Child mortality in United States
United States: Child mortality was 0.65 in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
0.65
Change on year
unchanged
World rank
145th
of 200 countries
All-time high
7.97
in 1934
All-time low
0.65
in 2018
Years of data
92
1933–2024
Child mortality in United States, 1933–2024
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
United States recorded 0.65 for child mortality in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 92 years on record.
That represents a change of down 4.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, child mortality in United States peaked at 7.97 in 1934 and was at its lowest, 0.65, in 2018.
United States ranks 145th of 200 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Child mortality in United States, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1933 | 7.31 | — |
| 1934 | 7.97 | +9.0% |
| 1935 | 7.53 | -5.5% |
| 1936 | 7.6 | +0.9% |
| 1937 | 7.36 | -3.2% |
| 1938 | 6.96 | -5.4% |
| 1939 | 6.29 | -9.6% |
| 1940 | 6.19 | -1.6% |
| 1941 | 6.04 | -2.4% |
| 1942 | 5.48 | -9.3% |
| 1943 | 5.37 | -2.0% |
| 1944 | 5.03 | -6.3% |
| 1945 | 4.83 | -4.0% |
| 1946 | 4.67 | -3.3% |
| 1947 | 4.28 | -8.4% |
| 1948 | 3.98 | -7.0% |
| 1949 | 3.87 | -2.8% |
| 1950 | 3.76 | -2.8% |
| 1951 | 3.66 | -2.7% |
| 1952 | 3.56 | -2.7% |
| 1953 | 3.47 | -2.5% |
| 1954 | 3.38 | -2.6% |
| 1955 | 3.3 | -2.4% |
| 1956 | 3.23 | -2.1% |
| 1957 | 3.17 | -1.9% |
| 1958 | 3.11 | -1.9% |
| 1959 | 3.06 | -1.6% |
| 1960 | 3.01 | -1.6% |
| 1961 | 2.95 | -2.0% |
| 1962 | 2.89 | -2.0% |
| 1963 | 2.83 | -2.1% |
| 1964 | 2.77 | -2.1% |
| 1965 | 2.71 | -2.2% |
| 1966 | 2.64 | -2.6% |
| 1967 | 2.57 | -2.7% |
| 1968 | 2.49 | -3.1% |
| 1969 | 2.41 | -3.2% |
| 1970 | 2.33 | -3.3% |
| 1971 | 2.24 | -3.9% |
| 1972 | 2.15 | -4.0% |
| 1973 | 2.06 | -4.2% |
| 1974 | 1.97 | -4.4% |
| 1975 | 1.88 | -4.6% |
| 1976 | 1.79 | -4.8% |
| 1977 | 1.71 | -4.5% |
| 1978 | 1.63 | -4.7% |
| 1979 | 1.56 | -4.3% |
| 1980 | 1.5 | -3.8% |
| 1981 | 1.44 | -4.0% |
| 1982 | 1.39 | -3.5% |
| 1983 | 1.34 | -3.6% |
| 1984 | 1.3 | -3.0% |
| 1985 | 1.27 | -2.3% |
| 1986 | 1.24 | -2.4% |
| 1987 | 1.21 | -2.4% |
| 1988 | 1.19 | -1.7% |
| 1989 | 1.16 | -2.5% |
| 1990 | 1.12 | -3.4% |
| 1991 | 1.09 | -2.7% |
| 1992 | 1.05 | -3.7% |
| 1993 | 1.01 | -3.8% |
| 1994 | 0.98 | -3.0% |
| 1995 | 0.95 | -3.1% |
| 1996 | 0.92 | -3.2% |
| 1997 | 0.89 | -3.3% |
| 1998 | 0.87 | -2.2% |
| 1999 | 0.86 | -1.1% |
| 2000 | 0.84 | -2.3% |
| 2001 | 0.83 | -1.2% |
| 2002 | 0.82 | -1.2% |
| 2003 | 0.81 | -1.2% |
| 2004 | 0.81 | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 0.8 | -1.2% |
| 2006 | 0.79 | -1.3% |
| 2007 | 0.77 | -2.5% |
| 2008 | 0.76 | -1.3% |
| 2009 | 0.75 | -1.3% |
| 2010 | 0.73 | -2.7% |
| 2011 | 0.72 | -1.4% |
| 2012 | 0.7 | -2.8% |
| 2013 | 0.69 | -1.4% |
| 2014 | 0.68 | -1.4% |
| 2015 | 0.68 | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 0.67 | -1.5% |
| 2017 | 0.66 | -1.5% |
| 2018 | 0.65 | -1.5% |
| 2019 | 0.65 | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 0.65 | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 0.65 | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 0.65 | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 0.65 | +0.0% |
| 2024 | 0.65 | +0.0% |
United States compared with similar countries
- United States's 0.65 is above the median for high income countries, which is 0.47, 1.4× the median. (65 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1930s | 7.29 | 6.29 | 7.97 | 7 |
| 1940s | 4.97 | 3.87 | 6.19 | 10 |
| 1950s | 3.37 | 3.06 | 3.76 | 10 |
| 1960s | 2.73 | 2.41 | 3.01 | 10 |
| 1970s | 1.93 | 1.56 | 2.33 | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.3 | 1.16 | 1.5 | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.974 | 0.86 | 1.12 | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.798 | 0.75 | 0.84 | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.683 | 0.65 | 0.73 | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.65 | 0.65 | 0.65 | 5 |
Countries ranked near United States
- 142 Romania 0.73 compare
- 143 Bosnia and Herzegovina 0.69 compare
- 144 Chile 0.68 compare
- 146 Montserrat 0.64 compare
- 147 Slovakia 0.63 compare
- 148 Saudi Arabia 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)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 4,015 (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2023)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 0.056 % 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 0.0261 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 0.1919 % 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 0.0274 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is child mortality in United States?
- Child mortality in United States was 0.65 in 2024, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest child mortality recorded in United States?
- The highest recorded value was 7.97 in 1934.
- What is the lowest child mortality recorded in United States?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.65 in 2018.
- How does United States rank for child mortality?
- United States ranks 145th out of 200 countries with data for 2024.
- Is child mortality rising or falling in United States?
- Over the last ten years it is down 4.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this United States 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.
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