Death rate in China
China: Death rate was 8.21 deaths per 1,000 people in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
8.21 deaths per 1,000 people
Change on year
up 6.4%
World rank
93rd
of 236 countries
All-time high
29.79 deaths per 1,000 people
in 1960
All-time low
6.07 deaths per 1,000 people
in 1998
Years of data
74
1950–2023
Death rate in China, 1950–2023
Source: UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in deaths per 1,000 people.
Analysis
In 2023, death rate in China stood at 8.21 deaths per 1,000 people.
The figure is up 6.4% on the previous year and up 22.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, death rate in China peaked at 29.79 deaths per 1,000 people in 1960 and was at its lowest, 6.07 deaths per 1,000 people, in 1998.
That places China 93rd out of 236 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Death rate in China, year by year
| Year | deaths per 1,000 people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 23.09 deaths per 1,000 people | — |
| 1951 | 22.41 deaths per 1,000 people | -2.9% |
| 1952 | 22.05 deaths per 1,000 people | -1.6% |
| 1953 | 21.31 deaths per 1,000 people | -3.3% |
| 1954 | 20.58 deaths per 1,000 people | -3.4% |
| 1955 | 20.13 deaths per 1,000 people | -2.2% |
| 1956 | 19.33 deaths per 1,000 people | -4.0% |
| 1957 | 18.91 deaths per 1,000 people | -2.2% |
| 1958 | 18.17 deaths per 1,000 people | -3.9% |
| 1959 | 24.36 deaths per 1,000 people | +34.1% |
| 1960 | 29.79 deaths per 1,000 people | +22.3% |
| 1961 | 22.41 deaths per 1,000 people | -24.8% |
| 1962 | 15.56 deaths per 1,000 people | -30.6% |
| 1963 | 15.95 deaths per 1,000 people | +2.5% |
| 1964 | 15.38 deaths per 1,000 people | -3.5% |
| 1965 | 14.76 deaths per 1,000 people | -4.1% |
| 1966 | 14.14 deaths per 1,000 people | -4.2% |
| 1967 | 13.39 deaths per 1,000 people | -5.3% |
| 1968 | 13.03 deaths per 1,000 people | -2.7% |
| 1969 | 12.49 deaths per 1,000 people | -4.1% |
| 1970 | 11.93 deaths per 1,000 people | -4.5% |
| 1971 | 11.24 deaths per 1,000 people | -5.8% |
| 1972 | 10.62 deaths per 1,000 people | -5.5% |
| 1973 | 10.01 deaths per 1,000 people | -5.7% |
| 1974 | 9.49 deaths per 1,000 people | -5.2% |
| 1975 | 8.99 deaths per 1,000 people | -5.2% |
| 1976 | 8.8 deaths per 1,000 people | -2.1% |
| 1977 | 8.19 deaths per 1,000 people | -7.0% |
| 1978 | 7.94 deaths per 1,000 people | -3.1% |
| 1979 | 7.77 deaths per 1,000 people | -2.1% |
| 1980 | 7.64 deaths per 1,000 people | -1.8% |
| 1981 | 7.51 deaths per 1,000 people | -1.6% |
| 1982 | 7.45 deaths per 1,000 people | -0.8% |
| 1983 | 7.24 deaths per 1,000 people | -2.8% |
| 1984 | 7.16 deaths per 1,000 people | -1.1% |
| 1985 | 7.12 deaths per 1,000 people | -0.6% |
| 1986 | 7.1 deaths per 1,000 people | -0.2% |
| 1987 | 7.06 deaths per 1,000 people | -0.6% |
| 1988 | 6.96 deaths per 1,000 people | -1.5% |
| 1989 | 6.91 deaths per 1,000 people | -0.7% |
| 1990 | 6.91 deaths per 1,000 people | +0.1% |
| 1991 | 6.65 deaths per 1,000 people | -3.8% |
| 1992 | 6.48 deaths per 1,000 people | -2.6% |
| 1993 | 6.36 deaths per 1,000 people | -1.8% |
| 1994 | 6.31 deaths per 1,000 people | -0.7% |
| 1995 | 6.19 deaths per 1,000 people | -2.0% |
| 1996 | 6.11 deaths per 1,000 people | -1.2% |
| 1997 | 6.08 deaths per 1,000 people | -0.6% |
| 1998 | 6.07 deaths per 1,000 people | -0.2% |
| 1999 | 6.08 deaths per 1,000 people | +0.3% |
| 2000 | 6.13 deaths per 1,000 people | +0.7% |
| 2001 | 6.12 deaths per 1,000 people | -0.1% |
| 2002 | 6.15 deaths per 1,000 people | +0.5% |
| 2003 | 6.19 deaths per 1,000 people | +0.6% |
| 2004 | 6.24 deaths per 1,000 people | +0.8% |
| 2005 | 6.27 deaths per 1,000 people | +0.5% |
| 2006 | 6.33 deaths per 1,000 people | +0.9% |
| 2007 | 6.34 deaths per 1,000 people | +0.3% |
| 2008 | 6.51 deaths per 1,000 people | +2.6% |
| 2009 | 6.49 deaths per 1,000 people | -0.3% |
| 2010 | 6.5 deaths per 1,000 people | +0.2% |
| 2011 | 6.59 deaths per 1,000 people | +1.4% |
