Infant mortality rate in Denmark
Denmark: Infant mortality rate was 0.3% in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
0.3%
Change on year
down 8.3%
World rank
212th
of 236 countries
All-time high
3.0%
in 1950
All-time low
0.3%
in 2023
Years of data
74
1950–2023
Infant mortality rate in Denmark, 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 Denmark stood at 0.3%. That is the lowest value across all 74 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 8.3% on the previous year and down 14.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, infant mortality rate in Denmark peaked at 3.0% in 1950 and was at its lowest, 0.3%, in 2023.
Denmark ranks 212th of 236 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Infant mortality rate in Denmark, year by year
| Year | % of infants | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 3.0% | — |
| 1951 | 2.8% | -7.2% |
| 1952 | 2.9% | +2.9% |
| 1953 | 2.7% | -6.8% |
| 1954 | 2.7% | -2.0% |
| 1955 | 2.5% | -4.9% |
| 1956 | 2.5% | -1.4% |
| 1957 | 2.3% | -7.1% |
| 1958 | 2.2% | -3.5% |
| 1959 | 2.2% | -0.1% |
| 1960 | 2.2% | -1.3% |
| 1961 | 2.2% | -0.1% |
| 1962 | 2.0% | -8.6% |
| 1963 | 2.0% | -1.6% |
| 1964 | 1.9% | -4.9% |
| 1965 | 1.9% | +1.1% |
| 1966 | 1.7% | -9.6% |
| 1967 | 1.5% | -12.5% |
| 1968 | 1.6% | +4.5% |
| 1969 | 1.5% | -7.3% |
| 1970 | 1.4% | -2.1% |
| 1971 | 1.4% | -2.0% |
| 1972 | 1.2% | -13.4% |
| 1973 | 1.1% | -6.8% |
| 1974 | 1.1% | -4.2% |
| 1975 | 1.0% | -3.3% |
| 1976 | 1.0% | -7.9% |
| 1977 | 0.8% | -11.7% |
| 1978 | 0.9% | +3.0% |
| 1979 | 0.9% | -2.2% |
| 1980 | 0.8% | -3.4% |
| 1981 | 0.8% | -7.7% |
| 1982 | 0.8% | +6.7% |
| 1983 | 0.8% | -6.6% |
| 1984 | 0.8% | +1.7% |
| 1985 | 0.8% | +4.1% |
| 1986 | 0.8% | +2.4% |
| 1987 | 0.8% | +0.7% |
| 1988 | 0.8% | -6.2% |
| 1989 | 0.8% | +4.5% |
| 1990 | 0.8% | -7.3% |
| 1991 | 0.7% | -3.0% |
| 1992 | 0.7% | -8.4% |
| 1993 | 0.5% | -19.6% |
| 1994 | 0.6% | +3.2% |
| 1995 | 0.5% | -10.4% |
| 1996 | 0.5% | +9.5% |
| 1997 | 0.5% | -4.9% |
| 1998 | 0.5% | -10.9% |
| 1999 | 0.4% | -9.0% |
| 2000 | 0.5% | +27.3% |
| 2001 | 0.5% | -10.8% |
| 2002 | 0.4% | -8.5% |
| 2003 | 0.4% | +1.3% |
| 2004 | 0.4% | -2.2% |
| 2005 | 0.4% | -0.6% |
| 2006 | 0.4% | -10.4% |
| 2007 | 0.4% | +2.2% |
| 2008 | 0.4% | +1.5% |
| 2009 | 0.3% | -25.4% |
| 2010 | 0.3% | +13.2% |
| 2011 | 0.3% | -0.6% |
| 2012 | 0.3% | -0.4% |
| 2013 | 0.3% | +0.4% |
| 2014 | 0.4% | +20.2% |
| 2015 | 0.4% | -7.4% |
| 2016 | 0.3% | -14.8% |
| 2017 | 0.4% | +16.3% |
| 2018 | 0.4% | -2.4% |
| 2019 | 0.3% | -18.8% |
| 2020 | 0.3% | +6.8% |
| 2021 | 0.3% | +0.9% |
| 2022 | 0.3% | -0.7% |
| 2023 | 0.3% | -8.3% |
Denmark compared with similar countries
- Denmark's 0.3% is below the median for high income countries, which is 0.4%, 65% of the median. (85 countries reporting)
- Denmark's 0.3% is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 0.4%, 82% of the median. (56 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 2.6% | 2.2% | 3.0% | 10 |
| 1960s | 1.8% | 1.5% | 2.2% | 10 |
| 1970s | 1.1% | 0.8% | 1.4% | 10 |
| 1980s | 0.8% | 0.8% | 0.8% | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.6% | 0.4% | 0.8% | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.4% | 0.3% | 0.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.3% | 0.3% | 0.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.3% | 0.3% | 0.3% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Denmark
More health data for Denmark
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -3.12 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.1019 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,179 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 31 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -0.4524 % 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 -0.4338 % 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 rate in Denmark?
- Infant mortality rate in Denmark was 0.3% in 2023, according to UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest infant mortality rate recorded in Denmark?
- The highest recorded value was 3.0% in 1950.
- What is the lowest infant mortality rate recorded in Denmark?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.3% in 2023.
- How does Denmark rank for infant mortality rate?
- Denmark ranks 212th out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is infant mortality rate rising or falling in Denmark?
- Over the last ten years it is down 14.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Denmark 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.
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About this data
Share of newborns who die before reaching the age of one.