Child mortality rate in South Korea
South Korea: Child mortality rate was 0.28 deaths per 100 live births in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
0.28 deaths per 100 live births
Change on year
down 3.4%
World rank
182nd
of 200 countries
All-time high
36.94 deaths per 100 live births
in 1950
All-time low
0.28 deaths per 100 live births
in 2024
Years of data
75
1950–2024
Child mortality rate in South Korea, 1950–2024
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
The most recent figure for child mortality rate in South Korea is 0.28 deaths per 100 live births, measured in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 75 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 3.4% on the previous year and down 22.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, child mortality rate in South Korea peaked at 36.94 deaths per 100 live births in 1950 and was at its lowest, 0.28 deaths per 100 live births, in 2024.
South Korea ranks 182nd 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 South Korea, year by year
| Year | deaths per 100 live births | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 36.94 deaths per 100 live births | — |
| 1951 | 31.29 deaths per 100 live births | -15.3% |
| 1952 | 26.61 deaths per 100 live births | -15.0% |
| 1953 | 22.76 deaths per 100 live births | -14.5% |
| 1954 | 19.66 deaths per 100 live births | -13.6% |
| 1955 | 17.23 deaths per 100 live births | -12.4% |
| 1956 | 15.37 deaths per 100 live births | -10.8% |
| 1957 | 13.92 deaths per 100 live births | -9.4% |
| 1958 | 12.82 deaths per 100 live births | -7.9% |
| 1959 | 11.97 deaths per 100 live births | -6.6% |
| 1960 | 11.29 deaths per 100 live births | -5.7% |
| 1961 | 10.72 deaths per 100 live births | -5.0% |
| 1962 | 10.23 deaths per 100 live births | -4.6% |
| 1963 | 9.74 deaths per 100 live births | -4.8% |
| 1964 | 9.24 deaths per 100 live births | -5.1% |
| 1965 | 8.73 deaths per 100 live births | -5.5% |
| 1966 | 8.19 deaths per 100 live births | -6.2% |
| 1967 | 7.65 deaths per 100 live births | -6.6% |
| 1968 | 7.11 deaths per 100 live births | -7.1% |
| 1969 | 6.6 deaths per 100 live births | -7.2% |
| 1970 | 6.14 deaths per 100 live births | -7.0% |
| 1971 | 5.72 deaths per 100 live births | -6.8% |
| 1972 | 5.37 deaths per 100 live births | -6.1% |
| 1973 | 5.08 deaths per 100 live births | -5.4% |
| 1974 | 4.83 deaths per 100 live births | -4.9% |
| 1975 | 4.62 deaths per 100 live births | -4.3% |
| 1976 | 4.42 deaths per 100 live births | -4.3% |
| 1977 | 4.24 deaths per 100 live births | -4.1% |
| 1978 | 4.04 deaths per 100 live births | -4.7% |
| 1979 | 3.85 deaths per 100 live births | -4.7% |
| 1980 | 3.63 deaths per 100 live births | -5.7% |
| 1981 | 3.4 deaths per 100 live births | -6.3% |
| 1982 | 3.16 deaths per 100 live births | -7.1% |
| 1983 | 2.93 deaths per 100 live births | -7.3% |
| 1984 | 2.69 deaths per 100 live births | -8.2% |
| 1985 | 2.46 deaths per 100 live births | -8.6% |
| 1986 | 2.24 deaths per 100 live births | -8.9% |
| 1987 | 2.05 deaths per 100 live births | -8.5% |
| 1988 | 1.87 deaths per 100 live births | -8.8% |
| 1989 | 1.71 deaths per 100 live births | -8.6% |
| 1990 | 1.57 deaths per 100 live births | -8.2% |
| 1991 | 1.45 deaths per 100 live births | -7.6% |
| 1992 | 1.33 deaths per 100 live births | -8.3% |
| 1993 | 1.23 deaths per 100 live births | -7.5% |
| 1994 | 1.14 deaths per 100 live births | -7.3% |
| 1995 | 1.05 deaths per 100 live births | -7.9% |
| 1996 | 0.98 deaths per 100 live births | -6.7% |
| 1997 | 0.91 deaths per 100 live births | -7.1% |
| 1998 | 0.85 deaths per 100 live births | -6.6% |
| 1999 | 0.8 deaths per 100 live births | -5.9% |
| 2000 | 0.76 deaths per 100 live births | -5.0% |
| 2001 | 0.72 deaths per 100 live births | -5.3% |
| 2002 | 0.68 deaths per 100 live births | -5.6% |
| 2003 | 0.64 deaths per 100 live births | -5.9% |
| 2004 | 0.6 deaths per 100 live births | -6.3% |
| 2005 | 0.56 deaths per 100 live births | -6.7% |
| 2006 | 0.52 deaths per 100 live births | -7.1% |
| 2007 | 0.48 deaths per 100 live births | -7.7% |
| 2008 | 0.45 deaths per 100 live births | -6.2% |
