Number of infant deaths in China
China: Number of infant deaths was 36,113 in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
36,113
Change on year
down 10.4%
World rank
25th
of 195 countries
All-time high
2.60 million
in 1970
All-time low
36,113
in 2024
Years of data
55
1970–2024
Number of infant deaths in China, 1970–2024
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for number of infant deaths in China is 36,113, measured in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 55 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 10.4% on the previous year and down 78.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of infant deaths in China peaked at 2.60 million in 1970 and was at its lowest, 36,113, in 2024.
That places China 25th out of 195 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Number of infant deaths in China, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 2.60 million | — |
| 1971 | 2.42 million | -6.8% |
| 1972 | 2.20 million | -9.2% |
| 1973 | 2.01 million | -8.5% |
| 1974 | 1.80 million | -10.5% |
| 1975 | 1.55 million | -13.7% |
| 1976 | 1.36 million | -12.7% |
| 1977 | 1.20 million | -11.7% |
| 1978 | 1.09 million | -9.4% |
| 1979 | 1.05 million | -3.2% |
| 1980 | 1.04 million | -1.4% |
| 1981 | 1.03 million | -1.0% |
| 1982 | 1.05 million | +2.7% |
| 1983 | 1.01 million | -4.4% |
| 1984 | 962,741 | -4.5% |
| 1985 | 1.01 million | +4.5% |
| 1986 | 1.07 million | +6.4% |
| 1987 | 1.15 million | +7.1% |
| 1988 | 1.16 million | +1.0% |
| 1989 | 1.16 million | -0.3% |
| 1990 | 1.19 million | +2.9% |
| 1991 | 1.08 million | -9.3% |
| 1992 | 916,404 | -15.0% |
| 1993 | 846,304 | -7.6% |
| 1994 | 790,984 | -6.5% |
| 1995 | 740,095 | -6.4% |
| 1996 | 688,645 | -7.0% |
| 1997 | 635,100 | -7.8% |
| 1998 | 585,207 | -7.9% |
| 1999 | 540,278 | -7.7% |
| 2000 | 512,163 | -5.2% |
| 2001 | 471,560 | -7.9% |
| 2002 | 419,995 | -10.9% |
| 2003 | 380,215 | -9.5% |
| 2004 | 347,333 | -8.6% |
| 2005 | 319,614 | -8.0% |
| 2006 | 294,735 | -7.8% |
| 2007 | 274,048 | -7.0% |
| 2008 | 257,074 | -6.2% |
| 2009 | 241,569 | -6.0% |
| 2010 | 223,179 | -7.6% |
| 2011 | 204,023 | -8.6% |
| 2012 | 194,969 | -4.4% |
| 2013 | 181,373 | -7.0% |
| 2014 | 164,971 | -9.0% |
| 2015 | 148,623 | -9.9% |
| 2016 | 135,480 | -8.8% |
| 2017 | 127,502 | -5.9% |
| 2018 | 108,025 | -15.3% |
| 2019 | 89,261 | -17.4% |
| 2020 | 72,879 | -18.4% |
| 2021 | 57,002 | -21.8% |
| 2022 | 47,242 | -17.1% |
| 2023 | 40,319 | -14.7% |
| 2024 | 36,113 | -10.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 1.73 million | 1.05 million | 2.60 million | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.06 million | 962,741 | 1.16 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 801,074 | 540,278 | 1.19 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 351,831 | 241,569 | 512,163 | 10 |
| 2010s | 157,741 | 89,261 | 223,179 | 10 |
| 2020s | 50,711 | 36,113 | 72,879 | 5 |
Countries ranked near China
- 22 Madagascar 42,981 compare
- 23 Philippines 39,731 compare
- 24 Cameroon 38,551 compare
- 26 Burkina Faso 31,762 compare
- 27 Brazil 31,647 compare
- 28 Zimbabwe 30,713 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, female, annual growth rate -3.74 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, female, per capita 0.072 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, male, annual growth rate -4.07 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, male, per capita 0.0821 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is number of infant deaths in China?
- Number of infant deaths in China was 36,113 in 2024, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest number of infant deaths recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 2.60 million in 1970.
- What is the lowest number of infant deaths recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 36,113 in 2024.
- How does China rank for number of infant deaths?
- China ranks 25th out of 195 countries with data for 2024.
- Is number of infant deaths rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is down 78.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this China data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Number of infant deaths. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 55 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).