Infant mortality rate in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Infant mortality rate was 0.4134 deaths per 100 live births in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
0.4134 deaths per 100 live births
Change on year
up 1.8%
World rank
157th
of 199 countries
All-time high
3.28 deaths per 100 live births
in 1949
All-time low
0.381 deaths per 100 live births
in 2018
Years of data
76
1949–2024
Infant mortality rate in United Kingdom, 1949–2024
Source: United Nations Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (2025) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in deaths per 100 live births.
Analysis
In 2024, infant mortality rate in United Kingdom stood at 0.4134 deaths per 100 live births.
The figure is up 1.8% on the previous year and up 5.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, infant mortality rate in United Kingdom peaked at 3.28 deaths per 100 live births in 1949 and was at its lowest, 0.381 deaths per 100 live births, in 2018.
That places United Kingdom 157th 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 rate in United Kingdom, year by year
| Year | deaths per 100 live births | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1949 | 3.28 deaths per 100 live births | — |
| 1950 | 3.15 deaths per 100 live births | -4.0% |
| 1951 | 3.02 deaths per 100 live births | -4.1% |
| 1952 | 2.89 deaths per 100 live births | -4.2% |
| 1953 | 2.77 deaths per 100 live births | -4.3% |
| 1954 | 2.65 deaths per 100 live births | -4.1% |
| 1955 | 2.55 deaths per 100 live births | -3.7% |
| 1956 | 2.48 deaths per 100 live births | -3.1% |
| 1957 | 2.41 deaths per 100 live births | -2.5% |
| 1958 | 2.36 deaths per 100 live births | -2.0% |
| 1959 | 2.33 deaths per 100 live births | -1.6% |
| 1960 | 2.29 deaths per 100 live births | -1.5% |
| 1961 | 2.25 deaths per 100 live births | -1.6% |
| 1962 | 2.21 deaths per 100 live births | -2.1% |
| 1963 | 2.15 deaths per 100 live births | -2.7% |
| 1964 | 2.08 deaths per 100 live births | -3.0% |
| 1965 | 2.02 deaths per 100 live births | -3.1% |
| 1966 | 1.96 deaths per 100 live births | -2.9% |
| 1967 | 1.91 deaths per 100 live births | -2.4% |
| 1968 | 1.88 deaths per 100 live births | -2.0% |
| 1969 | 1.84 deaths per 100 live births | -1.8% |
| 1970 | 1.81 deaths per 100 live births | -1.9% |
| 1971 | 1.77 deaths per 100 live births | -2.2% |
| 1972 | 1.72 deaths per 100 live births | -2.6% |
| 1973 | 1.67 deaths per 100 live births | -3.2% |
| 1974 | 1.61 deaths per 100 live births | -3.6% |
| 1975 | 1.54 deaths per 100 live births | -4.0% |
| 1976 | 1.48 deaths per 100 live births | -4.4% |
| 1977 | 1.41 deaths per 100 live births | -4.5% |
| 1978 | 1.34 deaths per 100 live births | -4.7% |
| 1979 | 1.27 deaths per 100 live births | -5.0% |
| 1980 | 1.21 deaths per 100 live births | -5.3% |
| 1981 | 1.14 deaths per 100 live births | -5.4% |
| 1982 | 1.08 deaths per 100 live births | -5.1% |
| 1983 | 1.03 deaths per 100 live births | -4.5% |
| 1984 | 0.9952 deaths per 100 live births | -3.8% |
| 1985 | 0.9655 deaths per 100 live births | -3.0% |
| 1986 | 0.9402 deaths per 100 live births | -2.6% |
| 1987 | 0.9123 deaths per 100 live births | -3.0% |
| 1988 | 0.8776 deaths per 100 live births | -3.8% |
| 1989 | 0.8352 deaths per 100 live births | -4.8% |
| 1990 | 0.7858 deaths per 100 live births | -5.9% |
| 1991 | 0.7348 deaths per 100 live births | -6.5% |
| 1992 | 0.6895 deaths per 100 live births | -6.2% |
| 1993 | 0.6533 deaths per 100 live births | -5.3% |
| 1994 | 0.6256 deaths per 100 live births | -4.2% |
| 1995 | 0.6062 deaths per 100 live births | -3.1% |
| 1996 | 0.5926 deaths per 100 live births | -2.3% |
| 1997 | 0.5818 deaths per 100 live births | -1.8% |
| 1998 | 0.5722 deaths per 100 live births | -1.7% |
| 1999 | 0.563 deaths per 100 live births | -1.6% |
| 2000 | 0.5545 deaths per 100 live births | -1.5% |
| 2001 | 0.5464 deaths per 100 live births | -1.5% |
| 2002 | 0.5385 deaths per 100 live births | -1.4% |
| 2003 | 0.5308 deaths per 100 live births | -1.4% |
| 2004 | 0.5228 deaths per 100 live births | -1.5% |
| 2005 | 0.5139 deaths per 100 live births | -1.7% |
| 2006 | 0.5036 deaths per 100 live births | -2.0% |
| 2007 | 0.4912 deaths per 100 live births | -2.5% |
| 2008 | 0.4766 deaths per 100 live births | -3.0% |
| 2009 | 0.4605 deaths per 100 live births | -3.4% |
