Number of under-five deaths in North Korea
North Korea: Number of under-five deaths was 5,697 in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Number of under-five deaths in North Korea, 1960–2024
Source: UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation, UN Children's Fund (UNICEF).
Analysis
In 2024, number of under-five deaths in North Korea stood at 5,697. That is the lowest value across all 65 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 8.1% on the previous year and down 25.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of under-five deaths in North Korea peaked at 49,561 in 1995 and was at its lowest, 5,697, in 2024.
North Korea ranks 68th of 197 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Number of under-five deaths in North Korea, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 45,905 | — |
| 1961 | 44,367 | -3.4% |
| 1962 | 43,220 | -2.6% |
| 1963 | 43,768 | +1.3% |
| 1964 | 43,419 | -0.8% |
| 1965 | 42,232 | -2.7% |
| 1966 | 41,746 | -1.2% |
| 1967 | 42,337 | +1.4% |
| 1968 | 41,252 | -2.6% |
| 1969 | 38,785 | -6.0% |
| 1970 | 36,817 | -5.1% |
| 1971 | 34,475 | -6.4% |
| 1972 | 32,617 | -5.4% |
| 1973 | 29,428 | -9.8% |
| 1974 | 25,448 | -13.5% |
| 1975 | 22,816 | -10.3% |
| 1976 | 20,339 | -10.9% |
| 1977 | 18,120 | -10.9% |
| 1978 | 16,723 | -7.7% |
| 1979 | 15,930 | -4.7% |
| 1980 | 15,327 | -3.8% |
| 1981 | 15,039 | -1.9% |
| 1982 | 14,853 | -1.2% |
| 1983 | 14,551 | -2.0% |
| 1984 | 14,403 | -1.0% |
| 1985 | 14,448 | +0.3% |
| 1986 | 14,696 | +1.7% |
| 1987 | 15,256 | +3.8% |
| 1988 | 15,665 | +2.7% |
| 1989 | 16,346 | +4.3% |
| 1990 | 17,165 | +5.0% |
| 1991 | 18,000 | +4.9% |
| 1992 | 18,596 | +3.3% |
| 1993 | 18,898 | +1.6% |
| 1994 | 19,052 | +0.8% |
| 1995 | 49,561 | +160.1% |
| 1996 | 48,706 | -1.7% |
| 1997 | 47,478 | -2.5% |
| 1998 | 46,114 | -2.9% |
| 1999 | 44,633 | -3.2% |
| 2000 | 42,998 | -3.7% |
| 2001 | 41,329 | -3.9% |
| 2002 | 39,491 | -4.4% |
| 2003 | 13,037 | -67.0% |
| 2004 | 12,350 | -5.3% |
| 2005 | 11,710 | -5.2% |
| 2006 | 11,319 | -3.3% |
| 2007 | 11,153 | -1.5% |
| 2008 | 10,640 | -4.6% |
| 2009 | 10,147 | -4.6% |
| 2010 | 9,555 | -5.8% |
| 2011 | 9,064 | -5.1% |
| 2012 | 8,583 | -5.3% |
| 2013 | 8,089 | -5.8% |
| 2014 | 7,641 | -5.5% |
| 2015 | 7,261 | -5.0% |
| 2016 | 7,055 | -2.8% |
| 2017 | 6,592 | -6.6% |
| 2018 | 6,377 | -3.3% |
| 2019 | 6,145 | -3.6% |
| 2020 | 6,077 | -1.1% |
| 2021 | 6,073 | -0.1% |
| 2022 | 6,146 | +1.2% |
| 2023 | 6,196 | +0.8% |
| 2024 | 5,697 | -8.1% |
North Korea compared with similar countries
- North Korea's 5,697 is below the median for low income countries, which is 52,477, 11% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- North Korea's 5,697 is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 775.5, 7.3× the median. (30 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Number of under-five deaths in North Korea changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | +160.1% | 19,052 | 49,561 |
| 2003 | -67.0% | 39,491 | 13,037 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 42,703 | 38,785 | 45,905 | 10 |
| 1970s | 25,271 | 15,930 | 36,817 | 10 |
| 1980s | 15,058 | 14,403 | 16,346 | 10 |
| 1990s | 32,820 | 17,165 | 49,561 | 10 |
| 2000s | 20,417 | 10,147 | 42,998 | 10 |
| 2010s | 7,636 | 6,145 | 9,555 | 10 |
| 2020s | 6,038 | 5,697 | 6,196 | 5 |
Countries ranked near North Korea
- 65 Mauritania 6,361 compare
- 66 Turkmenistan 6,208 compare
- 67 Dominican Republic 6,181 compare
- 69 Palestine 5,544 compare
- 70 Thailand 5,285 compare
- 71 Argentina 4,839 compare
More health data for North Korea
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.16 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 767 (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate -0.2456 % change on previous year (2090)
- Diphtheria - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2022)
- Measles - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 15-64, total, annual growth rate -0.1528 % change on previous year (2025)
- Diphtheria - number of reported cases, per capita 0 units per person (2022)
- Population ages 15-64, total, per capita 0.6836 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 65 and above, female, per capita 0.073 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 70-74, female, per capita 0.015 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is number of under-five deaths in North Korea?
- Number of under-five deaths in North Korea was 5,697 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 North Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 49,561 in 1995.
- What is the lowest number of under-five deaths recorded in North Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 5,697 in 2024.
- How does North Korea rank for number of under-five deaths?
- North Korea ranks 68th out of 197 countries with data for 2024.
- Is number of under-five deaths rising or falling in North Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 25.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this North Korea 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.