Child mortality rate in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Child mortality rate was 0.4% in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
0.4%
Change on year
down 6.0%
World rank
198th
of 236 countries
All-time high
3.6%
in 1951
All-time low
0.4%
in 2020
Years of data
74
1950–2023
Child mortality rate in United Kingdom, 1950–2023
Source: UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in % of children.
Analysis
United Kingdom recorded 0.4% for child mortality rate in 2023.
That represents a change of down 6.0% on the previous year and down 6.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, child mortality rate in United Kingdom peaked at 3.6% in 1951 and was at its lowest, 0.4%, in 2020.
That places United Kingdom 198th 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 United Kingdom, year by year
| Year | % of children | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 3.6% | — |
| 1951 | 3.6% | +1.3% |
| 1952 | 3.4% | -6.3% |
| 1953 | 3.3% | -3.7% |
| 1954 | 3.0% | -7.7% |
| 1955 | 3.0% | -0.8% |
| 1956 | 2.8% | -4.7% |
| 1957 | 2.8% | -0.9% |
| 1958 | 2.7% | -4.2% |
| 1959 | 2.7% | -1.3% |
| 1960 | 2.7% | -0.4% |
| 1961 | 2.6% | -1.9% |
| 1962 | 2.6% | +0.1% |
| 1963 | 2.5% | -2.2% |
| 1964 | 2.4% | -5.0% |
| 1965 | 2.3% | -5.3% |
| 1966 | 2.3% | +0.1% |
| 1967 | 2.2% | -5.4% |
| 1968 | 2.2% | +1.2% |
| 1969 | 2.1% | -2.7% |
| 1970 | 2.1% | +0.2% |
| 1971 | 2.1% | -3.6% |
| 1972 | 2.0% | -3.0% |
| 1973 | 2.0% | -2.5% |
| 1974 | 1.9% | -2.0% |
| 1975 | 1.8% | -5.5% |
| 1976 | 1.7% | -8.2% |
| 1977 | 1.6% | -1.4% |
| 1978 | 1.6% | -2.6% |
| 1979 | 1.5% | -4.4% |
| 1980 | 1.4% | -5.5% |
| 1981 | 1.3% | -9.2% |
| 1982 | 1.3% | -2.4% |
| 1983 | 1.2% | -6.4% |
| 1984 | 1.1% | -4.3% |
| 1985 | 1.1% | -1.9% |
| 1986 | 1.1% | -0.3% |
| 1987 | 1.1% | -2.7% |
| 1988 | 1.1% | -1.9% |
| 1989 | 1.0% | -5.7% |
| 1990 | 1.0% | -5.2% |
| 1991 | 0.9% | -7.5% |
| 1992 | 0.8% | -11.4% |
| 1993 | 0.8% | -2.5% |
| 1994 | 0.7% | -4.2% |
| 1995 | 0.7% | -1.3% |
| 1996 | 0.7% | +1.1% |
| 1997 | 0.7% | -5.9% |
| 1998 | 0.7% | -1.1% |
| 1999 | 0.7% | +0.7% |
| 2000 | 0.6% | -5.7% |
| 2001 | 0.6% | -1.1% |
| 2002 | 0.6% | -3.1% |
| 2003 | 0.6% | +3.0% |
| 2004 | 0.6% | -5.9% |
| 2005 | 0.6% | -0.8% |
| 2006 | 0.6% | +0.3% |
| 2007 | 0.6% | -2.7% |
| 2008 | 0.6% | -3.6% |
| 2009 | 0.5% | -3.4% |
| 2010 | 0.5% | -4.9% |
| 2011 | 0.5% | -1.6% |
| 2012 | 0.5% | -5.5% |
| 2013 | 0.5% | -5.1% |
| 2014 | 0.4% | -1.3% |
| 2015 | 0.5% | +0.7% |
| 2016 | 0.4% | -0.7% |
| 2017 | 0.4% | -0.9% |
| 2018 | 0.4% | -2.3% |
| 2019 | 0.4% | +2.5% |
| 2020 | 0.4% | -6.0% |
| 2021 | 0.4% | +6.8% |
| 2022 | 0.5% | +1.3% |
| 2023 | 0.4% | -6.0% |
United Kingdom compared with similar countries
- United Kingdom's 0.4% is below the median for high income countries, which is 0.6%, 77% of the median. (85 countries reporting)
- United Kingdom's 0.4% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 0.4%, 1.0× the median. (56 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 3.1% | 2.7% | 3.6% | 10 |
| 1960s | 2.4% | 2.1% | 2.7% | 10 |
| 1970s | 1.8% | 1.5% | 2.1% | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.2% | 1.0% | 1.4% | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.8% | 0.7% | 1.0% | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.6% | 0.5% | 0.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.5% | 0.4% | 0.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.4% | 0.4% | 0.5% | 4 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom
More health data for United Kingdom
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.71 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.0265 % change on previous year (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 461 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -0.7128 % 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 0.0247 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -0.7724 % 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 0.0261 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is child mortality rate in United Kingdom?
- Child mortality rate in United Kingdom was 0.4% in 2023, according to UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest child mortality rate recorded in United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 3.6% in 1951.
- What is the lowest child mortality rate recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.4% in 2020.
- How does United Kingdom rank for child mortality rate?
- United Kingdom ranks 198th out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is child mortality rate rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- Over the last ten years it is down 6.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this United Kingdom 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.