Infant mortality rate (UN IGME estimate, 2024) in South Korea
South Korea: Infant mortality rate (UN IGME estimate, 2024) was 2.33 in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
2.33
Change on year
down 1.7%
World rank
185th
of 201 countries
All-time high
177.99
in 1951
All-time low
2.33
in 2024
Years of data
74
1951–2024
Infant mortality rate in South Korea, 1951–2024
Source: UNICEF.
Analysis
South Korea recorded 2.33 for infant mortality rate in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 74 years on record.
That represents a change of down 1.7% on the previous year and down 20.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, infant mortality rate in South Korea peaked at 177.99 in 1951 and was at its lowest, 2.33, in 2024.
That places South Korea 185th out of 201 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 (UN IGME estimate, 2024) in South Korea, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1951 | 177.99 | — |
| 1952 | 153.92 | -13.5% |
| 1953 | 133.99 | -13.0% |
| 1954 | 117.69 | -12.2% |
| 1955 | 104.92 | -10.9% |
| 1956 | 95.13 | -9.3% |
| 1957 | 87.56 | -8.0% |
| 1958 | 81.95 | -6.4% |
| 1959 | 77.73 | -5.1% |
| 1960 | 74.45 | -4.2% |
| 1961 | 71.77 | -3.6% |
| 1962 | 69.4 | -3.3% |
| 1963 | 67.02 | -3.4% |
| 1964 | 64.4 | -3.9% |
| 1965 | 61.52 | -4.5% |
| 1966 | 58.43 | -5.0% |
| 1967 | 55.08 | -5.7% |
| 1968 | 51.71 | -6.1% |
| 1969 | 48.39 | -6.4% |
| 1970 | 45.3 | -6.4% |
| 1971 | 42.51 | -6.2% |
| 1972 | 40.12 | -5.6% |
| 1973 | 38.14 | -4.9% |
| 1974 | 36.46 | -4.4% |
| 1975 | 34.99 | -4.0% |
| 1976 | 33.63 | -3.9% |
| 1977 | 32.29 | -4.0% |
| 1978 | 30.9 | -4.3% |
| 1979 | 29.42 | -4.8% |
| 1980 | 27.79 | -5.5% |
| 1981 | 26.06 | -6.2% |
| 1982 | 24.27 | -6.9% |
| 1983 | 22.45 | -7.5% |
| 1984 | 20.65 | -8.0% |
| 1985 | 18.89 | -8.5% |
| 1986 | 17.22 | -8.8% |
| 1987 | 15.69 | -8.9% |
| 1988 | 14.33 | -8.7% |
| 1989 | 13.1 | -8.6% |
| 1990 | 12.02 | -8.2% |
| 1991 | 11.06 | -8.0% |
| 1992 | 10.2 | -7.8% |
| 1993 | 9.41 | -7.7% |
| 1994 | 8.7 | -7.6% |
| 1995 | 8.06 | -7.4% |
| 1996 | 7.49 | -7.1% |
| 1997 | 6.98 | -6.8% |
| 1998 | 6.53 | -6.4% |
| 1999 | 6.14 | -5.9% |
| 2000 | 5.81 | -5.4% |
| 2001 | 5.52 | -5.0% |
| 2002 | 5.24 | -5.1% |
| 2003 | 4.95 | -5.5% |
| 2004 | 4.65 | -6.0% |
| 2005 | 4.35 | -6.5% |
| 2006 | 4.06 | -6.7% |
| 2007 | 3.8 | -6.4% |
| 2008 | 3.59 | -5.6% |
| 2009 | 3.41 | -4.8% |
| 2010 | 3.28 | -3.8% |
| 2011 | 3.18 | -3.2% |
| 2012 | 3.09 | -2.8% |
| 2013 | 3.01 | -2.7% |
| 2014 | 2.93 | -2.6% |
| 2015 | 2.86 | -2.5% |
| 2016 | 2.79 | -2.5% |
| 2017 | 2.72 | -2.5% |
| 2018 | 2.65 | -2.5% |
| 2019 | 2.58 | -2.5% |
| 2020 | 2.52 | -2.5% |
| 2021 | 2.46 | -2.3% |
| 2022 | 2.41 | -2.0% |
| 2023 | 2.37 | -1.7% |
| 2024 | 2.33 | -1.7% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 2.33 is below the median for high income countries, which is 3.61, 64% of the median. (65 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 2.33 is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 13.87, 17% of the median. (30 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 114.54 | 77.73 | 177.99 | 9 |
| 1960s | 62.22 | 48.39 | 74.45 | 10 |
| 1970s | 36.37 | 29.42 | 45.3 | 10 |
| 1980s | 20.04 | 13.1 | 27.79 | 10 |
| 1990s | 8.66 | 6.14 | 12.02 | 10 |
| 2000s | 4.54 | 3.41 | 5.81 | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.91 | 2.58 | 3.28 | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.42 | 2.33 | 2.52 | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
More health data for South Korea
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.43 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.1935 % change on previous year (2090)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 69 (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -2.66 % 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 0.0118 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -2.76 % 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 0.0124 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is infant mortality rate in South Korea?
- Infant mortality rate in South Korea was 2.33 in 2024, according to UNICEF.
- What is the highest infant mortality rate recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 177.99 in 1951.
- What is the lowest infant mortality rate recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.33 in 2024.
- How does South Korea rank for infant mortality rate?
- South Korea ranks 185th out of 201 countries with data for 2024.
- Is infant mortality rate rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 20.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Korea data come from?
- The figures come from UNICEF, published as part of Infant mortality rate (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).