Child mortality rate in Australia
Australia: Child mortality rate was 0.36 deaths per 100 live births in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
0.36 deaths per 100 live births
Change on year
down 2.7%
World rank
176th
of 200 countries
All-time high
22.22 deaths per 100 live births
in 1875
All-time low
0.36 deaths per 100 live births
in 2024
Years of data
155
1870–2024
Child mortality rate in Australia, 1870–2024
Source: Gapminder (2015); UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (2025) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in deaths per 100 live births.
Analysis
In 2024, child mortality rate in Australia stood at 0.36 deaths per 100 live births. That is the lowest value across all 155 years on record.
That represents a change of down 2.7% on the previous year and down 10.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, child mortality rate in Australia peaked at 22.22 deaths per 100 live births in 1875 and was at its lowest, 0.36 deaths per 100 live births, in 2024.
Australia ranks 176th of 200 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 Australia, year by year
| Year | deaths per 100 live births | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1870 | 16.97 deaths per 100 live births | — |
| 1871 | 15.66 deaths per 100 live births | -7.7% |
| 1872 | 18.28 deaths per 100 live births | +16.7% |
| 1873 | 17.53 deaths per 100 live births | -4.1% |
| 1874 | 19.6 deaths per 100 live births | +11.8% |
| 1875 | 22.22 deaths per 100 live births | +13.4% |
| 1876 | 18.47 deaths per 100 live births | -16.9% |
| 1877 | 19.97 deaths per 100 live births | +8.1% |
| 1878 | 20.72 deaths per 100 live births | +3.8% |
| 1879 | 17.72 deaths per 100 live births | -14.5% |
| 1880 | 18.09 deaths per 100 live births | +2.1% |
| 1881 | 17.91 deaths per 100 live births | -1.0% |
| 1882 | 21.47 deaths per 100 live births | +19.9% |
| 1883 | 18.84 deaths per 100 live births | -12.2% |
| 1884 | 19.6 deaths per 100 live births | +4.0% |
| 1885 | 20.16 deaths per 100 live births | +2.9% |
| 1886 | 19.78 deaths per 100 live births | -1.9% |
| 1887 | 17.91 deaths per 100 live births | -9.5% |
| 1888 | 17.91 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1889 | 20.91 deaths per 100 live births | +16.8% |
| 1890 | 16.22 deaths per 100 live births | -22.4% |
| 1891 | 17.72 deaths per 100 live births | +9.2% |
| 1892 | 16.04 deaths per 100 live births | -9.5% |
| 1893 | 17.91 deaths per 100 live births | +11.7% |
| 1894 | 15.66 deaths per 100 live births | -12.6% |
| 1895 | 15.11 deaths per 100 live births | -3.5% |
| 1896 | 17.53 deaths per 100 live births | +16.0% |
| 1897 | 15.85 deaths per 100 live births | -9.6% |
| 1898 | 20.16 deaths per 100 live births | +27.2% |
| 1899 | 17.91 deaths per 100 live births | -11.2% |
| 1900 | 14.93 deaths per 100 live births | -16.6% |
| 1901 | 15.66 deaths per 100 live births | +4.9% |
| 1902 | 16.22 deaths per 100 live births | +3.6% |
| 1903 | 16.97 deaths per 100 live births | +4.6% |
| 1904 | 11.72 deaths per 100 live births | -30.9% |
| 1905 | 11.72 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1906 | 11.89 deaths per 100 live births | +1.5% |
| 1907 | 11.54 deaths per 100 live births | -2.9% |
| 1908 | 11.03 deaths per 100 live births | -4.4% |
| 1909 | 10.02 deaths per 100 live births | -9.2% |
| 1910 | 10.52 deaths per 100 live births | +5.0% |
| 1911 | 9.36 deaths per 100 live births | -11.0% |
| 1912 | 10.02 deaths per 100 live births | +7.1% |
| 1913 | 10.02 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1914 | 9.85 deaths per 100 live births | -1.7% |
| 1915 | 9.36 deaths per 100 live births | -5.0% |
| 1916 | 9.69 deaths per 100 live births | +3.5% |
| 1917 | 7.5 deaths per 100 live births | -22.6% |
| 1918 | 7.97 deaths per 100 live births | +6.3% |
| 1919 | 9.52 deaths per 100 live births | +19.4% |
| 1920 | 9.52 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1921 | 8.91 deaths per 100 live births | -6.4% |
| 1922 | 7.1 deaths per 100 live births | -20.3% |
| 1923 | 7.95 deaths per 100 live births | +12.0% |
| 1924 | 7.61 deaths per 100 live births | -4.3% |
| 1925 | 6.98 deaths per 100 live births | -8.3% |
| 1926 | 7.02 deaths per 100 live births | +0.6% |
| 1927 | 7.23 deaths per 100 live births | +3.0% |
| 1928 | 7.16 deaths per 100 live births | -1.0% |
| 1929 | 6.81 deaths per 100 live births | -4.9% |
| 1930 | 6.38 deaths per 100 live births | -6.3% |
| 1931 | 5.43 deaths per 100 live births | -14.9% |
| 1932 | 5.36 deaths per 100 live births | -1.3% |
| 1933 | 5.33 deaths per 100 live births | -0.6% |
| 1934 | 5.8 deaths per 100 live births | +8.8% |
| 1935 | 5.36 deaths per 100 live births | -7.6% |
| 1936 | 5.58 deaths per 100 live births | +4.1% |