| 2009 | 0.43 deaths per 100 live births | -4.4% |
| 2010 | 0.41 deaths per 100 live births | -4.7% |
| 2011 | 0.4 deaths per 100 live births | -2.4% |
| 2012 | 0.38 deaths per 100 live births | -5.0% |
| 2013 | 0.37 deaths per 100 live births | -2.6% |
| 2014 | 0.36 deaths per 100 live births | -2.7% |
| 2015 | 0.35 deaths per 100 live births | -2.8% |
| 2016 | 0.34 deaths per 100 live births | -2.9% |
| 2017 | 0.33 deaths per 100 live births | -2.9% |
| 2018 | 0.32 deaths per 100 live births | -3.0% |
| 2019 | 0.31 deaths per 100 live births | -3.1% |
| 2020 | 0.31 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 0.3 deaths per 100 live births | -3.2% |
| 2022 | 0.29 deaths per 100 live births | -3.3% |
| 2023 | 0.29 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 2024 | 0.28 deaths per 100 live births | -3.4% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 0.28 deaths per 100 live births is below the median for high income countries, which is 0.47 deaths per 100 live births, 60% of the median. (65 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 0.28 deaths per 100 live births is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 1.72 deaths per 100 live births, 16% of the median. (30 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 20.86 deaths per 100 live births | 11.97 deaths per 100 live births | 36.94 deaths per 100 live births | 10 |
| 1960s | 8.95 deaths per 100 live births | 6.6 deaths per 100 live births | 11.29 deaths per 100 live births | 10 |
| 1970s | 4.83 deaths per 100 live births | 3.85 deaths per 100 live births | 6.14 deaths per 100 live births | 10 |
| 1980s | 2.61 deaths per 100 live births | 1.71 deaths per 100 live births | 3.63 deaths per 100 live births | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.13 deaths per 100 live births | 0.8 deaths per 100 live births | 1.57 deaths per 100 live births | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.584 deaths per 100 live births | 0.43 deaths per 100 live births | 0.76 deaths per 100 live births | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.357 deaths per 100 live births | 0.31 deaths per 100 live births | 0.41 deaths per 100 live births | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.294 deaths per 100 live births | 0.28 deaths per 100 live births | 0.31 deaths per 100 live births | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
- 180 Portugal 0.32 deaths per 100 live births compare
- 180 Spain 0.32 deaths per 100 live births compare
- 182 Iceland 0.28 deaths per 100 live births compare
- 182 North Macedonia 0.28 deaths per 100 live births compare
- 185 Italy 0.27 deaths per 100 live births compare
- 185 Monaco 0.27 deaths per 100 live births compare
- 185 Singapore 0.27 deaths per 100 live births compare
More health data for South Korea
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.43 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.1935 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 2,072 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 69 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -2.66 % 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 0.0118 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -2.76 % 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 South Korea?
- Child mortality rate in South Korea was 0.28 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 South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 36.94 deaths per 100 live births in 1950.
- What is the lowest child mortality rate recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.28 deaths per 100 live births in 2024.
- How does South Korea rank for child mortality rate?
- South Korea ranks 182nd out of 200 countries with data for 2024.
- Is child mortality rate rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 22.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Korea 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.
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About this data
Long-run estimated share of newborns who die before reaching the age of five.