Infant mortality rate in China
China: Infant mortality rate was 0.5% in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Infant mortality rate in China, 1950–2023
Source: UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in % of infants.
Analysis
In 2023, infant mortality rate in China stood at 0.5%. That is the lowest value across all 74 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 4.2% on the previous year and down 49.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, infant mortality rate in China peaked at 19.6% in 1960 and was at its lowest, 0.5%, in 2023.
China ranks 174th of 236 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.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 12.1% | 10.8% | 15.3% | 10 |
| 1960s | 10.7% | 8.1% | 19.6% | 10 |
| 1970s | 6.3% | 5.0% | 7.7% | 10 |
| 1980s | 4.3% | 4.1% | 4.8% | 10 |
| 1990s | 3.6% | 3.0% | 4.0% | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.0% | 1.4% | 2.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.9% | 0.6% | 1.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.6% | 0.5% | 0.6% | 4 |
Countries ranked near China
- 171 Saint Barthelemy 0.5% compare
- 172 French Polynesia 0.5% compare
- 173 Puerto Rico 0.5% compare
- 175 Sri Lanka 0.5% compare
- 176 Reunion 0.5% compare
- 177 Saudi Arabia 0.5% compare
More health data for China
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 2,029 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 4,642 deaths (2100)
- Deaths in armed conflicts based on where they occurred 0 deaths (2026)
- Deaths in armed conflicts by region 0 deaths (2026)
- Age population, age 25, male, interpolated 8.74 million (2025)
- Age population, age 25, female, interpolated 7.51 million (2025)
- Age population, age 24, male, interpolated 8.70 million (2025)
- Age population, age 24, female, interpolated 7.46 million (2025)
- Age population, age 23, male, interpolated 8.44 million (2025)
- Age population, age 23, female, interpolated 7.21 million (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is infant mortality rate in China?
- Infant mortality rate in China was 0.5% in 2023, according to UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest infant mortality rate recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 19.6% in 1960.
- What is the lowest infant mortality rate recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.5% in 2023.
- How does China rank for infant mortality rate?
- China ranks 174th out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is infant mortality rate rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is down 49.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this China data come from?
- The figures come from UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Infant mortality rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 74 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
The share of newborns who die before reaching the age of one.