| 1937 | 5.07 deaths per 100 live births | -9.1% |
| 1938 | 5.05 deaths per 100 live births | -0.4% |
| 1939 | 5.05 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1940 | 5.02 deaths per 100 live births | -0.6% |
| 1941 | 5.25 deaths per 100 live births | +4.6% |
| 1942 | 5.15 deaths per 100 live births | -1.9% |
| 1943 | 5.03 deaths per 100 live births | -2.3% |
| 1944 | 4.14 deaths per 100 live births | -17.7% |
| 1945 | 3.79 deaths per 100 live births | -8.5% |
| 1946 | 3.85 deaths per 100 live births | +1.6% |
| 1947 | 3.58 deaths per 100 live births | -7.0% |
| 1948 | 3.39 deaths per 100 live births | -5.3% |
| 1949 | 3.22 deaths per 100 live births | -5.0% |
| 1950 | 3.16 deaths per 100 live births | -1.9% |
| 1951 | 3.1 deaths per 100 live births | -1.9% |
| 1952 | 3.03 deaths per 100 live births | -2.3% |
| 1953 | 2.95 deaths per 100 live births | -2.6% |
| 1954 | 2.87 deaths per 100 live births | -2.7% |
| 1955 | 2.8 deaths per 100 live births | -2.4% |
| 1956 | 2.73 deaths per 100 live births | -2.5% |
| 1957 | 2.66 deaths per 100 live births | -2.6% |
| 1958 | 2.6 deaths per 100 live births | -2.3% |
| 1959 | 2.54 deaths per 100 live births | -2.3% |
| 1960 | 2.49 deaths per 100 live births | -2.0% |
| 1961 | 2.43 deaths per 100 live births | -2.4% |
| 1962 | 2.37 deaths per 100 live births | -2.5% |
| 1963 | 2.32 deaths per 100 live births | -2.1% |
| 1964 | 2.27 deaths per 100 live births | -2.2% |
| 1965 | 2.23 deaths per 100 live births | -1.8% |
| 1966 | 2.21 deaths per 100 live births | -0.9% |
| 1967 | 2.2 deaths per 100 live births | -0.5% |
| 1968 | 2.19 deaths per 100 live births | -0.5% |
| 1969 | 2.17 deaths per 100 live births | -0.9% |
| 1970 | 2.15 deaths per 100 live births | -0.9% |
| 1971 | 2.1 deaths per 100 live births | -2.3% |
| 1972 | 2.03 deaths per 100 live births | -3.3% |
| 1973 | 1.94 deaths per 100 live births | -4.4% |
| 1974 | 1.84 deaths per 100 live births | -5.2% |
| 1975 | 1.73 deaths per 100 live births | -6.0% |
| 1976 | 1.62 deaths per 100 live births | -6.4% |
| 1977 | 1.52 deaths per 100 live births | -6.2% |
| 1978 | 1.44 deaths per 100 live births | -5.3% |
| 1979 | 1.36 deaths per 100 live births | -5.6% |
| 1980 | 1.3 deaths per 100 live births | -4.4% |
| 1981 | 1.25 deaths per 100 live births | -3.8% |
| 1982 | 1.22 deaths per 100 live births | -2.4% |
| 1983 | 1.19 deaths per 100 live births | -2.5% |
| 1984 | 1.16 deaths per 100 live births | -2.5% |
| 1985 | 1.13 deaths per 100 live births | -2.6% |
| 1986 | 1.1 deaths per 100 live births | -2.7% |
| 1987 | 1.06 deaths per 100 live births | -3.6% |
| 1988 | 1.02 deaths per 100 live births | -3.8% |
| 1989 | 0.97 deaths per 100 live births | -4.9% |
| 1990 | 0.92 deaths per 100 live births | -5.2% |
| 1991 | 0.87 deaths per 100 live births | -5.4% |
| 1992 | 0.82 deaths per 100 live births | -5.7% |
| 1993 | 0.77 deaths per 100 live births | -6.1% |
| 1994 | 0.73 deaths per 100 live births | -5.2% |
| 1995 | 0.7 deaths per 100 live births | -4.1% |
| 1996 | 0.68 deaths per 100 live births | -2.9% |
| 1997 | 0.66 deaths per 100 live births | -2.9% |
| 1998 | 0.64 deaths per 100 live births | -3.0% |
| 1999 | 0.63 deaths per 100 live births | -1.6% |
| 2000 | 0.62 deaths per 100 live births | -1.6% |
| 2001 | 0.61 deaths per 100 live births | -1.6% |
| 2002 | 0.6 deaths per 100 live births | -1.6% |
| 2003 | 0.59 deaths per 100 live births | -1.7% |
| 2004 | 0.58 deaths per 100 live births | -1.7% |
| 2005 | 0.57 deaths per 100 live births | -1.7% |
| 2006 | 0.56 deaths per 100 live births | -1.8% |
| 2007 | 0.54 deaths per 100 live births | -3.6% |
| 2008 | 0.52 deaths per 100 live births | -3.7% |
| 2009 | 0.5 deaths per 100 live births | -3.8% |
| 2010 | 0.48 deaths per 100 live births | -4.0% |
| 2011 | 0.45 deaths per 100 live births | -6.2% |
| 2012 | 0.43 deaths per 100 live births | -4.4% |
| 2013 | 0.41 deaths per 100 live births | -4.7% |
| 2014 | 0.4 deaths per 100 live births | -2.4% |
| 2015 | 0.39 deaths per 100 live births | -2.5% |
| 2016 | 0.38 deaths per 100 live births | -2.6% |
| 2017 | 0.38 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 0.38 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 0.38 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 0.38 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 0.37 deaths per 100 live births | -2.6% |
| 2022 | 0.37 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 0.37 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 2024 | 0.36 deaths per 100 live births | -2.7% |
Australia compared with similar countries
- Australia's 0.36 deaths per 100 live births is below the median for high income countries, which is 0.47 deaths per 100 live births, 77% of the median. (65 countries reporting)
