Neonatal mortality rate in China
China: Neonatal mortality rate was 0.2594 deaths per 100 live births in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Neonatal mortality rate in China, 1989–2024
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, neonatal mortality rate in China stood at 0.2594 deaths per 100 live births. That is the lowest value across all 36 years on record.
The figure is down 6.8% on the previous year and down 55.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, neonatal mortality rate in China peaked at 2.97 deaths per 100 live births in 1989 and was at its lowest, 0.2594 deaths per 100 live births, in 2024.
That places China 164th 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.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 2.97 deaths per 100 live births | 2.97 deaths per 100 live births | 2.97 deaths per 100 live births | 1 |
| 1990s | 2.67 deaths per 100 live births | 2.24 deaths per 100 live births | 2.96 deaths per 100 live births | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.49 deaths per 100 live births | 0.921 deaths per 100 live births | 2.14 deaths per 100 live births | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.5761 deaths per 100 live births | 0.3762 deaths per 100 live births | 0.8357 deaths per 100 live births | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.301 deaths per 100 live births | 0.2594 deaths per 100 live births | 0.3472 deaths per 100 live births | 5 |
Countries ranked near China
- 161 Denmark 0.2699 deaths per 100 live births compare
- 162 New Zealand 0.2672 deaths per 100 live births compare
- 163 Netherlands 0.2623 deaths per 100 live births compare
- 166 Bulgaria 0.2582 deaths per 100 live births compare
- 167 Poland 0.2468 deaths per 100 live births compare
More health data for China
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 2,029 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 4,642 deaths (2100)
- Deaths in armed conflicts based on where they occurred 0 deaths (2026)
- Deaths in armed conflicts by region 0 deaths (2026)
- Age population, age 25, male, interpolated 8.74 million (2025)
- Age population, age 25, female, interpolated 7.51 million (2025)
- Age population, age 24, male, interpolated 8.70 million (2025)
- Age population, age 24, female, interpolated 7.46 million (2025)
- Age population, age 23, male, interpolated 8.44 million (2025)
- Age population, age 23, female, interpolated 7.21 million (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is neonatal mortality rate in China?
- Neonatal mortality rate in China was 0.2594 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 neonatal mortality rate recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 2.97 deaths per 100 live births in 1989.
- What is the lowest neonatal mortality rate recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.2594 deaths per 100 live births in 2024.
- How does China rank for neonatal mortality rate?
- China ranks 164th out of 199 countries with data for 2024.
- Is neonatal mortality rate rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is down 55.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this China 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 Neonatal mortality rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
The estimated number of deaths of children aged less than 28 days, per 100 live births .