Child mortality rate in Ireland
Ireland: Child mortality rate was 0.39 deaths per 100 live births in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
0.39 deaths per 100 live births
Change on year
up 2.6%
World rank
169th
of 200 countries
All-time high
17.16 deaths per 100 live births
in 1880
All-time low
0.34 deaths per 100 live births
in 2018
Years of data
160
1864–2024
Child mortality rate in Ireland, 1864–2024
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
Ireland recorded 0.39 deaths per 100 live births for child mortality rate in 2024.
That represents a change of up 2.6% on the previous year and up 2.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, child mortality rate in Ireland peaked at 17.16 deaths per 100 live births in 1880 and was at its lowest, 0.34 deaths per 100 live births, in 2018.
That places Ireland 169th out of 200 countries with data for 2024, 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 Ireland, year by year
| Year | deaths per 100 live births | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1864 | 14.56 deaths per 100 live births | — |
| 1865 | 14.56 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1866 | 13.84 deaths per 100 live births | -4.9% |
| 1867 | 14.38 deaths per 100 live births | +3.9% |
| 1868 | 14.02 deaths per 100 live births | -2.5% |
| 1869 | 13.66 deaths per 100 live births | -2.6% |
| 1870 | 14.02 deaths per 100 live births | +2.6% |
| 1871 | 13.3 deaths per 100 live births | -5.1% |
| 1872 | 14.38 deaths per 100 live births | +8.1% |
| 1873 | 14.2 deaths per 100 live births | -1.3% |
| 1874 | 13.84 deaths per 100 live births | -2.5% |
| 1875 | 14.02 deaths per 100 live births | +1.3% |
| 1876 | 13.84 deaths per 100 live births | -1.3% |
| 1877 | 13.48 deaths per 100 live births | -2.6% |
| 1878 | 14.38 deaths per 100 live births | +6.7% |
| 1879 | 15.11 deaths per 100 live births | +5.1% |
| 1880 | 17.16 deaths per 100 live births | +13.6% |
| 1881 | 13.3 deaths per 100 live births | -22.5% |
| 1882 | 14.02 deaths per 100 live births | +5.4% |
| 1883 | 14.56 deaths per 100 live births | +3.9% |
| 1884 | 13.48 deaths per 100 live births | -7.4% |
| 1885 | 14.02 deaths per 100 live births | +4.0% |
| 1886 | 13.84 deaths per 100 live births | -1.3% |
| 1887 | 14.02 deaths per 100 live births | +1.3% |
| 1888 | 14.38 deaths per 100 live births | +2.6% |
| 1889 | 13.84 deaths per 100 live births | -3.8% |
| 1890 | 14.02 deaths per 100 live births | +1.3% |
| 1891 | 14.02 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1892 | 15.85 deaths per 100 live births | +13.1% |
| 1893 | 15.3 deaths per 100 live births | -3.5% |
| 1894 | 15.3 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1895 | 15.66 deaths per 100 live births | +2.4% |
| 1896 | 14.02 deaths per 100 live births | -10.5% |
| 1897 | 16.59 deaths per 100 live births | +18.3% |
| 1898 | 16.78 deaths per 100 live births | +1.1% |
| 1899 | 16.41 deaths per 100 live births | -2.2% |
| 1900 | 16.59 deaths per 100 live births | +1.1% |
| 1901 | 15.11 deaths per 100 live births | -8.9% |
| 1902 | 14.93 deaths per 100 live births | -1.2% |
| 1903 | 14.2 deaths per 100 live births | -4.9% |
| 1904 | 14.93 deaths per 100 live births | +5.1% |
| 1905 | 14.02 deaths per 100 live births | -6.1% |
| 1906 | 13.66 deaths per 100 live births | -2.6% |
| 1907 | 13.48 deaths per 100 live births | -1.3% |
| 1908 | 14.38 deaths per 100 live births | +6.7% |
| 1909 | 13.48 deaths per 100 live births | -6.3% |
| 1910 | 14.02 deaths per 100 live births | +4.0% |
| 1911 | 13.84 deaths per 100 live births | -1.3% |
| 1912 | 12.41 deaths per 100 live births | -10.3% |
| 1913 | 14.38 deaths per 100 live births | +15.9% |
| 1914 | 12.59 deaths per 100 live births | -12.4% |
| 1915 | 13.48 deaths per 100 live births | +7.1% |
| 1916 | 11.89 deaths per 100 live births | -11.8% |
| 1917 | 12.77 deaths per 100 live births | +7.4% |
| 1918 | 12.41 deaths per 100 live births | -2.8% |
| 1919 | 12.77 deaths per 100 live births | +2.9% |
| 1920 | 11.89 deaths per 100 live births | -6.9% |
| 1922 | 9.52 deaths per 100 live births | -19.9% |
| 1923 | 9.04 deaths per 100 live births | -5.0% |
| 1924 | 10.02 deaths per 100 live births | +10.8% |
| 1925 | 9.36 deaths per 100 live births | -6.6% |
| 1926 | 10.35 deaths per 100 live births | +10.6% |
| 1927 | 9.85 deaths per 100 live births | -4.8% |
| 1928 | 9.36 deaths per 100 live births | -5.0% |
| 1929 | 9.69 deaths per 100 live births | +3.5% |
| 1930 | 9.36 deaths per 100 live births | -3.4% |
| 1931 | 9.52 deaths per 100 live births | +1.7% |
| 1932 | 10.02 deaths per 100 live births | +5.3% |
