Infant mortality (Our World) in South Korea
South Korea: Infant mortality (Our World) was 0.2328 in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
0.2328
Change on year
down 1.7%
World rank
183rd
of 199 countries
All-time high
17.8
in 1951
All-time low
0.2328
in 2024
Years of data
74
1951–2024
Infant mortality in South Korea, 1951–2024
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for infant mortality in South Korea is 0.2328, measured in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 74 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 1.7% on the previous year and down 20.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, infant mortality in South Korea peaked at 17.8 in 1951 and was at its lowest, 0.2328, in 2024.
South Korea ranks 183rd of 199 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 (Our World) in South Korea, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1951 | 17.8 | — |
| 1952 | 15.39 | -13.5% |
| 1953 | 13.4 | -13.0% |
| 1954 | 11.77 | -12.2% |
| 1955 | 10.49 | -10.9% |
| 1956 | 9.51 | -9.3% |
| 1957 | 8.76 | -8.0% |
| 1958 | 8.2 | -6.4% |
| 1959 | 7.77 | -5.1% |
| 1960 | 7.44 | -4.2% |
| 1961 | 7.18 | -3.6% |
| 1962 | 6.94 | -3.3% |
| 1963 | 6.7 | -3.4% |
| 1964 | 6.44 | -3.9% |
| 1965 | 6.15 | -4.5% |
| 1966 | 5.84 | -5.0% |
| 1967 | 5.51 | -5.7% |
| 1968 | 5.17 | -6.1% |
| 1969 | 4.84 | -6.4% |
| 1970 | 4.53 | -6.4% |
| 1971 | 4.25 | -6.2% |
| 1972 | 4.01 | -5.6% |
| 1973 | 3.81 | -4.9% |
| 1974 | 3.65 | -4.4% |
| 1975 | 3.5 | -4.0% |
| 1976 | 3.36 | -3.9% |
| 1977 | 3.23 | -4.0% |
| 1978 | 3.09 | -4.3% |
| 1979 | 2.94 | -4.8% |
| 1980 | 2.78 | -5.5% |
| 1981 | 2.61 | -6.2% |
| 1982 | 2.43 | -6.9% |
| 1983 | 2.25 | -7.5% |
| 1984 | 2.06 | -8.0% |
| 1985 | 1.89 | -8.5% |
| 1986 | 1.72 | -8.8% |
| 1987 | 1.57 | -8.9% |
| 1988 | 1.43 | -8.7% |
| 1989 | 1.31 | -8.6% |
| 1990 | 1.2 | -8.2% |
| 1991 | 1.11 | -8.0% |
| 1992 | 1.02 | -7.8% |
| 1993 | 0.9413 | -7.7% |
| 1994 | 0.8701 | -7.6% |
| 1995 | 0.8061 | -7.4% |
| 1996 | 0.7487 | -7.1% |
| 1997 | 0.6975 | -6.8% |
| 1998 | 0.6526 | -6.4% |
| 1999 | 0.6141 | -5.9% |
| 2000 | 0.581 | -5.4% |
| 2001 | 0.5518 | -5.0% |
| 2002 | 0.5236 | -5.1% |
| 2003 | 0.4949 | -5.5% |
| 2004 | 0.4653 | -6.0% |
| 2005 | 0.435 | -6.5% |
| 2006 | 0.4058 | -6.7% |
| 2007 | 0.3799 | -6.4% |
| 2008 | 0.3586 | -5.6% |
| 2009 | 0.3415 | -4.8% |
| 2010 | 0.3283 | -3.8% |
| 2011 | 0.318 | -3.2% |
| 2012 | 0.309 | -2.8% |
| 2013 | 0.3007 | -2.7% |
| 2014 | 0.2929 | -2.6% |
| 2015 | 0.2856 | -2.5% |
| 2016 | 0.2785 | -2.5% |
| 2017 | 0.2717 | -2.5% |
| 2018 | 0.2648 | -2.5% |
| 2019 | 0.2581 | -2.5% |
| 2020 | 0.2517 | -2.5% |
| 2021 | 0.2459 | -2.3% |
| 2022 | 0.241 | -2.0% |
| 2023 | 0.2368 | -1.7% |
| 2024 | 0.2328 | -1.7% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 0.2328 is below the median for high income countries, which is 0.3612, 64% of the median. (65 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 0.2328 is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 1.39, 17% of the median. (30 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 11.45 | 7.77 | 17.8 | 9 |
| 1960s | 6.22 | 4.84 | 7.44 | 10 |
| 1970s | 3.64 | 2.94 | 4.53 | 10 |
| 1980s | 2 | 1.31 | 2.78 | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.8659 | 0.6141 | 1.2 | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.4537 | 0.3415 | 0.581 | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.2908 | 0.2581 | 0.3283 | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.2417 | 0.2328 | 0.2517 | 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 in South Korea?
- Infant mortality in South Korea was 0.2328 in 2024, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest infant mortality recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 17.8 in 1951.
- What is the lowest infant mortality recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.2328 in 2024.
- How does South Korea rank for infant mortality?
- South Korea ranks 183rd out of 199 countries with data for 2024.
- Is infant mortality 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 Our World in Data, published as part of Infant mortality. 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).