Number of children who die before age 5 in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: Number of children who die before age 5 was 2,936 deaths in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
2,936 deaths
Change on year
down 6.5%
World rank
87th
of 236 countries
All-time high
29,775 deaths
in 1950
All-time low
2,917 deaths
in 2020
Years of data
74
1950–2023
Number of children who die before age 5 in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, 1950–2023
Source: UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in deaths.
Analysis
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland recorded 2,936 deaths for number of children who die before age 5 in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 6.5% on the previous year and down 18.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of children who die before age 5 in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland peaked at 29,775 deaths in 1950 and was at its lowest, 2,917 deaths, in 2020.
That places United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 87th 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 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, year by year
| Year | deaths | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 29,775 deaths | — |
| 1951 | 29,389 deaths | -1.3% |
| 1952 | 26,975 deaths | -8.2% |
| 1953 | 25,904 deaths | -4.0% |
| 1954 | 23,808 deaths | -8.1% |
| 1955 | 23,633 deaths | -0.7% |
| 1956 | 23,045 deaths | -2.5% |
| 1957 | 23,516 deaths | +2.0% |
| 1958 | 23,078 deaths | -1.9% |
| 1959 | 23,218 deaths | +0.6% |
| 1960 | 23,879 deaths | +2.8% |
| 1961 | 24,171 deaths | +1.2% |
| 1962 | 24,953 deaths | +3.2% |
| 1963 | 24,953 deaths | +0.0% |
| 1964 | 23,981 deaths | -3.9% |
| 1965 | 22,596 deaths | -5.8% |
| 1966 | 22,362 deaths | -1.0% |
| 1967 | 20,803 deaths | -7.0% |
| 1968 | 20,700 deaths | -0.5% |
| 1969 | 19,730 deaths | -4.7% |
| 1970 | 19,351 deaths | -1.9% |
| 1971 | 18,265 deaths | -5.6% |
| 1972 | 16,873 deaths | -7.6% |
| 1973 | 15,562 deaths | -7.8% |
| 1974 | 14,431 deaths | -7.3% |
| 1975 | 12,911 deaths | -10.5% |
| 1976 | 11,403 deaths | -11.7% |
| 1977 | 10,917 deaths | -4.3% |
| 1978 | 10,892 deaths | -0.2% |
| 1979 | 10,969 deaths | +0.7% |
| 1980 | 10,626 deaths | -3.1% |
| 1981 | 9,478 deaths | -10.8% |
| 1982 | 9,181 deaths | -3.1% |
| 1983 | 8,603 deaths | -6.3% |
| 1984 | 8,304 deaths | -3.5% |
| 1985 | 8,327 deaths | +0.3% |
| 1986 | 8,387 deaths | +0.7% |
| 1987 | 8,337 deaths | -0.6% |
| 1988 | 8,288 deaths | -0.6% |
| 1989 | 7,694 deaths | -7.2% |
| 1990 | 7,500 deaths | -2.5% |
| 1991 | 6,941 deaths | -7.5% |
| 1992 | 6,111 deaths | -12.0% |
| 1993 | 5,864 deaths | -4.0% |
| 1994 | 5,528 deaths | -5.7% |
| 1995 | 5,346 deaths | -3.3% |
| 1996 | 5,378 deaths | +0.6% |
| 1997 | 5,021 deaths | -6.6% |
| 1998 | 4,906 deaths | -2.3% |
| 1999 | 4,847 deaths | -1.2% |
| 2000 | 4,460 deaths | -8.0% |
| 2001 | 4,339 deaths | -2.7% |
| 2002 | 4,192 deaths | -3.4% |
| 2003 | 4,434 deaths | +5.8% |
| 2004 | 4,277 deaths | -3.5% |
| 2005 | 4,302 deaths | +0.6% |
| 2006 | 4,448 deaths | +3.4% |
| 2007 | 4,457 deaths | +0.2% |
| 2008 | 4,420 deaths | -0.8% |
| 2009 | 4,289 deaths | -3.0% |
| 2010 | 4,141 deaths | -3.5% |
| 2011 | 4,098 deaths | -1.0% |
| 2012 | 3,897 deaths | -4.9% |
| 2013 | 3,593 deaths | -7.8% |
| 2014 | 3,517 deaths | -2.1% |
| 2015 | 3,532 deaths | +0.4% |
| 2016 | 3,493 deaths | -1.1% |
| 2017 | 3,389 deaths | -3.0% |
| 2018 | 3,218 deaths | -5.0% |
| 2019 | 3,218 deaths | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 2,917 deaths | -9.4% |
| 2021 | 3,122 deaths | +7.0% |
| 2022 | 3,140 deaths | +0.6% |
| 2023 | 2,936 deaths | -6.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 25,234 deaths | 23,045 deaths | 29,775 deaths | 10 |
| 1960s | 22,813 deaths | 19,730 deaths | 24,953 deaths | 10 |
| 1970s | 14,157 deaths | 10,892 deaths | 19,351 deaths | 10 |
| 1980s | 8,722 deaths | 7,694 deaths | 10,626 deaths | 10 |
| 1990s | 5,744 deaths | 4,847 deaths | 7,500 deaths | 10 |
| 2000s | 4,362 deaths | 4,192 deaths | 4,460 deaths | 10 |
| 2010s | 3,610 deaths | 3,218 deaths | 4,141 deaths | 10 |
| 2020s | 3,029 deaths | 2,917 deaths | 3,140 deaths | 4 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
More health data for United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
- 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)
- Population ages 30-34, female, annual growth rate -0.7278 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 30-34, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 30-34, female, per capita 0.0333 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 30-34, male, annual growth rate -0.1504 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 30-34, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 30-34, male, per capita 0.0344 units per person (2025)
All data for United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland →
Frequently asked questions
- What is number of children who die before age 5 in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- Number of children who die before age 5 in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland was 2,936 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 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 29,775 deaths in 1950.
- What is the lowest number of children who die before age 5 recorded in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was 2,917 deaths in 2020.
- How does United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland rank for number of children who die before age 5?
- United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 87th out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is number of children who die before age 5 rising or falling in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- Over the last ten years it is down 18.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 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.