- Australia's 0.36 deaths per 100 live births is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 1.72 deaths per 100 live births, 21% of the median. (30 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Child mortality rate in Australia changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1898 | +27.2% | 15.85 deaths per 100 live births | 20.16 deaths per 100 live births |
| 1904 | -30.9% | 16.97 deaths per 100 live births | 11.72 deaths per 100 live births |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1870s | 18.71 deaths per 100 live births | 15.66 deaths per 100 live births | 22.22 deaths per 100 live births | 10 |
| 1880s | 19.26 deaths per 100 live births | 17.91 deaths per 100 live births | 21.47 deaths per 100 live births | 10 |
| 1890s | 17.01 deaths per 100 live births | 15.11 deaths per 100 live births | 20.16 deaths per 100 live births | 10 |
| 1900s | 13.17 deaths per 100 live births | 10.02 deaths per 100 live births | 16.97 deaths per 100 live births | 10 |
| 1910s | 9.38 deaths per 100 live births | 7.5 deaths per 100 live births | 10.52 deaths per 100 live births | 10 |
| 1920s | 7.63 deaths per 100 live births | 6.81 deaths per 100 live births | 9.52 deaths per 100 live births | 10 |
| 1930s | 5.44 deaths per 100 live births | 5.05 deaths per 100 live births | 6.38 deaths per 100 live births | 10 |
| 1940s | 4.24 deaths per 100 live births | 3.22 deaths per 100 live births | 5.25 deaths per 100 live births | 10 |
| 1950s | 2.84 deaths per 100 live births | 2.54 deaths per 100 live births | 3.16 deaths per 100 live births | 10 |
| 1960s | 2.29 deaths per 100 live births | 2.17 deaths per 100 live births | 2.49 deaths per 100 live births | 10 |
| 1970s | 1.77 deaths per 100 live births | 1.36 deaths per 100 live births | 2.15 deaths per 100 live births | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.14 deaths per 100 live births | 0.97 deaths per 100 live births | 1.3 deaths per 100 live births | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.742 deaths per 100 live births | 0.63 deaths per 100 live births | 0.92 deaths per 100 live births | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.569 deaths per 100 live births | 0.5 deaths per 100 live births | 0.62 deaths per 100 live births | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.408 deaths per 100 live births | 0.38 deaths per 100 live births | 0.48 deaths per 100 live births | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.37 deaths per 100 live births | 0.36 deaths per 100 live births | 0.38 deaths per 100 live births | 5 |
Countries ranked near Australia
- 173 Belgium 0.37 deaths per 100 live births compare
- 173 Germany 0.37 deaths per 100 live births compare
- 173 Hungary 0.37 deaths per 100 live births compare
- 177 Lithuania 0.34 deaths per 100 live births compare
- 178 Austria 0.33 deaths per 100 live births compare
- 178 Israel 0.33 deaths per 100 live births compare
More health data for Australia
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.83 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate -0.9072 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 906.6 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 215 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2021)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 1.45 % 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 0.0279 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 1.35 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is child mortality rate in Australia?
- Child mortality rate in Australia was 0.36 deaths per 100 live births in 2024, according to Gapminder (2015); UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (2025) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest child mortality rate recorded in Australia?
- The highest recorded value was 22.22 deaths per 100 live births in 1875.
- What is the lowest child mortality rate recorded in Australia?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.36 deaths per 100 live births in 2024.
- How does Australia rank for child mortality rate?
- Australia ranks 176th out of 200 countries with data for 2024.
- Is child mortality rate rising or falling in Australia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 10.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Australia data come from?
- The figures come from Gapminder (2015); UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (2025) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Child mortality rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Long-run estimated share of newborns who die before reaching the age of five.