Number of children who die before age 5 in South Korea
South Korea: Number of children who die before age 5 was 684 deaths in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
684 deaths
Change on year
down 12.3%
World rank
117th
of 236 countries
All-time high
289,005 deaths
in 1950
All-time low
684 deaths
in 2023
Years of data
74
1950–2023
Number of children who die before age 5 in South Korea, 1950–2023
Source: UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in deaths.
Analysis
The most recent figure for number of children who die before age 5 in South Korea is 684 deaths, measured in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 74 years on record.
That represents a change of down 12.3% on the previous year and down 58.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of children who die before age 5 in South Korea peaked at 289,005 deaths in 1950 and was at its lowest, 684 deaths, in 2023.
That places South Korea 117th out of 236 countries with data for 2023, 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 children who die before age 5 in South Korea, year by year
| Year | deaths | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 289,005 deaths | — |
| 1951 | 246,671 deaths | -14.6% |
| 1952 | 214,956 deaths | -12.9% |
| 1953 | 191,061 deaths | -11.1% |
| 1954 | 172,212 deaths | -9.9% |
| 1955 | 157,321 deaths | -8.6% |
| 1956 | 146,033 deaths | -7.2% |
| 1957 | 138,510 deaths | -5.2% |
| 1958 | 131,906 deaths | -4.8% |
| 1959 | 126,899 deaths | -3.8% |
| 1960 | 121,922 deaths | -3.9% |
| 1961 | 116,750 deaths | -4.2% |
| 1962 | 110,492 deaths | -5.4% |
| 1963 | 103,234 deaths | -6.6% |
| 1964 | 95,603 deaths | -7.4% |
| 1965 | 87,802 deaths | -8.2% |
| 1966 | 80,132 deaths | -8.7% |
| 1967 | 73,943 deaths | -7.7% |
| 1968 | 68,375 deaths | -7.5% |
| 1969 | 64,090 deaths | -6.3% |
| 1970 | 60,400 deaths | -5.8% |
| 1971 | 55,878 deaths | -7.5% |
| 1972 | 51,909 deaths | -7.1% |
| 1973 | 47,706 deaths | -8.1% |
| 1974 | 44,012 deaths | -7.7% |
| 1975 | 40,498 deaths | -8.0% |
| 1976 | 37,204 deaths | -8.1% |
| 1977 | 35,097 deaths | -5.7% |
| 1978 | 32,050 deaths | -8.7% |
| 1979 | 31,416 deaths | -2.0% |
| 1980 | 30,327 deaths | -3.5% |
| 1981 | 29,202 deaths | -3.7% |
| 1982 | 26,810 deaths | -8.2% |
| 1983 | 23,255 deaths | -13.3% |
| 1984 | 20,034 deaths | -13.9% |
| 1985 | 17,521 deaths | -12.5% |
| 1986 | 15,399 deaths | -12.1% |
| 1987 | 13,975 deaths | -9.2% |
| 1988 | 12,564 deaths | -10.1% |
| 1989 | 11,570 deaths | -7.9% |
| 1990 | 10,873 deaths | -6.0% |
| 1991 | 10,365 deaths | -4.7% |
| 1992 | 9,625 deaths | -7.1% |
| 1993 | 8,697 deaths | -9.6% |
| 1994 | 8,027 deaths | -7.7% |
| 1995 | 7,395 deaths | -7.9% |
| 1996 | 6,731 deaths | -9.0% |
| 1997 | 6,101 deaths | -9.4% |
| 1998 | 5,655 deaths | -7.3% |
| 1999 | 5,052 deaths | -10.7% |
| 2000 | 4,657 deaths | -7.8% |
| 2001 | 4,089 deaths | -12.2% |
| 2002 | 3,560 deaths | -12.9% |
| 2003 | 3,188 deaths | -10.4% |
| 2004 | 2,848 deaths | -10.7% |
| 2005 | 2,527 deaths | -11.3% |
| 2006 | 2,339 deaths | -7.4% |
| 2007 | 2,244 deaths | -4.1% |
| 2008 | 2,063 deaths | -8.1% |
| 2009 | 1,926 deaths | -6.6% |
| 2010 | 1,887 deaths | -2.0% |
| 2011 | 1,852 deaths | -1.9% |
| 2012 | 1,776 deaths | -4.1% |
| 2013 | 1,651 deaths | -7.0% |
| 2014 | 1,584 deaths | -4.1% |
| 2015 | 1,522 deaths | -3.9% |
| 2016 | 1,406 deaths | -7.6% |
| 2017 | 1,245 deaths | -11.5% |
| 2018 | 1,106 deaths | -11.2% |
| 2019 | 988 deaths | -10.7% |
| 2020 | 886 deaths | -10.3% |
| 2021 | 800 deaths | -9.7% |
| 2022 | 780 deaths | -2.5% |
| 2023 | 684 deaths | -12.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 181,457 deaths | 126,899 deaths | 289,005 deaths | 10 |
| 1960s | 92,234 deaths | 64,090 deaths | 121,922 deaths | 10 |
| 1970s | 43,617 deaths | 31,416 deaths | 60,400 deaths | 10 |
| 1980s | 20,066 deaths | 11,570 deaths | 30,327 deaths | 10 |
| 1990s | 7,852 deaths | 5,052 deaths | 10,873 deaths | 10 |
| 2000s | 2,944 deaths | 1,926 deaths | 4,657 deaths | 10 |
| 2010s | 1,502 deaths | 988 deaths | 1,887 deaths | 10 |
| 2020s | 787.5 deaths | 684 deaths | 886 deaths | 4 |
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)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 2,072 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 69 deaths (2100)
- Population ages 75-79, female, annual growth rate 4.27 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 75-79, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 75-79, female, per capita 0.0191 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 75-79, male, annual growth rate 5.24 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 75-79, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 75-79, male, per capita 0.0155 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is number of children who die before age 5 in South Korea?
- Number of children who die before age 5 in South Korea was 684 deaths in 2023, according to UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest number of children who die before age 5 recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 289,005 deaths in 1950.
- What is the lowest number of children who die before age 5 recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 684 deaths in 2023.
- How does South Korea rank for number of children who die before age 5?
- South Korea ranks 117th out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is number of children who die before age 5 rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 58.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Korea data come from?
- The figures come from UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Number of children who die before age 5. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Number of deaths in a calendar year. This only includes people aged 0-4.