Child mortality rate in United States
United States: Child mortality rate was 0.6% in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
0.6%
Change on year
down 2.8%
World rank
174th
of 236 countries
All-time high
3.7%
in 1950
All-time low
0.6%
in 2023
Years of data
74
1950–2023
Child mortality rate in United States, 1950–2023
Source: UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in % of children.
Analysis
United States recorded 0.6% for child mortality rate in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 74 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 2.8% on the previous year and down 11.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, child mortality rate in United States peaked at 3.7% in 1950 and was at its lowest, 0.6%, in 2023.
That places United States 174th out of 236 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Child mortality rate in United States, year by year
| Year | % of children | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 3.7% | — |
| 1951 | 3.7% | -0.4% |
| 1952 | 3.7% | -0.5% |
| 1953 | 3.5% | -4.8% |
| 1954 | 3.3% | -5.3% |
| 1955 | 3.2% | -2.8% |
| 1956 | 3.2% | -1.7% |
| 1957 | 3.2% | +0.3% |
| 1958 | 3.2% | -0.1% |
| 1959 | 3.1% | -2.6% |
| 1960 | 3.1% | -0.9% |
| 1961 | 2.9% | -4.1% |
| 1962 | 2.9% | -0.9% |
| 1963 | 2.9% | +0.1% |
| 1964 | 2.9% | -1.4% |
| 1965 | 2.8% | -2.8% |
| 1966 | 2.7% | -2.4% |
| 1967 | 2.6% | -4.9% |
| 1968 | 2.6% | -0.8% |
| 1969 | 2.5% | -3.1% |
| 1970 | 2.4% | -2.8% |
| 1971 | 2.2% | -9.0% |
| 1972 | 2.1% | -4.7% |
| 1973 | 2.0% | -2.6% |
| 1974 | 2.0% | -3.2% |
| 1975 | 1.9% | -5.6% |
| 1976 | 1.8% | -4.3% |
| 1977 | 1.7% | -5.7% |
| 1978 | 1.6% | -3.1% |
| 1979 | 1.6% | -4.1% |
| 1980 | 1.5% | -2.8% |
| 1981 | 1.4% | -6.2% |
| 1982 | 1.4% | -3.1% |
| 1983 | 1.3% | -3.9% |
| 1984 | 1.3% | -2.3% |
| 1985 | 1.3% | -0.8% |
| 1986 | 1.2% | -2.8% |
| 1987 | 1.2% | -1.4% |
| 1988 | 1.2% | -0.3% |
| 1989 | 1.2% | -0.1% |
| 1990 | 1.2% | -6.0% |
| 1991 | 1.1% | -3.8% |
| 1992 | 1.0% | -5.8% |
| 1993 | 1.0% | -1.3% |
| 1994 | 1.0% | -3.8% |
| 1995 | 0.9% | -5.4% |
| 1996 | 0.9% | -3.3% |
| 1997 | 0.9% | -2.6% |
| 1998 | 0.9% | +0.1% |
| 1999 | 0.9% | -2.1% |
| 2000 | 0.8% | -2.2% |
| 2001 | 0.8% | -3.0% |
| 2002 | 0.8% | +0.5% |
| 2003 | 0.8% | -0.0% |
| 2004 | 0.8% | -1.4% |
| 2005 | 0.8% | +1.1% |
| 2006 | 0.8% | -1.0% |
| 2007 | 0.8% | +0.4% |
| 2008 | 0.8% | -3.2% |
| 2009 | 0.8% | -3.8% |
| 2010 | 0.7% | -4.9% |
| 2011 | 0.7% | -2.2% |
| 2012 | 0.7% | -0.8% |
| 2013 | 0.7% | -1.4% |
| 2014 | 0.7% | -2.1% |
| 2015 | 0.7% | +1.1% |
| 2016 | 0.7% | -0.3% |
| 2017 | 0.7% | -2.4% |
| 2018 | 0.7% | -2.3% |
| 2019 | 0.6% | -1.0% |
| 2020 | 0.6% | -4.4% |
| 2021 | 0.7% | +5.8% |
| 2022 | 0.6% | -3.1% |
| 2023 | 0.6% | -2.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 3.4% | 3.1% | 3.7% | 10 |
| 1960s | 2.8% | 2.5% | 3.1% | 10 |
| 1970s | 1.9% | 1.6% | 2.4% | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.3% | 1.2% | 1.5% | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.0% | 0.9% | 1.2% | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.8% | 0.8% | 0.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.7% | 0.6% | 0.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.6% | 0.6% | 0.7% | 4 |
Countries ranked near United States
- 171 Sri Lanka 0.6% compare
- 172 Northern Mariana Islands 0.6% compare
- 173 Saudi Arabia 0.6% compare
- 175 Andorra 0.6% compare
- 176 Saint Barthelemy 0.6% compare
- 177 French Polynesia 0.6% compare
More health data for United States
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.67 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate -0.1867 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,069 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 4,015 deaths (2100)
- Population ages 0-14, female, annual growth rate -0.7786 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, female, per capita 0.0833 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, male, annual growth rate -0.7908 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, male, per capita 0.0877 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is child mortality rate in United States?
- Child mortality rate in United States 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 United States?
- The highest recorded value was 3.7% in 1950.
- What is the lowest child mortality rate recorded in United States?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.6% in 2023.
- How does United States rank for child mortality rate?
- United States ranks 174th out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is child mortality rate rising or falling in United States?
- Over the last ten years it is down 11.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this United States 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.