Infant deaths (UN IGME estimate, 2024) in North Korea
North Korea: Infant deaths (UN IGME estimate, 2024) was 4,536 in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Infant deaths in North Korea, 1951–2024
Source: UNICEF.
Analysis
The most recent figure for infant deaths in North Korea is 4,536, measured in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 74 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 9.1% on the previous year and down 26.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, infant deaths in North Korea peaked at 69,689 in 1951 and was at its lowest, 4,536, in 2024.
North Korea ranks 68th of 201 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.
Infant deaths (UN IGME estimate, 2024) in North Korea, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1951 | 69,689 | — |
| 1952 | 35,766 | -48.7% |
| 1953 | 34,300 | -4.1% |
| 1954 | 33,666 | -1.8% |
| 1955 | 34,962 | +3.8% |
| 1956 | 33,814 | -3.3% |
| 1957 | 35,911 | +6.2% |
| 1958 | 38,541 | +7.3% |
| 1959 | 35,154 | -8.8% |
| 1960 | 32,359 | -8.0% |
| 1961 | 31,084 | -3.9% |
| 1962 | 30,534 | -1.8% |
| 1963 | 32,009 | +4.8% |
| 1964 | 32,216 | +0.6% |
| 1965 | 31,390 | -2.6% |
| 1966 | 31,286 | -0.3% |
| 1967 | 32,234 | +3.0% |
| 1968 | 31,507 | -2.3% |
| 1969 | 29,425 | -6.6% |
| 1970 | 27,892 | -5.2% |
| 1971 | 26,024 | -6.7% |
| 1972 | 24,763 | -4.8% |
| 1973 | 22,151 | -10.5% |
| 1974 | 18,756 | -15.3% |
| 1975 | 16,812 | -10.4% |
| 1976 | 15,002 | -10.8% |
| 1977 | 13,456 | -10.3% |
| 1978 | 12,650 | -6.0% |
| 1979 | 12,274 | -3.0% |
| 1980 | 11,978 | -2.4% |
| 1981 | 11,896 | -0.7% |
| 1982 | 11,815 | -0.7% |
| 1983 | 11,560 | -2.2% |
| 1984 | 11,429 | -1.1% |
| 1985 | 11,456 | +0.2% |
| 1986 | 11,652 | +1.7% |
| 1987 | 12,050 | +3.4% |
| 1988 | 12,393 | +2.8% |
| 1989 | 12,906 | +4.1% |
| 1990 | 13,549 | +5.0% |
| 1991 | 14,218 | +4.9% |
| 1992 | 14,675 | +3.2% |
| 1993 | 14,878 | +1.4% |
| 1994 | 14,990 | +0.8% |
| 1995 | 29,354 | +95.8% |
| 1996 | 28,816 | -1.8% |
| 1997 | 27,953 | -3.0% |
| 1998 | 26,966 | -3.5% |
| 1999 | 25,956 | -3.7% |
| 2000 | 24,805 | -4.4% |
| 2001 | 23,681 | -4.5% |
| 2002 | 22,457 | -5.2% |
| 2003 | 10,183 | -54.7% |
| 2004 | 9,626 | -5.5% |
| 2005 | 9,087 | -5.6% |
| 2006 | 8,816 | -3.0% |
| 2007 | 8,725 | -1.0% |
| 2008 | 8,429 | -3.4% |
| 2009 | 8,053 | -4.5% |
| 2010 | 7,575 | -5.9% |
| 2011 | 7,206 | -4.9% |
| 2012 | 6,850 | -4.9% |
| 2013 | 6,494 | -5.2% |
| 2014 | 6,161 | -5.1% |
| 2015 | 5,863 | -4.8% |
| 2016 | 5,661 | -3.4% |
| 2017 | 5,336 | -5.7% |
| 2018 | 5,144 | -3.6% |
| 2019 | 4,972 | -3.3% |
| 2020 | 4,914 | -1.2% |
| 2021 | 4,908 | -0.1% |
| 2022 | 4,957 | +1.0% |
| 2023 | 4,989 | +0.6% |
| 2024 | 4,536 | -9.1% |
North Korea compared with similar countries
- North Korea's 4,536 is below the median for low income countries, which is 31,762, 14% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- North Korea's 4,536 is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 636.5, 7.1× the median. (30 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Infant deaths (UN IGME estimate, 2024) in North Korea 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | +95.8% | 14,990 | 29,354 |
| 2003 | -54.7% | 22,457 | 10,183 |
| 1952 | -48.7% | 69,689 | 35,766 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 39,089 | 33,666 | 69,689 | 9 |
| 1960s | 31,404 | 29,425 | 32,359 | 10 |
| 1970s | 18,978 | 12,274 | 27,892 | 10 |
| 1980s | 11,914 | 11,429 | 12,906 | 10 |
| 1990s | 21,136 | 13,549 | 29,354 | 10 |
| 2000s | 13,386 | 8,053 | 24,805 | 10 |
| 2010s | 6,126 | 4,972 | 7,575 | 10 |
| 2020s | 4,861 | 4,536 | 4,989 | 5 |
Countries ranked near North Korea
More health data for North Korea
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate -0.2456 % change on previous year (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 767 deaths (2100)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.16 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population ages 65 and above, total, annual growth rate 2.78 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population, female, per capita 0.5049 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 65 and above, male, per capita 0.0541 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 65 and above, male, annual growth rate 3.75 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 65 and above, female, per capita 0.073 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 65 and above, female, annual growth rate 2.07 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 15-64, total, per capita 0.6836 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is infant deaths in North Korea?
- Infant deaths in North Korea was 4,536 in 2024, according to UNICEF.
- What is the highest infant deaths recorded in North Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 69,689 in 1951.
- What is the lowest infant deaths recorded in North Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 4,536 in 2024.
- How does North Korea rank for infant deaths?
- North Korea ranks 68th out of 201 countries with data for 2024.
- Is infant deaths rising or falling in North Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 26.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this North Korea 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 — 74 observations, free to reuse under UNICEF Terms of Use (attribution required).