Number of under-five deaths in South Korea
South Korea: Number of under-five deaths was 679 in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
679
Change on year
down 5.3%
World rank
117th
of 197 countries
All-time high
118,505
in 1960
All-time low
679
in 2024
Years of data
65
1960–2024
Number of under-five deaths in South Korea, 1960–2024
Source: UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation, UN Children's Fund (UNICEF).
Analysis
The most recent figure for number of under-five deaths in South Korea is 679, measured in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 65 years on record.
The figure is down 5.3% on the previous year and down 56.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of under-five deaths in South Korea peaked at 118,505 in 1960 and was at its lowest, 679, in 2024.
That places South Korea 117th out of 197 countries with data for 2024, putting it 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 South Korea, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 118,505 | — |
| 1961 | 114,517 | -3.4% |
| 1962 | 109,208 | -4.6% |
| 1963 | 102,801 | -5.9% |
| 1964 | 95,555 | -7.0% |
| 1965 | 88,042 | -7.9% |
| 1966 | 81,149 | -7.8% |
| 1967 | 74,447 | -8.3% |
| 1968 | 68,324 | -8.2% |
| 1969 | 63,237 | -7.4% |
| 1970 | 59,308 | -6.2% |
| 1971 | 55,198 | -6.9% |
| 1972 | 50,654 | -8.2% |
| 1973 | 46,722 | -7.8% |
| 1974 | 43,251 | -7.4% |
| 1975 | 40,011 | -7.5% |
| 1976 | 37,208 | -7.0% |
| 1977 | 34,845 | -6.4% |
| 1978 | 32,311 | -7.3% |
| 1979 | 30,761 | -4.8% |
| 1980 | 30,018 | -2.4% |
| 1981 | 29,087 | -3.1% |
| 1982 | 27,355 | -6.0% |
| 1983 | 24,284 | -11.2% |
| 1984 | 20,827 | -14.2% |
| 1985 | 17,966 | -13.7% |
| 1986 | 15,738 | -12.4% |
| 1987 | 13,879 | -11.8% |
| 1988 | 12,427 | -10.5% |
| 1989 | 11,324 | -8.9% |
| 1990 | 10,530 | -7.0% |
| 1991 | 10,060 | -4.5% |
| 1992 | 9,589 | -4.7% |
| 1993 | 8,822 | -8.0% |
| 1994 | 8,048 | -8.8% |
| 1995 | 7,399 | -8.1% |
| 1996 | 6,746 | -8.8% |
| 1997 | 6,115 | -9.4% |
| 1998 | 5,529 | -9.6% |
| 1999 | 5,024 | -9.1% |
| 2000 | 4,634 | -7.8% |
| 2001 | 4,172 | -10.0% |
| 2002 | 3,623 | -13.2% |
| 2003 | 3,202 | -11.6% |
| 2004 | 2,876 | -10.2% |
| 2005 | 2,549 | -11.4% |
| 2006 | 2,304 | -9.6% |
| 2007 | 2,185 | -5.2% |
| 2008 | 2,059 | -5.8% |
| 2009 | 1,908 | -7.3% |
| 2010 | 1,831 | -4.0% |
| 2011 | 1,795 | -2.0% |
| 2012 | 1,753 | -2.3% |
| 2013 | 1,666 | -5.0% |
| 2014 | 1,570 | -5.8% |
| 2015 | 1,510 | -3.8% |
| 2016 | 1,421 | -5.9% |
| 2017 | 1,281 | -9.9% |
| 2018 | 1,135 | -11.4% |
| 2019 | 1,012 | -10.8% |
| 2020 | 902 | -10.9% |
| 2021 | 818 | -9.3% |
| 2022 | 770 | -5.9% |
| 2023 | 717 | -6.9% |
| 2024 | 679 | -5.3% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 679 is above the median for high income countries, which is 258, 2.6× the median. (65 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 679 is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 775.5, 88% of the median. (30 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 91,578 | 63,237 | 118,505 | 10 |
| 1970s | 43,027 | 30,761 | 59,308 | 10 |
| 1980s | 20,290 | 11,324 | 30,018 | 10 |
| 1990s | 7,786 | 5,024 | 10,530 | 10 |
| 2000s | 2,951 | 1,908 | 4,634 | 10 |
| 2010s | 1,497 | 1,012 | 1,831 | 10 |
| 2020s | 777.2 | 679 | 902 | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
More health data for South Korea
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.43 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.1935 % change on previous year (2090)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 69 (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -2.66 % 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 0.0118 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -2.76 % 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 0.0124 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is number of under-five deaths in South Korea?
- Number of under-five deaths in South Korea was 679 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 South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 118,505 in 1960.
- What is the lowest number of under-five deaths recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 679 in 2024.
- How does South Korea rank for number of under-five deaths?
- South Korea ranks 117th out of 197 countries with data for 2024.
- Is number of under-five deaths rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 56.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South 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.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 65 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Number of children dying before reaching age five.