Infant deaths in China
China: Infant deaths was 36,113 in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
36,113
Change on year
down 10.4%
World rank
25th
of 201 countries
All-time high
2.60 million
in 1970
All-time low
36,113
in 2024
Years of data
55
1970–2024
Infant deaths in China, 1970–2024
Source: UNICEF.
Analysis
China recorded 36,113 for infant deaths in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 55 years on record.
The figure is down 10.4% on the previous year and down 78.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, infant deaths in China peaked at 2.60 million in 1970 and was at its lowest, 36,113, in 2024.
China ranks 25th of 201 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Infant deaths in China, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 2.60 million | — |
| 1971 | 2.42 million | -6.8% |
| 1972 | 2.20 million | -9.2% |
| 1973 | 2.01 million | -8.5% |
| 1974 | 1.80 million | -10.5% |
| 1975 | 1.55 million | -13.7% |
| 1976 | 1.36 million | -12.7% |
| 1977 | 1.20 million | -11.7% |
| 1978 | 1.09 million | -9.4% |
| 1979 | 1.05 million | -3.2% |
| 1980 | 1.04 million | -1.4% |
| 1981 | 1.03 million | -1.0% |
| 1982 | 1.05 million | +2.7% |
| 1983 | 1.01 million | -4.4% |
| 1984 | 962,741 | -4.5% |
| 1985 | 1.01 million | +4.5% |
| 1986 | 1.07 million | +6.4% |
| 1987 | 1.15 million | +7.1% |
| 1988 | 1.16 million | +1.0% |
| 1989 | 1.16 million | -0.3% |
| 1990 | 1.19 million | +2.9% |
| 1991 | 1.08 million | -9.3% |
| 1992 | 916,404 | -15.0% |
| 1993 | 846,304 | -7.6% |
| 1994 | 790,984 | -6.5% |
| 1995 | 740,095 | -6.4% |
| 1996 | 688,645 | -7.0% |
| 1997 | 635,100 | -7.8% |
| 1998 | 585,207 | -7.9% |
| 1999 | 540,278 | -7.7% |
| 2000 | 512,163 | -5.2% |
| 2001 | 471,560 | -7.9% |
| 2002 | 419,995 | -10.9% |
| 2003 | 380,215 | -9.5% |
| 2004 | 347,333 | -8.6% |
| 2005 | 319,614 | -8.0% |
| 2006 | 294,735 | -7.8% |
| 2007 | 274,048 | -7.0% |
| 2008 | 257,074 | -6.2% |
| 2009 | 241,569 | -6.0% |
| 2010 | 223,179 | -7.6% |
| 2011 | 204,023 | -8.6% |
| 2012 | 194,969 | -4.4% |
| 2013 | 181,373 | -7.0% |
| 2014 | 164,971 | -9.0% |
| 2015 | 148,623 | -9.9% |
| 2016 | 135,480 | -8.8% |
| 2017 | 127,502 | -5.9% |
| 2018 | 108,025 | -15.3% |
| 2019 | 89,261 | -17.4% |
| 2020 | 72,879 | -18.4% |
| 2021 | 57,002 | -21.8% |
| 2022 | 47,242 | -17.1% |
| 2023 | 40,319 | -14.7% |
| 2024 | 36,113 | -10.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 1.73 million | 1.05 million | 2.60 million | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.06 million | 962,741 | 1.16 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 801,074 | 540,278 | 1.19 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 351,831 | 241,569 | 512,163 | 10 |
| 2010s | 157,741 | 89,261 | 223,179 | 10 |
| 2020s | 50,711 | 36,113 | 72,879 | 5 |
Countries ranked near China
- 22 Madagascar 42,981 compare
- 23 Philippines 39,731 compare
- 24 Cameroon 38,551 compare
- 26 Burkina Faso 31,762 compare
- 27 Brazil 31,647 compare
- 28 Zimbabwe 30,713 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)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates 2,029 (2090)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 4,642 (2100)
- Population ages 65 and above, female, annual growth rate 1.76 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 65 and above, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 65 and above, female, per capita 0.0822 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 65 and above, male, annual growth rate 1.19 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 65 and above, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 65 and above, male, per capita 0.0669 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is infant deaths in China?
- Infant deaths in China was 36,113 in 2024, according to UNICEF.
- What is the highest infant deaths recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 2.60 million in 1970.
- What is the lowest infant deaths recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 36,113 in 2024.
- How does China rank for infant deaths?
- China ranks 25th out of 201 countries with data for 2024.
- Is infant deaths rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is down 78.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this China data come from?
- The figures come from UNICEF, published as part of Infant deaths (UN IGME estimate, 2024). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 55 observations, free to reuse under UNICEF Terms of Use (attribution required).