| 1933 | 8.88 deaths per 100 live births | -11.4% |
| 1934 | 8.57 deaths per 100 live births | -3.5% |
| 1935 | 9.36 deaths per 100 live births | +9.2% |
| 1936 | 10.35 deaths per 100 live births | +10.6% |
| 1937 | 10.18 deaths per 100 live births | -1.6% |
| 1938 | 9.2 deaths per 100 live births | -9.6% |
| 1939 | 9.04 deaths per 100 live births | -1.7% |
| 1940 | 9.04 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1941 | 10.35 deaths per 100 live births | +14.5% |
| 1942 | 9.52 deaths per 100 live births | -8.0% |
| 1943 | 11.89 deaths per 100 live births | +24.9% |
| 1944 | 11.2 deaths per 100 live births | -5.8% |
| 1945 | 9.85 deaths per 100 live births | -12.1% |
| 1946 | 8.88 deaths per 100 live births | -9.8% |
| 1947 | 9.36 deaths per 100 live births | +5.4% |
| 1948 | 5.93 deaths per 100 live births | -36.6% |
| 1949 | 5.64 deaths per 100 live births | -4.9% |
| 1950 | 5.42 deaths per 100 live births | -3.9% |
| 1951 | 5.2 deaths per 100 live births | -4.1% |
| 1952 | 4.96 deaths per 100 live births | -4.6% |
| 1953 | 4.72 deaths per 100 live births | -4.8% |
| 1954 | 4.49 deaths per 100 live births | -4.9% |
| 1955 | 4.29 deaths per 100 live births | -4.5% |
| 1956 | 4.12 deaths per 100 live births | -4.0% |
| 1957 | 3.98 deaths per 100 live births | -3.4% |
| 1958 | 3.83 deaths per 100 live births | -3.8% |
| 1959 | 3.68 deaths per 100 live births | -3.9% |
| 1960 | 3.52 deaths per 100 live births | -4.3% |
| 1961 | 3.38 deaths per 100 live births | -4.0% |
| 1962 | 3.25 deaths per 100 live births | -3.8% |
| 1963 | 3.13 deaths per 100 live births | -3.7% |
| 1964 | 3.01 deaths per 100 live births | -3.8% |
| 1965 | 2.87 deaths per 100 live births | -4.7% |
| 1966 | 2.71 deaths per 100 live births | -5.6% |
| 1967 | 2.55 deaths per 100 live births | -5.9% |
| 1968 | 2.41 deaths per 100 live births | -5.5% |
| 1969 | 2.3 deaths per 100 live births | -4.6% |
| 1970 | 2.22 deaths per 100 live births | -3.5% |
| 1971 | 2.17 deaths per 100 live births | -2.3% |
| 1972 | 2.14 deaths per 100 live births | -1.4% |
| 1973 | 2.11 deaths per 100 live births | -1.4% |
| 1974 | 2.06 deaths per 100 live births | -2.4% |
| 1975 | 2 deaths per 100 live births | -2.9% |
| 1976 | 1.91 deaths per 100 live births | -4.5% |
| 1977 | 1.81 deaths per 100 live births | -5.2% |
| 1978 | 1.69 deaths per 100 live births | -6.6% |
| 1979 | 1.56 deaths per 100 live births | -7.7% |
| 1980 | 1.43 deaths per 100 live births | -8.3% |
| 1981 | 1.32 deaths per 100 live births | -7.7% |
| 1982 | 1.24 deaths per 100 live births | -6.1% |
| 1983 | 1.17 deaths per 100 live births | -5.6% |
| 1984 | 1.11 deaths per 100 live births | -5.1% |
| 1985 | 1.07 deaths per 100 live births | -3.6% |
| 1986 | 1.04 deaths per 100 live births | -2.8% |
| 1987 | 1.02 deaths per 100 live births | -1.9% |
| 1988 | 0.99 deaths per 100 live births | -2.9% |
| 1989 | 0.96 deaths per 100 live births | -3.0% |
| 1990 | 0.92 deaths per 100 live births | -4.2% |
| 1991 | 0.87 deaths per 100 live births | -5.4% |
| 1992 | 0.81 deaths per 100 live births | -6.9% |
| 1993 | 0.77 deaths per 100 live births | -4.9% |
| 1994 | 0.74 deaths per 100 live births | -3.9% |
| 1995 | 0.73 deaths per 100 live births | -1.4% |
| 1996 | 0.73 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1997 | 0.73 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1998 | 0.73 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 0.73 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 2000 | 0.72 deaths per 100 live births | -1.4% |
| 2001 | 0.69 deaths per 100 live births | -4.2% |
| 2002 | 0.65 deaths per 100 live births | -5.8% |
| 2003 | 0.61 deaths per 100 live births | -6.2% |
| 2004 | 0.56 deaths per 100 live births | -8.2% |
| 2005 | 0.52 deaths per 100 live births | -7.1% |
| 2006 | 0.48 deaths per 100 live births | -7.7% |
| 2007 | 0.46 deaths per 100 live births | -4.2% |
| 2008 | 0.44 deaths per 100 live births | -4.3% |
| 2009 | 0.43 deaths per 100 live births | -2.3% |
| 2010 | 0.42 deaths per 100 live births | -2.3% |
| 2011 | 0.41 deaths per 100 live births | -2.4% |
| 2012 | 0.4 deaths per 100 live births | -2.4% |
| 2013 | 0.39 deaths per 100 live births | -2.5% |
| 2014 | 0.38 deaths per 100 live births | -2.6% |
| 2015 | 0.37 deaths per 100 live births | -2.6% |
| 2016 | 0.36 deaths per 100 live births | -2.7% |
| 2017 | 0.35 deaths per 100 live births | -2.8% |
| 2018 | 0.34 deaths per 100 live births | -2.9% |
| 2019 | 0.34 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 0.35 deaths per 100 live births | +2.9% |
| 2021 | 0.36 deaths per 100 live births | +2.9% |
| 2022 | 0.37 deaths per 100 live births | +2.8% |
