Infant mortality in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Infant mortality was 3,157 Number in 2017. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2017)
3,157 Number
Change on year
down 6.5%
World rank
3rd
of 53 countries
All-time high
18,800 Number
in 1960
All-time low
3,157 Number
in 2017
Years of data
51
1960–2017
Infant mortality in United Kingdom, 1960–2017
Source: Eurostat. Measured in Number.
Analysis
In 2017, infant mortality in United Kingdom stood at 3,157 Number. That is the lowest value across all 51 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 6.5% on the previous year and down 21.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, infant mortality in United Kingdom peaked at 18,800 Number in 1960 and was at its lowest, 3,157 Number, in 2017.
United Kingdom ranks 3rd of 53 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Infant mortality in United Kingdom, year by year
| Year | Number | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 18,800 Number | — |
| 1961 | 18,600 Number | -1.1% |
| 1962 | 18,300 Number | -1.6% |
| 1963 | 17,700 Number | -3.3% |
| 1964 | 17,100 Number | -3.4% |
| 1965 | 16,336 Number | -4.5% |
| 1966 | 15,400 Number | -5.7% |
| 1967 | 14,600 Number | -5.2% |
| 1968 | 13,700 Number | -6.2% |
| 1969 | 12,500 Number | -8.8% |
| 1970 | 12,044 Number | -3.6% |
| 1971 | 11,500 Number | -4.5% |
| 1972 | 10,300 Number | -10.4% |
| 1973 | 9,200 Number | -10.7% |
| 1974 | 8,400 Number | -8.7% |
| 1975 | 7,435 Number | -11.5% |
| 1976 | 6,600 Number | -11.2% |
| 1977 | 6,300 Number | -4.5% |
| 1978 | 5,900 Number | -6.3% |
| 1979 | 5,800 Number | -1.7% |
| 1980 | 5,502 Number | -5.1% |
| 1981 | 4,883 Number | -11.3% |
| 1982 | 4,512 Number | -7.6% |
| 1983 | 4,214 Number | -6.6% |
| 1984 | 4,186 Number | -0.7% |
| 1985 | 4,189 Number | +0.1% |
| 1986 | 4,059 Number | -3.1% |
| 1987 | 3,933 Number | -3.1% |
| 1988 | 3,878 Number | -1.4% |
| 1989 | 3,688 Number | -4.9% |
| 1990 | 3,721 Number | +0.9% |
| 1991 | 3,741 Number | +0.5% |
| 1992 | 3,385 Number | -9.5% |
| 1993 | 4,394 Number | +29.8% |
| 1994 | 4,348 Number | -1.0% |
| 1999 | 3,724 Number | -14.4% |
| 2000 | 3,594 Number | -3.5% |
| 2004 | 3,962 Number | +10.2% |
| 2005 | 3,869 Number | -2.3% |
| 2006 | 3,987 Number | +3.0% |
| 2007 | 4,027 Number | +1.0% |
| 2008 | 4,057 Number | +0.7% |
| 2009 | 4,124 Number | +1.7% |
| 2010 | 4,110 Number | -0.3% |
| 2011 | 4,201 Number | +2.2% |
| 2012 | 3,938 Number | -6.3% |
| 2013 | 3,628 Number | -7.9% |
| 2014 | 3,563 Number | -1.8% |
| 2015 | 3,434 Number | -3.6% |
| 2016 | 3,378 Number | -1.6% |
| 2017 | 3,157 Number | -6.5% |
United Kingdom compared with similar countries
- United Kingdom's 3,157 Number is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 197 Number, 16.0× the median. (40 countries reporting)
- United Kingdom's 3,157 Number is above the median for high income countries, which is 192 Number, 16.4× the median. (31 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Infant mortality in United Kingdom 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | +29.8% | 3,385 Number | 4,394 Number |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 16,304 Number | 12,500 Number | 18,800 Number | 10 |
| 1970s | 8,348 Number | 5,800 Number | 12,044 Number | 10 |
| 1980s | 4,304 Number | 3,688 Number | 5,502 Number | 10 |
| 1990s | 3,886 Number | 3,385 Number | 4,394 Number | 6 |
| 2000s | 3,946 Number | 3,594 Number | 4,124 Number | 7 |
| 2010s | 3,676 Number | 3,157 Number | 4,201 Number | 8 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom
- 1 France 8,781 Number compare
- 2 Metropolitan France 8,206 Number compare
- 3 United Kingdom 3,157 Number compare
- 5 Germany 2,787 Number compare
- 6 Ukraine 1,788 Number compare
More health data for United Kingdom
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.71 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.0265 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,134 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 461 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -0.7128 % 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 0.0247 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -0.7724 % 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 infant mortality in United Kingdom?
- Infant mortality in United Kingdom was 3,157 Number in 2017, according to Eurostat.
- What is the highest infant mortality recorded in United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 18,800 Number in 1960.
- What is the lowest infant mortality recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was 3,157 Number in 2017.
- How does United Kingdom rank for infant mortality?
- United Kingdom ranks 3rd out of 53 countries with data for 2017.
- Is infant mortality rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- Over the last ten years it is down 21.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this United Kingdom data come from?
- The figures come from Eurostat, published as part of Infant mortality. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 51 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Eurostat).