Child mortality in South Korea
South Korea: Child mortality was 0.28 in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
0.28
Change on year
down 3.4%
World rank
182nd
of 200 countries
All-time high
36.94
in 1950
All-time low
0.28
in 2024
Years of data
75
1950–2024
Child mortality in South Korea, 1950–2024
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for child mortality in South Korea is 0.28, 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 in South Korea peaked at 36.94 in 1950 and was at its lowest, 0.28, 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 in South Korea, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 36.94 | — |
| 1951 | 31.29 | -15.3% |
| 1952 | 26.61 | -15.0% |
| 1953 | 22.76 | -14.5% |
| 1954 | 19.66 | -13.6% |
| 1955 | 17.23 | -12.4% |
| 1956 | 15.37 | -10.8% |
| 1957 | 13.92 | -9.4% |
| 1958 | 12.82 | -7.9% |
| 1959 | 11.97 | -6.6% |
| 1960 | 11.29 | -5.7% |
| 1961 | 10.72 | -5.0% |
| 1962 | 10.23 | -4.6% |
| 1963 | 9.74 | -4.8% |
| 1964 | 9.24 | -5.1% |
| 1965 | 8.73 | -5.5% |
| 1966 | 8.19 | -6.2% |
| 1967 | 7.65 | -6.6% |
| 1968 | 7.11 | -7.1% |
| 1969 | 6.6 | -7.2% |
| 1970 | 6.14 | -7.0% |
| 1971 | 5.72 | -6.8% |
| 1972 | 5.37 | -6.1% |
| 1973 | 5.08 | -5.4% |
| 1974 | 4.83 | -4.9% |
| 1975 | 4.62 | -4.3% |
| 1976 | 4.42 | -4.3% |
| 1977 | 4.24 | -4.1% |
| 1978 | 4.04 | -4.7% |
| 1979 | 3.85 | -4.7% |
| 1980 | 3.63 | -5.7% |
| 1981 | 3.4 | -6.3% |
| 1982 | 3.16 | -7.1% |
| 1983 | 2.93 | -7.3% |
| 1984 | 2.69 | -8.2% |
| 1985 | 2.46 | -8.6% |
| 1986 | 2.24 | -8.9% |
| 1987 | 2.05 | -8.5% |
| 1988 | 1.87 | -8.8% |
| 1989 | 1.71 | -8.6% |
| 1990 | 1.57 | -8.2% |
| 1991 | 1.45 | -7.6% |
| 1992 | 1.33 | -8.3% |
| 1993 | 1.23 | -7.5% |
| 1994 | 1.14 | -7.3% |
| 1995 | 1.05 | -7.9% |
| 1996 | 0.98 | -6.7% |
| 1997 | 0.91 | -7.1% |
| 1998 | 0.85 | -6.6% |
| 1999 | 0.8 | -5.9% |
| 2000 | 0.76 | -5.0% |
| 2001 | 0.72 | -5.3% |
| 2002 | 0.68 | -5.6% |
| 2003 | 0.64 | -5.9% |
| 2004 | 0.6 | -6.3% |
| 2005 | 0.56 | -6.7% |
| 2006 | 0.52 | -7.1% |
| 2007 | 0.48 | -7.7% |
| 2008 | 0.45 | -6.2% |
| 2009 | 0.43 | -4.4% |
| 2010 | 0.41 | -4.7% |
| 2011 | 0.4 | -2.4% |
| 2012 | 0.38 | -5.0% |
| 2013 | 0.37 | -2.6% |
| 2014 | 0.36 | -2.7% |
| 2015 | 0.35 | -2.8% |
| 2016 | 0.34 | -2.9% |
| 2017 | 0.33 | -2.9% |
| 2018 | 0.32 | -3.0% |
| 2019 | 0.31 | -3.1% |
| 2020 | 0.31 | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 0.3 | -3.2% |
| 2022 | 0.29 | -3.3% |
| 2023 | 0.29 | +0.0% |
| 2024 | 0.28 | -3.4% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 0.28 is below the median for high income countries, which is 0.47, 60% of the median. (65 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 0.28 is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 1.72, 16% of the median. (30 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 20.86 | 11.97 | 36.94 | 10 |
| 1960s | 8.95 | 6.6 | 11.29 | 10 |
| 1970s | 4.83 | 3.85 | 6.14 | 10 |
| 1980s | 2.61 | 1.71 | 3.63 | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.13 | 0.8 | 1.57 | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.584 | 0.43 | 0.76 | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.357 | 0.31 | 0.41 | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.294 | 0.28 | 0.31 | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
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)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 69 (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)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per capita 0.0124 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is child mortality in South Korea?
- Child mortality in South Korea was 0.28 in 2024, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest child mortality recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 36.94 in 1950.
- What is the lowest child mortality recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.28 in 2024.
- How does South Korea rank for child mortality?
- South Korea ranks 182nd out of 200 countries with data for 2024.
- Is child mortality 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 Our World in Data, published as part of Child mortality. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 75 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).