| 2010 | 0.4436 deaths per 100 live births | -3.7% |
| 2011 | 0.4272 deaths per 100 live births | -3.7% |
| 2012 | 0.4127 deaths per 100 live births | -3.4% |
| 2013 | 0.4009 deaths per 100 live births | -2.8% |
| 2014 | 0.3921 deaths per 100 live births | -2.2% |
| 2015 | 0.3864 deaths per 100 live births | -1.5% |
| 2016 | 0.3832 deaths per 100 live births | -0.8% |
| 2017 | 0.3815 deaths per 100 live births | -0.4% |
| 2018 | 0.381 deaths per 100 live births | -0.1% |
| 2019 | 0.3821 deaths per 100 live births | +0.3% |
| 2020 | 0.3851 deaths per 100 live births | +0.8% |
| 2021 | 0.3903 deaths per 100 live births | +1.4% |
| 2022 | 0.3976 deaths per 100 live births | +1.9% |
| 2023 | 0.4061 deaths per 100 live births | +2.1% |
| 2024 | 0.4134 deaths per 100 live births | +1.8% |
United Kingdom compared with similar countries
- United Kingdom's 0.4134 deaths per 100 live births is above the median for high income countries, which is 0.3612 deaths per 100 live births, 1.1× the median. (65 countries reporting)
- United Kingdom's 0.4134 deaths per 100 live births is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 0.3422 deaths per 100 live births, 1.2× the median. (51 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1940s | 3.28 deaths per 100 live births | 3.28 deaths per 100 live births | 3.28 deaths per 100 live births | 1 |
| 1950s | 2.66 deaths per 100 live births | 2.33 deaths per 100 live births | 3.15 deaths per 100 live births | 10 |
| 1960s | 2.06 deaths per 100 live births | 1.84 deaths per 100 live births | 2.29 deaths per 100 live births | 10 |
| 1970s | 1.56 deaths per 100 live births | 1.27 deaths per 100 live births | 1.81 deaths per 100 live births | 10 |
| 1980s | 0.9989 deaths per 100 live births | 0.8352 deaths per 100 live births | 1.21 deaths per 100 live births | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.6405 deaths per 100 live births | 0.563 deaths per 100 live births | 0.7858 deaths per 100 live births | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.5139 deaths per 100 live births | 0.4605 deaths per 100 live births | 0.5545 deaths per 100 live births | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.3991 deaths per 100 live births | 0.381 deaths per 100 live births | 0.4436 deaths per 100 live births | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.3985 deaths per 100 live births | 0.3851 deaths per 100 live births | 0.4134 deaths per 100 live births | 5 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom
- 154 Saudi Arabia 0.4656 deaths per 100 live births compare
- 155 Bulgaria 0.465 deaths per 100 live births compare
- 156 Serbia 0.4585 deaths per 100 live births compare
- 158 Russia 0.4132 deaths per 100 live births compare
- 159 Croatia 0.4121 deaths per 100 live births compare
- 160 Cyprus 0.4106 deaths per 100 live births compare
More health data for United Kingdom
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.71 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.0265 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,134 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 461 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -0.7128 % 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 -0.7724 % 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 United Kingdom?
- Infant mortality rate in United Kingdom was 0.4134 deaths per 100 live births in 2024, according to United Nations Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (2025) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest infant mortality rate recorded in United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 3.28 deaths per 100 live births in 1949.
- What is the lowest infant mortality rate recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.381 deaths per 100 live births in 2018.
- How does United Kingdom rank for infant mortality rate?
- United Kingdom ranks 157th out of 199 countries with data for 2024.
- Is infant mortality rate rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- Over the last ten years it is up 5.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this United Kingdom data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (2025) – 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
Estimated number of deaths of children aged under one year, per 100 live births .