Number of neonatal, infant and child deaths in Korea
Korea: Number of neonatal, infant and child deaths was 281 deaths in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
281 deaths
Change on year
down 1.1%
World rank
122nd
of 199 countries
All-time high
31,807 deaths
in 1952
All-time low
281 deaths
in 2024
Years of data
73
1952–2024
Number of neonatal, infant and child deaths in Korea, 1952–2024
Source: United Nations Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (2025) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in deaths.
Analysis
The most recent figure for number of neonatal, infant and child deaths in Korea is 281 deaths, measured in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 73 years on record.
That represents a change of down 1.1% on the previous year and down 60.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of neonatal, infant and child deaths in Korea peaked at 31,807 deaths in 1952 and was at its lowest, 281 deaths, in 2024.
That places Korea 122nd out of 199 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Number of neonatal, infant and child deaths in Korea, year by year
| Year | deaths | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1952 | 31,807 deaths | — |
| 1953 | 31,239 deaths | -1.8% |
| 1954 | 30,642 deaths | -1.9% |
| 1955 | 30,151 deaths | -1.6% |
| 1956 | 29,997 deaths | -0.5% |
| 1957 | 30,294 deaths | +1.0% |
| 1958 | 30,694 deaths | +1.3% |
| 1959 | 31,117 deaths | +1.4% |
| 1960 | 31,336 deaths | +0.7% |
| 1961 | 31,090 deaths | -0.8% |
| 1962 | 30,230 deaths | -2.8% |
| 1963 | 29,271 deaths | -3.2% |
| 1964 | 27,977 deaths | -4.4% |
| 1965 | 26,977 deaths | -3.6% |
| 1966 | 26,209 deaths | -2.8% |
| 1967 | 25,167 deaths | -4.0% |
| 1968 | 24,435 deaths | -2.9% |
| 1969 | 23,924 deaths | -2.1% |
| 1970 | 23,707 deaths | -0.9% |
| 1971 | 22,384 deaths | -5.6% |
| 1972 | 20,927 deaths | -6.5% |
| 1973 | 19,693 deaths | -5.9% |
| 1974 | 18,417 deaths | -6.5% |
| 1975 | 17,278 deaths | -6.2% |
| 1976 | 16,424 deaths | -4.9% |
| 1977 | 15,735 deaths | -4.2% |
| 1978 | 14,611 deaths | -7.1% |
| 1979 | 15,011 deaths | +2.7% |
| 1980 | 14,921 deaths | -0.6% |
| 1981 | 14,661 deaths | -1.7% |
| 1982 | 13,260 deaths | -9.6% |
| 1983 | 11,173 deaths | -15.7% |
| 1984 | 9,296 deaths | -16.8% |
| 1985 | 8,116 deaths | -12.7% |
| 1986 | 7,175 deaths | -11.6% |
| 1987 | 6,426 deaths | -10.4% |
| 1988 | 5,849 deaths | -9.0% |
| 1989 | 5,396 deaths | -7.7% |
| 1990 | 5,086 deaths | -5.7% |
| 1991 | 4,972 deaths | -2.2% |
| 1992 | 4,640 deaths | -6.7% |
| 1993 | 4,119 deaths | -11.2% |
| 1994 | 3,752 deaths | -8.9% |
| 1995 | 3,406 deaths | -9.2% |
| 1996 | 3,060 deaths | -10.2% |
| 1997 | 2,754 deaths | -10.0% |
| 1998 | 2,455 deaths | -10.9% |
| 1999 | 2,225 deaths | -9.4% |
| 2000 | 2,049 deaths | -7.9% |
| 2001 | 1,737 deaths | -15.2% |
| 2002 | 1,474 deaths | -15.1% |
| 2003 | 1,334 deaths | -9.5% |
| 2004 | 1,196 deaths | -10.3% |
| 2005 | 1,042 deaths | -12.9% |
| 2006 | 962 deaths | -7.7% |
| 2007 | 927 deaths | -3.6% |
| 2008 | 843 deaths | -9.1% |
| 2009 | 787 deaths | -6.6% |
| 2010 | 788 deaths | +0.1% |
| 2011 | 787 deaths | -0.1% |
| 2012 | 787 deaths | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 734 deaths | -6.7% |
| 2014 | 711 deaths | -3.1% |
| 2015 | 694 deaths | -2.4% |
| 2016 | 639 deaths | -7.9% |
| 2017 | 558 deaths | -12.7% |
| 2018 | 489 deaths | -12.4% |
| 2019 | 429 deaths | -12.3% |
| 2020 | 373 deaths | -13.1% |
| 2021 | 338 deaths | -9.4% |
| 2022 | 319 deaths | -5.6% |
| 2023 | 284 deaths | -11.0% |
| 2024 | 281 deaths | -1.1% |
Korea compared with similar countries
- Korea's 281 deaths is above the median for high income countries, which is 155 deaths, 1.8× the median. (65 countries reporting)
- Korea's 281 deaths is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 366.5 deaths, 77% of the median. (30 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 30,743 deaths | 29,997 deaths | 31,807 deaths | 8 |
| 1960s | 27,662 deaths | 23,924 deaths | 31,336 deaths | 10 |
| 1970s | 18,419 deaths | 14,611 deaths | 23,707 deaths | 10 |
| 1980s | 9,627 deaths | 5,396 deaths | 14,921 deaths | 10 |
| 1990s | 3,647 deaths | 2,225 deaths | 5,086 deaths | 10 |
| 2000s | 1,235 deaths | 787 deaths | 2,049 deaths | 10 |
| 2010s | 661.6 deaths | 429 deaths | 788 deaths | 10 |
| 2020s | 319 deaths | 281 deaths | 373 deaths | 5 |
Countries ranked near Korea
More health data for 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)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 69 deaths (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 number of neonatal, infant and child deaths in Korea?
- Number of neonatal, infant and child deaths in Korea was 281 deaths in 2024, according to United Nations Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (2025) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest number of neonatal, infant and child deaths recorded in Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 31,807 deaths in 1952.
- What is the lowest number of neonatal, infant and child deaths recorded in Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 281 deaths in 2024.
- How does Korea rank for number of neonatal, infant and child deaths?
- Korea ranks 122nd out of 199 countries with data for 2024.
- Is number of neonatal, infant and child deaths rising or falling in Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 60.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Korea 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 Number of neonatal, infant and child deaths. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Estimated number of deaths of children aged less than 28 days .