Infant mortality rate (deaths per 1,000 live births) in China
China: Infant mortality rate (deaths per 1,000 live births) was 4.08 per 1,000 live births in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
4.08 per 1,000 live births
Change on year
down 7.3%
World rank
173rd
of 213 countries
All-time high
29.91 per 1,000 live births
in 2000
All-time low
4.08 per 1,000 live births
in 2024
Years of data
25
2000–2024
Infant mortality rate in China, 2000–2024
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Measured in per 1,000 live births.
Analysis
In 2024, infant mortality rate in China stood at 4.08 per 1,000 live births. That is the lowest value across all 25 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 7.3% on the previous year and down 54.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, infant mortality rate in China peaked at 29.91 per 1,000 live births in 2000 and was at its lowest, 4.08 per 1,000 live births, in 2024.
That places China 173rd out of 213 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Infant mortality rate (deaths per 1,000 live births) in China, year by year
| Year | per 1,000 live births | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 29.91 per 1,000 live births | — |
| 2001 | 27.78 per 1,000 live births | -7.1% |
| 2002 | 25.6 per 1,000 live births | -7.9% |
| 2003 | 23.43 per 1,000 live births | -8.5% |
| 2004 | 21.33 per 1,000 live births | -8.9% |
| 2005 | 19.4 per 1,000 live births | -9.1% |
| 2006 | 17.67 per 1,000 live births | -8.9% |
| 2007 | 16.13 per 1,000 live births | -8.7% |
| 2008 | 14.76 per 1,000 live births | -8.5% |
| 2009 | 13.55 per 1,000 live births | -8.2% |
| 2010 | 12.45 per 1,000 live births | -8.1% |
| 2011 | 11.44 per 1,000 live births | -8.1% |
| 2012 | 10.53 per 1,000 live births | -8.0% |
| 2013 | 9.68 per 1,000 live births | -8.0% |
| 2014 | 8.91 per 1,000 live births | -8.0% |
| 2015 | 8.21 per 1,000 live births | -7.9% |
| 2016 | 7.57 per 1,000 live births | -7.8% |
| 2017 | 6.98 per 1,000 live births | -7.8% |
| 2018 | 6.45 per 1,000 live births | -7.6% |
| 2019 | 5.97 per 1,000 live births | -7.4% |
| 2020 | 5.53 per 1,000 live births | -7.4% |
| 2021 | 5.12 per 1,000 live births | -7.3% |
| 2022 | 4.75 per 1,000 live births | -7.2% |
| 2023 | 4.4 per 1,000 live births | -7.4% |
| 2024 | 4.08 per 1,000 live births | -7.3% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 4.08 per 1,000 live births is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 11.59 per 1,000 live births, 35% of the median. (56 countries reporting)
- China's 4.08 per 1,000 live births is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 13.34 per 1,000 live births, 31% of the median. (28 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 20.96 per 1,000 live births | 13.55 per 1,000 live births | 29.91 per 1,000 live births | 10 |
| 2010s | 8.82 per 1,000 live births | 5.97 per 1,000 live births | 12.45 per 1,000 live births | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.78 per 1,000 live births | 4.08 per 1,000 live births | 5.53 per 1,000 live births | 5 |
Countries ranked near China
- 171 Croatia 4.12 per 1,000 live births compare
- 172 Cyprus 4.11 per 1,000 live births compare
- 174 New Zealand 4.02 per 1,000 live births compare
- 175 United Arab Emirates 3.78 per 1,000 live births compare
- 176 Poland 3.61 per 1,000 live births 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)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 4,642 (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)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per capita 0.0176 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is infant mortality rate in China?
- Infant mortality rate in China was 4.08 per 1,000 live births in 2024, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
- What is the highest infant mortality rate recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 29.91 per 1,000 live births in 2000.
- What is the lowest infant mortality rate recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.08 per 1,000 live births in 2024.
- How does China rank for infant mortality rate?
- China ranks 173rd out of 213 countries with data for 2024.
- Is infant mortality rate rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is down 54.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this China data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database, published as part of Infant mortality rate (deaths per 1,000 live births). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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