Number of under-five deaths in China
China: Number of under-five deaths was 53,968 in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
53,968
Change on year
down 12.3%
World rank
23rd
of 197 countries
All-time high
2.42 million
in 1974
All-time low
53,968
in 2024
Years of data
51
1974–2024
Number of under-five deaths in China, 1974–2024
Source: UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation, UN Children's Fund (UNICEF).
Analysis
China recorded 53,968 for number of under-five deaths in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 51 years on record.
That represents a change of down 12.3% on the previous year and down 74.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of under-five deaths in China peaked at 2.42 million in 1974 and was at its lowest, 53,968, in 2024.
That places China 23rd out of 197 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 under-five deaths in China, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1974 | 2.42 million | — |
| 1975 | 2.11 million | -12.9% |
| 1976 | 1.84 million | -12.5% |
| 1977 | 1.62 million | -12.0% |
| 1978 | 1.45 million | -10.4% |
| 1979 | 1.37 million | -5.5% |
| 1980 | 1.33 million | -3.4% |
| 1981 | 1.30 million | -2.2% |
| 1982 | 1.31 million | +1.4% |
| 1983 | 1.27 million | -3.6% |
| 1984 | 1.22 million | -3.7% |
| 1985 | 1.26 million | +3.2% |
| 1986 | 1.32 million | +5.0% |
| 1987 | 1.40 million | +5.8% |
| 1988 | 1.42 million | +1.4% |
| 1989 | 1.42 million | +0.4% |
| 1990 | 1.46 million | +2.7% |
| 1991 | 1.35 million | -7.5% |
| 1992 | 1.18 million | -12.8% |
| 1993 | 1.09 million | -7.7% |
| 1994 | 1.01 million | -7.3% |
| 1995 | 931,130 | -7.7% |
| 1996 | 858,611 | -7.8% |
| 1997 | 790,730 | -7.9% |
| 1998 | 727,964 | -7.9% |
| 1999 | 670,812 | -7.9% |
| 2000 | 631,120 | -5.9% |
| 2001 | 580,413 | -8.0% |
| 2002 | 519,716 | -10.5% |
| 2003 | 471,288 | -9.3% |
| 2004 | 430,562 | -8.6% |
| 2005 | 395,560 | -8.1% |
| 2006 | 364,627 | -7.8% |
| 2007 | 339,435 | -6.9% |
| 2008 | 318,968 | -6.0% |
| 2009 | 300,704 | -5.7% |
| 2010 | 280,045 | -6.9% |
| 2011 | 258,715 | -7.6% |
| 2012 | 247,370 | -4.4% |
| 2013 | 231,727 | -6.3% |
| 2014 | 213,316 | -7.9% |
| 2015 | 194,868 | -8.6% |
| 2016 | 179,616 | -7.8% |
| 2017 | 169,149 | -5.8% |
| 2018 | 147,454 | -12.8% |
| 2019 | 125,967 | -14.6% |
| 2020 | 106,403 | -15.5% |
| 2021 | 86,818 | -18.4% |
| 2022 | 72,529 | -16.5% |
| 2023 | 61,522 | -15.2% |
| 2024 | 53,968 | -12.3% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 53,968 is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 1,209, 44.6× the median. (59 countries reporting)
- China's 53,968 is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 775.5, 69.6× the median. (30 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 1.80 million | 1.37 million | 2.42 million | 6 |
| 1980s | 1.32 million | 1.22 million | 1.42 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.01 million | 670,812 | 1.46 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 435,239 | 300,704 | 631,120 | 10 |
| 2010s | 204,823 | 125,967 | 280,045 | 10 |
| 2020s | 76,248 | 53,968 | 106,403 | 5 |
Countries ranked near China
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)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 4,642 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 10 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -8.22 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.0159 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -8.73 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per capita 0.0176 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is number of under-five deaths in China?
- Number of under-five deaths in China was 53,968 in 2024, according to UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation, UN Children's Fund (UNICEF).
- What is the highest number of under-five deaths recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 2.42 million in 1974.
- What is the lowest number of under-five deaths recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 53,968 in 2024.
- How does China rank for number of under-five deaths?
- China ranks 23rd out of 197 countries with data for 2024.
- Is number of under-five deaths rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is down 74.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this China data come from?
- The figures come from UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation, UN Children's Fund (UNICEF), published as part of Number of under-five deaths. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Number of children dying before reaching age five.