| 2023 | 0.38 deaths per 100 live births | +2.7% |
| 2024 | 0.39 deaths per 100 live births | +2.6% |
Ireland compared with similar countries
- Ireland's 0.39 deaths per 100 live births is below the median for high income countries, which is 0.47 deaths per 100 live births, 83% of the median. (65 countries reporting)
- Ireland's 0.39 deaths per 100 live births is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 0.39 deaths per 100 live births, 1.0× the median. (51 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Child mortality rate in Ireland 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1948 | -36.6% | 9.36 deaths per 100 live births | 5.93 deaths per 100 live births |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1860s | 14.17 deaths per 100 live births | 13.66 deaths per 100 live births | 14.56 deaths per 100 live births | 6 |
| 1870s | 14.06 deaths per 100 live births | 13.3 deaths per 100 live births | 15.11 deaths per 100 live births | 10 |
| 1880s | 14.26 deaths per 100 live births | 13.3 deaths per 100 live births | 17.16 deaths per 100 live births | 10 |
| 1890s | 15.39 deaths per 100 live births | 14.02 deaths per 100 live births | 16.78 deaths per 100 live births | 10 |
| 1900s | 14.48 deaths per 100 live births | 13.48 deaths per 100 live births | 16.59 deaths per 100 live births | 10 |
| 1910s | 13.06 deaths per 100 live births | 11.89 deaths per 100 live births | 14.38 deaths per 100 live births | 10 |
| 1920s | 9.9 deaths per 100 live births | 9.04 deaths per 100 live births | 11.89 deaths per 100 live births | 9 |
| 1930s | 9.45 deaths per 100 live births | 8.57 deaths per 100 live births | 10.35 deaths per 100 live births | 10 |
| 1940s | 9.17 deaths per 100 live births | 5.64 deaths per 100 live births | 11.89 deaths per 100 live births | 10 |
| 1950s | 4.47 deaths per 100 live births | 3.68 deaths per 100 live births | 5.42 deaths per 100 live births | 10 |
| 1960s | 2.91 deaths per 100 live births | 2.3 deaths per 100 live births | 3.52 deaths per 100 live births | 10 |
| 1970s | 1.97 deaths per 100 live births | 1.56 deaths per 100 live births | 2.22 deaths per 100 live births | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.14 deaths per 100 live births | 0.96 deaths per 100 live births | 1.43 deaths per 100 live births | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.776 deaths per 100 live births | 0.73 deaths per 100 live births | 0.92 deaths per 100 live births | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.556 deaths per 100 live births | 0.43 deaths per 100 live births | 0.72 deaths per 100 live births | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.376 deaths per 100 live births | 0.34 deaths per 100 live births | 0.42 deaths per 100 live births | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.37 deaths per 100 live births | 0.35 deaths per 100 live births | 0.39 deaths per 100 live births | 5 |
Countries ranked near Ireland
- 166 France 0.43 deaths per 100 live births compare
- 167 Poland 0.42 deaths per 100 live births compare
- 168 Denmark 0.4 deaths per 100 live births compare
- 169 Netherlands 0.39 deaths per 100 live births compare
- 169 Switzerland 0.39 deaths per 100 live births compare
- 172 Greece 0.38 deaths per 100 live births compare
More health data for Ireland
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -4.76 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.89 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,122 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 20 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -0.7228 % 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 0.026 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -0.6489 % 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 Ireland?
- Child mortality rate in Ireland was 0.39 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 Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 17.16 deaths per 100 live births in 1880.
- What is the lowest child mortality rate recorded in Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.34 deaths per 100 live births in 2018.
- How does Ireland rank for child mortality rate?
- Ireland ranks 169th out of 200 countries with data for 2024.
- Is child mortality rate rising or falling in Ireland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 2.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Ireland 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
CSV · JSON — 160 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Long-run estimated share of newborns who die before reaching the age of five.