Number of children who die before age 5 in United States of America
United States of America: Number of children who die before age 5 was 22,683 deaths in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
22,683 deaths
Change on year
down 4.3%
World rank
40th
of 236 countries
All-time high
141,459 deaths
in 1952
All-time low
22,683 deaths
in 2023
Years of data
74
1950–2023
Number of children who die before age 5 in United States of America, 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 United States of America is 22,683 deaths, measured in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 74 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 4.3% on the previous year and down 17.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of children who die before age 5 in United States of America peaked at 141,459 deaths in 1952 and was at its lowest, 22,683 deaths, in 2023.
United States of America ranks 40th of 236 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
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 States of America, year by year
| Year | deaths | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 135,802 deaths | — |
| 1951 | 139,268 deaths | +2.6% |
| 1952 | 141,459 deaths | +1.6% |
| 1953 | 136,624 deaths | -3.4% |
| 1954 | 132,876 deaths | -2.7% |
| 1955 | 130,569 deaths | -1.7% |
| 1956 | 131,616 deaths | +0.8% |
| 1957 | 134,581 deaths | +2.3% |
| 1958 | 136,545 deaths | +1.5% |
| 1959 | 133,622 deaths | -2.1% |
| 1960 | 133,174 deaths | -0.3% |
| 1961 | 128,058 deaths | -3.8% |
| 1962 | 124,577 deaths | -2.7% |
| 1963 | 122,455 deaths | -1.7% |
| 1964 | 119,020 deaths | -2.8% |
| 1965 | 110,343 deaths | -7.3% |
| 1966 | 103,608 deaths | -6.1% |
| 1967 | 95,625 deaths | -7.7% |
| 1968 | 93,853 deaths | -1.9% |
| 1969 | 92,809 deaths | -1.1% |
| 1970 | 93,072 deaths | +0.3% |
| 1971 | 82,080 deaths | -11.8% |
| 1972 | 73,129 deaths | -10.9% |
| 1973 | 68,672 deaths | -6.1% |
| 1974 | 66,169 deaths | -3.6% |
| 1975 | 61,969 deaths | -6.3% |
| 1976 | 59,373 deaths | -4.2% |
| 1977 | 57,864 deaths | -2.5% |
| 1978 | 56,708 deaths | -2.0% |
| 1979 | 56,156 deaths | -1.0% |
| 1980 | 55,981 deaths | -0.3% |
| 1981 | 52,998 deaths | -5.3% |
| 1982 | 52,045 deaths | -1.8% |
| 1983 | 49,831 deaths | -4.3% |
| 1984 | 48,838 deaths | -2.0% |
| 1985 | 49,084 deaths | +0.5% |
| 1986 | 47,719 deaths | -2.8% |
| 1987 | 47,551 deaths | -0.4% |
| 1988 | 48,362 deaths | +1.7% |
| 1989 | 49,583 deaths | +2.5% |
| 1990 | 47,510 deaths | -4.2% |
| 1991 | 45,414 deaths | -4.4% |
| 1992 | 42,351 deaths | -6.7% |
| 1993 | 41,177 deaths | -2.8% |
| 1994 | 39,053 deaths | -5.2% |
| 1995 | 36,391 deaths | -6.8% |
| 1996 | 34,897 deaths | -4.1% |
| 1997 | 33,789 deaths | -3.2% |
| 1998 | 34,031 deaths | +0.7% |
| 1999 | 33,482 deaths | -1.6% |
| 2000 | 33,289 deaths | -0.6% |
| 2001 | 32,249 deaths | -3.1% |
| 2002 | 32,416 deaths | +0.5% |
| 2003 | 32,787 deaths | +1.1% |
| 2004 | 32,601 deaths | -0.6% |
| 2005 | 33,281 deaths | +2.1% |
| 2006 | 33,772 deaths | +1.5% |
| 2007 | 34,418 deaths | +1.9% |
| 2008 | 33,140 deaths | -3.7% |
| 2009 | 31,345 deaths | -5.4% |
| 2010 | 29,150 deaths | -7.0% |
| 2011 | 28,187 deaths | -3.3% |
| 2012 | 27,887 deaths | -1.1% |
| 2013 | 27,382 deaths | -1.8% |
| 2014 | 27,035 deaths | -1.3% |
| 2015 | 27,358 deaths | +1.2% |
| 2016 | 27,141 deaths | -0.8% |
| 2017 | 26,085 deaths | -3.9% |
| 2018 | 25,144 deaths | -3.6% |
| 2019 | 24,611 deaths | -2.1% |
| 2020 | 22,849 deaths | -7.2% |
| 2021 | 24,182 deaths | +5.8% |
| 2022 | 23,713 deaths | -1.9% |
| 2023 | 22,683 deaths | -4.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 135,296 deaths | 130,569 deaths | 141,459 deaths | 10 |
| 1960s | 112,352 deaths | 92,809 deaths | 133,174 deaths | 10 |
| 1970s | 67,519 deaths | 56,156 deaths | 93,072 deaths | 10 |
| 1980s | 50,199 deaths | 47,551 deaths | 55,981 deaths | 10 |
| 1990s | 38,810 deaths | 33,482 deaths | 47,510 deaths | 10 |
| 2000s | 32,930 deaths | 31,345 deaths | 34,418 deaths | 10 |
| 2010s | 26,998 deaths | 24,611 deaths | 29,150 deaths | 10 |
| 2020s | 23,357 deaths | 22,683 deaths | 24,182 deaths | 4 |
Countries ranked near United States of America
More health data for United States of America
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.67 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate -0.1867 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,069 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 4,015 deaths (2100)
- Population ages 15-19, male, annual growth rate 0.22 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 15-19, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 15-19, male, per capita 0.0338 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 20-24, female, annual growth rate 1.92 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 20-24, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 20-24, female, per capita 0.0322 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is number of children who die before age 5 in United States of America?
- Number of children who die before age 5 in United States of America was 22,683 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 States of America?
- The highest recorded value was 141,459 deaths in 1952.
- What is the lowest number of children who die before age 5 recorded in United States of America?
- The lowest recorded value was 22,683 deaths in 2023.
- How does United States of America rank for number of children who die before age 5?
- United States of America ranks 40th out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is number of children who die before age 5 rising or falling in United States of America?
- Over the last ten years it is down 17.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this United States of America 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.