Number of infant deaths in China
China: Number of infant deaths was 40,795.0% in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
40,795.0%
Change on year
down 14.1%
World rank
22nd
of 199 countries
All-time high
2,591,380.0%
in 1970
All-time low
40,795.0%
in 2023
Years of data
54
1970–2023
Number of infant deaths in China, 1970–2023
Source: World Health Organization - Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for number of infant deaths in China is 40,795.0%, measured in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 54 years on record.
That represents a change of down 14.1% on the previous year and down 77.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of infant deaths in China peaked at 2,591,380.0% in 1970 and was at its lowest, 40,795.0%, in 2023.
That places China 22nd out of 199 countries with data for 2023, 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 | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 2,591,380.0% | — |
| 1971 | 2,418,680.0% | -6.7% |
| 1972 | 2,196,000.0% | -9.2% |
| 1973 | 2,012,370.0% | -8.4% |
| 1974 | 1,801,700.0% | -10.5% |
| 1975 | 1,555,060.0% | -13.7% |
| 1976 | 1,358,160.0% | -12.7% |
| 1977 | 1,199,500.0% | -11.7% |
| 1978 | 1,085,540.0% | -9.5% |
| 1979 | 1,050,980.0% | -3.2% |
| 1980 | 1,036,080.0% | -1.4% |
| 1981 | 1,025,770.0% | -1.0% |
| 1982 | 1,053,320.0% | +2.7% |
| 1983 | 1,006,660.0% | -4.4% |
| 1984 | 961,789.0% | -4.5% |
| 1985 | 1,005,940.0% | +4.6% |
| 1986 | 1,071,660.0% | +6.5% |
| 1987 | 1,147,480.0% | +7.1% |
| 1988 | 1,159,170.0% | +1.0% |
| 1989 | 1,155,470.0% | -0.3% |
| 1990 | 1,188,350.0% | +2.8% |
| 1991 | 1,078,290.0% | -9.3% |
| 1992 | 916,435.0% | -15.0% |
| 1993 | 845,144.0% | -7.8% |
| 1994 | 790,307.0% | -6.5% |
| 1995 | 739,800.0% | -6.4% |
| 1996 | 688,680.0% | -6.9% |
| 1997 | 635,563.0% | -7.7% |
| 1998 | 585,947.0% | -7.8% |
| 1999 | 540,693.0% | -7.7% |
| 2000 | 512,982.0% | -5.1% |
| 2001 | 472,369.0% | -7.9% |
| 2002 | 420,731.0% | -10.9% |
| 2003 | 380,606.0% | -9.5% |
| 2004 | 347,501.0% | -8.7% |
| 2005 | 319,668.0% | -8.0% |
| 2006 | 294,616.0% | -7.8% |
| 2007 | 273,729.0% | -7.1% |
| 2008 | 256,894.0% | -6.2% |
| 2009 | 241,679.0% | -5.9% |
| 2010 | 223,401.0% | -7.6% |
| 2011 | 204,235.0% | -8.6% |
| 2012 | 195,064.0% | -4.5% |
| 2013 | 181,342.0% | -7.0% |
| 2014 | 164,791.0% | -9.1% |
| 2015 | 148,404.0% | -9.9% |
| 2016 | 135,233.0% | -8.9% |
| 2017 | 127,316.0% | -5.9% |
| 2018 | 107,986.0% | -15.2% |
| 2019 | 89,309.0% | -17.3% |
| 2020 | 73,014.0% | -18.2% |
| 2021 | 57,231.0% | -21.6% |
| 2022 | 47,511.0% | -17.0% |
| 2023 | 40,795.0% | -14.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 1,726,937.0% | 1,050,980.0% | 2,591,380.0% | 10 |
| 1980s | 1,062,333.9% | 961,789.0% | 1,159,170.0% | 10 |
| 1990s | 800,920.9% | 540,693.0% | 1,188,350.0% | 10 |
| 2000s | 352,077.5% | 241,679.0% | 512,982.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 157,708.1% | 89,309.0% | 223,401.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 54,637.8% | 40,795.0% | 73,014.0% | 4 |
Countries ranked near China
- 19 Uganda 46,730.0% compare
- 20 Côte d'Ivoire 45,897.0% compare
- 21 Madagascar 43,642.0% compare
- 23 Philippines 40,449.0% compare
- 24 Cameroon 39,004.0% compare
- 25 Egypt 38,495.0% 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)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 2,029 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 4,642 deaths (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 40,795.0% in 2023, according to World Health Organization - Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest number of infant deaths recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 2,591,380.0% in 1970.
- What is the lowest number of infant deaths recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 40,795.0% in 2023.
- How does China rank for number of infant deaths?
- China ranks 22nd out of 199 countries with data for 2023.
- Is number of infant deaths rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is down 77.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this China data come from?
- The figures come from World Health Organization - Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Number of infant deaths. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
The number of infants dying before reaching one year of age.