | 0.9% | -1.4% |
| 1978 | 0.9% | -3.9% |
| 1979 | 0.9% | +1.8% |
| 1980 | 0.8% | -9.9% |
| 1981 | 0.8% | -5.5% |
| 1982 | 0.8% | +2.5% |
| 1983 | 0.8% | -0.6% |
| 1984 | 0.7% | -8.1% |
| 1985 | 0.8% | +9.2% |
| 1986 | 0.7% | -9.4% |
| 1987 | 0.7% | +1.6% |
| 1988 | 0.7% | -3.8% |
| 1989 | 0.7% | -1.5% |
| 1990 | 0.7% | +2.7% |
| 1991 | 0.7% | -1.5% |
| 1992 | 0.6% | -12.1% |
| 1993 | 0.6% | -8.4% |
| 1994 | 0.5% | -9.4% |
| 1995 | 0.5% | -9.4% |
| 1996 | 0.5% | -1.4% |
| 1997 | 0.4% | -4.4% |
| 1998 | 0.4% | -2.9% |
| 1999 | 0.4% | -8.8% |
| 2000 | 0.4% | +1.0% |
| 2001 | 0.4% | +10.9% |
| 2002 | 0.4% | -6.4% |
| 2003 | 0.4% | -4.1% |
| 2004 | 0.4% | -8.0% |
| 2005 | 0.3% | -9.6% |
| 2006 | 0.4% | +8.1% |
| 2007 | 0.3% | -10.5% |
| 2008 | 0.3% | -4.0% |
| 2009 | 0.3% | +8.6% |
| 2010 | 0.3% | -4.5% |
| 2011 | 0.3% | -17.8% |
| 2012 | 0.3% | +20.0% |
| 2013 | 0.3% | +0.6% |
| 2014 | 0.3% | -16.1% |
| 2015 | 0.3% | +12.1% |
| 2016 | 0.3% | +1.0% |
| 2017 | 0.3% | -7.1% |
| 2018 | 0.3% | -6.1% |
| 2019 | 0.3% | -3.2% |
| 2020 | 0.3% | +10.6% |
| 2021 | 0.2% | -15.7% |
| 2022 | 0.3% | +10.1% |
| 2023 | 0.2% | -8.4% |
Sweden compared with similar countries
- Sweden's 0.2% is below the median for high income countries, which is 0.6%, 43% of the median. (85 countries reporting)
- Sweden's 0.2% is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 0.4%, 56% of the median. (56 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 2.2% | 1.9% | 2.6% | 10 |
| 1960s | 1.7% | 1.4% | 2.0% | 10 |
| 1970s | 1.1% | 0.9% | 1.3% | 10 |
| 1980s | 0.8% | 0.7% | 0.8% | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.5% | 0.4% | 0.7% | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.4% | 0.3% | 0.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.3% | 0.3% | 0.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.3% | 0.2% | 0.3% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Sweden
More health data for Sweden
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate -0.8581 % change on previous year (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 30 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -3.12 % 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 0.0243 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -3.2 % 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 0.0256 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is child mortality rate in Sweden?
- Child mortality rate in Sweden was 0.2% in 2023, according to UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest child mortality rate recorded in Sweden?
- The highest recorded value was 2.6% in 1951.
- What is the lowest child mortality rate recorded in Sweden?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.2% in 2021.
- How does Sweden rank for child mortality rate?
- Sweden ranks 227th out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is child mortality rate rising or falling in Sweden?
- Over the last ten years it is down 24.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sweden 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.