| 2012 | 6.63 deaths per 1,000 people | +0.6% |
| 2013 | 6.7 deaths per 1,000 people | +0.9% |
| 2014 | 6.76 deaths per 1,000 people | +1.0% |
| 2015 | 6.82 deaths per 1,000 people | +0.9% |
| 2016 | 6.9 deaths per 1,000 people | +1.2% |
| 2017 | 7.12 deaths per 1,000 people | +3.1% |
| 2018 | 7.02 deaths per 1,000 people | -1.3% |
| 2019 | 7.12 deaths per 1,000 people | +1.3% |
| 2020 | 7.3 deaths per 1,000 people | +2.6% |
| 2021 | 7.54 deaths per 1,000 people | +3.3% |
| 2022 | 7.72 deaths per 1,000 people | +2.3% |
| 2023 | 8.21 deaths per 1,000 people | +6.4% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 8.21 deaths per 1,000 people is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 7.02 deaths per 1,000 people, 1.2× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- China's 8.21 deaths per 1,000 people is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 6.87 deaths per 1,000 people, 1.2× the median. (37 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Death rate in China 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1959 | +34.1% | 18.17 deaths per 1,000 people | 24.36 deaths per 1,000 people |
| 1962 | -30.6% | 22.41 deaths per 1,000 people | 15.56 deaths per 1,000 people |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 21.03 deaths per 1,000 people | 18.17 deaths per 1,000 people | 24.36 deaths per 1,000 people | 10 |
| 1960s | 16.69 deaths per 1,000 people | 12.49 deaths per 1,000 people | 29.79 deaths per 1,000 people | 10 |
| 1970s | 9.5 deaths per 1,000 people | 7.77 deaths per 1,000 people | 11.93 deaths per 1,000 people | 10 |
| 1980s | 7.21 deaths per 1,000 people | 6.91 deaths per 1,000 people | 7.64 deaths per 1,000 people | 10 |
| 1990s | 6.32 deaths per 1,000 people | 6.07 deaths per 1,000 people | 6.91 deaths per 1,000 people | 10 |
| 2000s | 6.28 deaths per 1,000 people | 6.12 deaths per 1,000 people | 6.51 deaths per 1,000 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 6.82 deaths per 1,000 people | 6.5 deaths per 1,000 people | 7.12 deaths per 1,000 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 7.69 deaths per 1,000 people | 7.3 deaths per 1,000 people | 8.21 deaths per 1,000 people | 4 |
Countries ranked near China
- 90 Switzerland 8.32 deaths per 1,000 people compare
- 91 Sierra Leone 8.29 deaths per 1,000 people compare
- 92 Seychelles 8.22 deaths per 1,000 people compare
- 94 Sint Maarten (Dutch part) 8.13 deaths per 1,000 people compare
- 95 Jamaica 8.08 deaths per 1,000 people compare
- 96 Liberia 8.07 deaths per 1,000 people compare
More health data for China
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.15 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate -0.0985 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 2,029 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 4,642 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 10 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -8.22 % 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 0.0159 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -8.73 % 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 death rate in China?
- Death rate in China was 8.21 deaths per 1,000 people in 2023, according to UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest death rate recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 29.79 deaths per 1,000 people in 1960.
- What is the lowest death rate recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 6.07 deaths per 1,000 people in 1998.
- How does China rank for death rate?
- China ranks 93rd out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is death rate rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is up 22.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this China data come from?
- The figures come from UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Death rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Number of deaths in a year per 1,000 people in the population.