Infant mortality (Our World) in China
China: Infant mortality (Our World) was 0.4079 in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
0.4079
Change on year
down 7.3%
World rank
161st
of 199 countries
All-time high
8.88
in 1969
All-time low
0.4079
in 2024
Years of data
56
1969–2024
Infant mortality in China, 1969–2024
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
China recorded 0.4079 for infant mortality in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 56 years on record.
The figure is down 7.3% on the previous year and down 54.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, infant mortality in China peaked at 8.88 in 1969 and was at its lowest, 0.4079, in 2024.
That places China 161st out of 199 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 (Our World) in China, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1969 | 8.88 | — |
| 1970 | 8.46 | -4.7% |
| 1971 | 8.05 | -4.9% |
| 1972 | 7.66 | -4.8% |
| 1973 | 7.26 | -5.2% |
| 1974 | 6.86 | -5.5% |
| 1975 | 6.47 | -5.7% |
| 1976 | 6.09 | -5.9% |
| 1977 | 5.73 | -5.9% |
| 1978 | 5.41 | -5.6% |
| 1979 | 5.13 | -5.2% |
| 1980 | 4.88 | -4.7% |
| 1981 | 4.68 | -4.1% |
| 1982 | 4.53 | -3.3% |
| 1983 | 4.42 | -2.5% |
| 1984 | 4.35 | -1.6% |
| 1985 | 4.31 | -0.9% |
| 1986 | 4.3 | -0.3% |
| 1987 | 4.31 | +0.3% |
| 1988 | 4.32 | +0.4% |
| 1989 | 4.34 | +0.2% |
| 1990 | 4.33 | -0.1% |
| 1991 | 4.3 | -0.8% |
| 1992 | 4.23 | -1.6% |
| 1993 | 4.13 | -2.2% |
| 1994 | 4.01 | -2.9% |
| 1995 | 3.87 | -3.5% |
| 1996 | 3.72 | -3.9% |
| 1997 | 3.55 | -4.4% |
| 1998 | 3.38 | -4.9% |
| 1999 | 3.19 | -5.5% |
| 2000 | 2.99 | -6.3% |
| 2001 | 2.78 | -7.1% |
| 2002 | 2.56 | -7.9% |
| 2003 | 2.34 | -8.5% |
| 2004 | 2.13 | -8.9% |
| 2005 | 1.94 | -9.1% |
| 2006 | 1.77 | -8.9% |
| 2007 | 1.61 | -8.7% |
| 2008 | 1.48 | -8.5% |
| 2009 | 1.35 | -8.2% |
| 2010 | 1.24 | -8.1% |
| 2011 | 1.14 | -8.1% |
| 2012 | 1.05 | -8.0% |
| 2013 | 0.9684 | -8.0% |
| 2014 | 0.8913 | -8.0% |
| 2015 | 0.8209 | -7.9% |
| 2016 | 0.7565 | -7.8% |
| 2017 | 0.6978 | -7.8% |
| 2018 | 0.6446 | -7.6% |
| 2019 | 0.5966 | -7.4% |
| 2020 | 0.5526 | -7.4% |
| 2021 | 0.5122 | -7.3% |
| 2022 | 0.4753 | -7.2% |
| 2023 | 0.4399 | -7.4% |
| 2024 | 0.4079 | -7.3% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 0.4079 is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 1.16, 35% of the median. (58 countries reporting)
- China's 0.4079 is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 1.39, 29% of the median. (30 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 8.88 | 8.88 | 8.88 | 1 |
| 1970s | 6.71 | 5.13 | 8.46 | 10 |
| 1980s | 4.44 | 4.3 | 4.88 | 10 |
| 1990s | 3.87 | 3.19 | 4.33 | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.1 | 1.35 | 2.99 | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.8818 | 0.5966 | 1.24 | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.4776 | 0.4079 | 0.5526 | 5 |
Countries ranked near China
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 in China?
- Infant mortality in China was 0.4079 in 2024, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest infant mortality recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 8.88 in 1969.
- What is the lowest infant mortality recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.4079 in 2024.
- How does China rank for infant mortality?
- China ranks 161st out of 199 countries with data for 2024.
- Is infant mortality 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 Our World in Data, published as part of Infant mortality. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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