Number of deaths per year in China
China: Number of deaths per year was 11.68 million in 2023. ▼ Falling
Latest (2023)
11.68 million
Change on year
up 6.2%
World rank
1st
of 229 countries
All-time high
19.51 million
in 1960
All-time low
7.45 million
in 1983
Years of data
74
1950–2023
Number of deaths per year in China, 1950–2023
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2023, number of deaths per year in China stood at 11.68 million.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 6.2% on the previous year and up 26.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of deaths per year in China peaked at 19.51 million in 1960 and was at its lowest, 7.45 million, in 1983.
That places China 1st out of 229 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 74 years of available data.
Number of deaths per year in China, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 12.56 million | — |
| 1951 | 12.41 million | -1.2% |
| 1952 | 12.46 million | +0.4% |
| 1953 | 12.31 million | -1.2% |
| 1954 | 12.15 million | -1.3% |
| 1955 | 12.15 million | +0.0% |
| 1956 | 11.92 million | -1.9% |
| 1957 | 11.92 million | +0.0% |
| 1958 | 11.70 million | -1.8% |
| 1959 | 15.90 million | +35.9% |
| 1960 | 19.51 million | +22.7% |
| 1961 | 14.70 million | -24.6% |
| 1962 | 10.35 million | -29.6% |
| 1963 | 10.92 million | +5.5% |
| 1964 | 10.84 million | -0.7% |
| 1965 | 10.68 million | -1.5% |
| 1966 | 10.50 million | -1.7% |
| 1967 | 10.19 million | -2.9% |
| 1968 | 10.17 million | -0.1% |
| 1969 | 10.02 million | -1.5% |
| 1970 | 9.82 million | -2.0% |
| 1971 | 9.49 million | -3.4% |
| 1972 | 9.17 million | -3.3% |
| 1973 | 8.84 million | -3.6% |
| 1974 | 8.54 million | -3.3% |
| 1975 | 8.24 million | -3.5% |
| 1976 | 8.19 million | -0.6% |
| 1977 | 7.73 million | -5.7% |
| 1978 | 7.59 million | -1.8% |
| 1979 | 7.53 million | -0.7% |
| 1980 | 7.51 million | -0.4% |
| 1981 | 7.49 million | -0.2% |
| 1982 | 7.55 million | +0.8% |
| 1983 | 7.45 million | -1.3% |
| 1984 | 7.48 million | +0.3% |
| 1985 | 7.54 million | +0.9% |
| 1986 | 7.65 million | +1.4% |
| 1987 | 7.74 million | +1.2% |
| 1988 | 7.76 million | +0.3% |
| 1989 | 7.83 million | +0.9% |
| 1990 | 7.98 million | +1.9% |
| 1991 | 7.78 million | -2.4% |
| 1992 | 7.67 million | -1.4% |
| 1993 | 7.61 million | -0.7% |
| 1994 | 7.63 million | +0.2% |
| 1995 | 7.55 million | -1.1% |
| 1996 | 7.52 million | -0.3% |
| 1997 | 7.54 million | +0.2% |
| 1998 | 7.59 million | +0.6% |
| 1999 | 7.67 million | +1.0% |
| 2000 | 7.78 million | +1.5% |
| 2001 | 7.83 million | +0.7% |
| 2002 | 7.92 million | +1.1% |
| 2003 | 8.01 million | +1.2% |
| 2004 | 8.12 million | +1.4% |
| 2005 | 8.21 million | +1.2% |
| 2006 | 8.34 million | +1.5% |
| 2007 | 8.41 million | +0.9% |
| 2008 | 8.68 million | +3.2% |
| 2009 | 8.72 million | +0.4% |
| 2010 | 8.79 million | +0.8% |
| 2011 | 8.97 million | +2.1% |
| 2012 | 9.09 million | +1.3% |
| 2013 | 9.24 million | +1.6% |
| 2014 | 9.38 million | +1.6% |
| 2015 | 9.52 million | +1.5% |
| 2016 | 9.69 million | +1.8% |
| 2017 | 10.05 million | +3.7% |
| 2018 | 9.97 million | -0.8% |
| 2019 | 10.13 million | +1.6% |
| 2020 | 10.41 million | +2.8% |
| 2021 | 10.76 million | +3.3% |
| 2022 | 11.00 million | +2.2% |
| 2023 | 11.68 million | +6.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 12.55 million | 11.70 million | 15.90 million | 10 |
| 1960s | 11.79 million | 10.02 million | 19.51 million | 10 |
| 1970s | 8.51 million | 7.53 million | 9.82 million | 10 |
| 1980s | 7.60 million | 7.45 million | 7.83 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 7.65 million | 7.52 million | 7.98 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 8.20 million | 7.78 million | 8.72 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 9.48 million | 8.79 million | 10.13 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 10.96 million | 10.41 million | 11.68 million | 4 |
Countries ranked near China
- 1 Mayotte 852 compare
- 2 Cook Islands 127 compare
- 2 India 9.51 million compare
- 3 Anguilla 96 compare
- 3 United States of America 2.98 million compare
- 4 Nigeria 2.68 million compare
- 4 Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha 88 compare
More health data for China
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.15 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate -0.0985 % change on previous year (2090)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates 2,029 (2090)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 4,642 (2100)
- Population ages 0-14, total, annual growth rate -3.91 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, total, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, total, per capita 0.1541 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 15-64, female, annual growth rate 0.2659 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 15-64, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 15-64, female, per capita 0.3367 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is number of deaths per year in China?
- Number of deaths per year in China was 11.68 million in 2023, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest number of deaths per year recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 19.51 million in 1960.
- What is the lowest number of deaths per year recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 7.45 million in 1983.
- How does China rank for number of deaths per year?
- China ranks 1st out of 229 countries with data for 2023.
- Is number of deaths per year rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is up 26.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this China data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Number of deaths per year. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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