Infant mortality rates (Our World) in South Korea
South Korea: Infant mortality rates (Our World) was 0.2074 in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
0.2074
Change on year
down 3.4%
World rank
222nd
of 236 countries
All-time high
17.87
in 1950
All-time low
0.2074
in 2023
Years of data
74
1950–2023
Infant mortality rates in South Korea, 1950–2023
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
South Korea recorded 0.2074 for infant mortality rates in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 74 years on record.
The figure is down 3.4% on the previous year and down 28.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, infant mortality rates in South Korea peaked at 17.87 in 1950 and was at its lowest, 0.2074, in 2023.
South Korea ranks 222nd 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 rates (Our World) in South Korea, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 17.87 | — |
| 1951 | 16.48 | -7.8% |
| 1952 | 15.02 | -8.8% |
| 1953 | 13.6 | -9.5% |
| 1954 | 12.29 | -9.6% |
| 1955 | 11.15 | -9.3% |
| 1956 | 10.2 | -8.6% |
| 1957 | 9.45 | -7.3% |
| 1958 | 8.8 | -6.9% |
| 1959 | 8.29 | -5.8% |
| 1960 | 7.85 | -5.3% |
| 1961 | 7.48 | -4.7% |
| 1962 | 7.14 | -4.5% |
| 1963 | 6.82 | -4.6% |
| 1964 | 6.5 | -4.6% |
| 1965 | 6.19 | -4.8% |
| 1966 | 5.86 | -5.4% |
| 1967 | 5.53 | -5.7% |
| 1968 | 5.2 | -5.9% |
| 1969 | 4.9 | -5.8% |
| 1970 | 4.59 | -6.3% |
| 1971 | 4.32 | -5.9% |
| 1972 | 4.1 | -5.0% |
| 1973 | 3.87 | -5.7% |
| 1974 | 3.69 | -4.8% |
| 1975 | 3.52 | -4.4% |
| 1976 | 3.37 | -4.3% |
| 1977 | 3.23 | -4.1% |
| 1978 | 3.08 | -4.8% |
| 1979 | 2.93 | -4.9% |
| 1980 | 2.77 | -5.4% |
| 1981 | 2.61 | -5.9% |
| 1982 | 2.44 | -6.6% |
| 1983 | 2.26 | -7.1% |
| 1984 | 2.1 | -7.3% |
| 1985 | 1.93 | -8.1% |
| 1986 | 1.77 | -8.2% |
| 1987 | 1.63 | -8.0% |
| 1988 | 1.49 | -8.8% |
| 1989 | 1.36 | -8.2% |
| 1990 | 1.26 | -7.9% |
| 1991 | 1.15 | -8.2% |
| 1992 | 1.06 | -8.0% |
| 1993 | 0.9807 | -7.6% |
| 1994 | 0.9074 | -7.5% |
| 1995 | 0.8414 | -7.3% |
| 1996 | 0.7834 | -6.9% |
| 1997 | 0.7281 | -7.1% |
| 1998 | 0.6924 | -4.9% |
| 1999 | 0.641 | -7.4% |
| 2000 | 0.6024 | -6.0% |
| 2001 | 0.5682 | -5.7% |
| 2002 | 0.5353 | -5.8% |
| 2003 | 0.5016 | -6.3% |
| 2004 | 0.4691 | -6.5% |
| 2005 | 0.4389 | -6.4% |
| 2006 | 0.411 | -6.4% |
| 2007 | 0.3844 | -6.5% |
| 2008 | 0.3619 | -5.9% |
| 2009 | 0.3426 | -5.3% |
| 2010 | 0.3267 | -4.6% |
| 2011 | 0.3146 | -3.7% |
| 2012 | 0.3016 | -4.1% |
| 2013 | 0.2911 | -3.5% |
| 2014 | 0.2824 | -3.0% |
| 2015 | 0.2733 | -3.2% |
| 2016 | 0.2649 | -3.1% |
| 2017 | 0.2567 | -3.1% |
| 2018 | 0.2483 | -3.3% |
| 2019 | 0.2401 | -3.3% |
| 2020 | 0.2325 | -3.2% |
| 2021 | 0.2229 | -4.1% |
| 2022 | 0.2148 | -3.6% |
| 2023 | 0.2074 | -3.4% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 0.2074 is below the median for high income countries, which is 0.4445, 47% of the median. (85 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 0.2074 is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 1.31, 16% of the median. (37 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 12.32 | 8.29 | 17.87 | 10 |
| 1960s | 6.35 | 4.9 | 7.85 | 10 |
| 1970s | 3.67 | 2.93 | 4.59 | 10 |
| 1980s | 2.03 | 1.36 | 2.77 | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.9044 | 0.641 | 1.26 | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.4615 | 0.3426 | 0.6024 | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.28 | 0.2401 | 0.3267 | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.2194 | 0.2074 | 0.2325 | 4 |
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 rates in South Korea?
- Infant mortality rates in South Korea was 0.2074 in 2023, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest infant mortality rates recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 17.87 in 1950.
- What is the lowest infant mortality rates recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.2074 in 2023.
- How does South Korea rank for infant mortality rates?
- South Korea ranks 222nd out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is infant mortality rates rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 28.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Korea data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Infant mortality rates. 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).