Child mortality rate in South Korea
South Korea: Child mortality rate was 0.2796 deaths per 100 live births in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
0.2796 deaths per 100 live births
Change on year
down 1.9%
World rank
183rd
of 199 countries
All-time high
36.94 deaths per 100 live births
in 1950
All-time low
0.2796 deaths per 100 live births
in 2024
Years of data
75
1950–2024
Child mortality rate in South Korea, 1950–2024
Source: United Nations Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (2025) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in deaths per 100 live births.
Analysis
The most recent figure for child mortality rate in South Korea is 0.2796 deaths per 100 live births, measured in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 75 years on record.
That represents a change of down 1.9% on the previous year and down 22.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, child mortality rate in South Korea peaked at 36.94 deaths per 100 live births in 1950 and was at its lowest, 0.2796 deaths per 100 live births, in 2024.
South Korea ranks 183rd of 199 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Child mortality rate in South Korea, year by year
| Year | deaths per 100 live births | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 36.94 deaths per 100 live births | — |
| 1951 | 31.29 deaths per 100 live births | -15.3% |
| 1952 | 26.61 deaths per 100 live births | -15.0% |
| 1953 | 22.76 deaths per 100 live births | -14.5% |
| 1954 | 19.66 deaths per 100 live births | -13.6% |
| 1955 | 17.23 deaths per 100 live births | -12.3% |
| 1956 | 15.37 deaths per 100 live births | -10.8% |
| 1957 | 13.92 deaths per 100 live births | -9.4% |
| 1958 | 12.82 deaths per 100 live births | -7.9% |
| 1959 | 11.97 deaths per 100 live births | -6.7% |
| 1960 | 11.29 deaths per 100 live births | -5.7% |
| 1961 | 10.72 deaths per 100 live births | -5.0% |
| 1962 | 10.23 deaths per 100 live births | -4.7% |
| 1963 | 9.74 deaths per 100 live births | -4.8% |
| 1964 | 9.24 deaths per 100 live births | -5.1% |
| 1965 | 8.73 deaths per 100 live births | -5.6% |
| 1966 | 8.19 deaths per 100 live births | -6.1% |
| 1967 | 7.65 deaths per 100 live births | -6.7% |
| 1968 | 7.11 deaths per 100 live births | -7.0% |
| 1969 | 6.6 deaths per 100 live births | -7.2% |
| 1970 | 6.14 deaths per 100 live births | -7.1% |
| 1971 | 5.72 deaths per 100 live births | -6.8% |
| 1972 | 5.37 deaths per 100 live births | -6.2% |
| 1973 | 5.08 deaths per 100 live births | -5.4% |
| 1974 | 4.83 deaths per 100 live births | -4.8% |
| 1975 | 4.62 deaths per 100 live births | -4.4% |
| 1976 | 4.42 deaths per 100 live births | -4.2% |
| 1977 | 4.24 deaths per 100 live births | -4.3% |
| 1978 | 4.04 deaths per 100 live births | -4.5% |
| 1979 | 3.85 deaths per 100 live births | -4.9% |
| 1980 | 3.63 deaths per 100 live births | -5.7% |
| 1981 | 3.4 deaths per 100 live births | -6.3% |
| 1982 | 3.16 deaths per 100 live births | -6.9% |
| 1983 | 2.93 deaths per 100 live births | -7.5% |
| 1984 | 2.69 deaths per 100 live births | -8.0% |
| 1985 | 2.46 deaths per 100 live births | -8.5% |
| 1986 | 2.24 deaths per 100 live births | -8.8% |
| 1987 | 2.05 deaths per 100 live births | -8.8% |
| 1988 | 1.87 deaths per 100 live births | -8.7% |
| 1989 | 1.71 deaths per 100 live births | -8.5% |
| 1990 | 1.57 deaths per 100 live births | -8.2% |
| 1991 | 1.45 deaths per 100 live births | -7.9% |
| 1992 | 1.33 deaths per 100 live births | -7.8% |
| 1993 | 1.23 deaths per 100 live births | -7.7% |
| 1994 | 1.14 deaths per 100 live births | -7.6% |
| 1995 | 1.05 deaths per 100 live births | -7.4% |
| 1996 | 0.9785 deaths per 100 live births | -7.2% |
| 1997 | 0.9109 deaths per 100 live births | -6.9% |
| 1998 | 0.8515 deaths per 100 live births | -6.5% |
| 1999 | 0.7999 deaths per 100 live births | -6.1% |
| 2000 | 0.7553 deaths per 100 live births | -5.6% |
| 2001 | 0.7156 deaths per 100 live births | -5.3% |
| 2002 | 0.6772 deaths per 100 live births | -5.4% |
| 2003 | 0.6381 deaths per 100 live births | -5.8% |
| 2004 | 0.5981 deaths per 100 live births | -6.3% |
| 2005 | 0.5572 deaths per 100 live births | -6.8% |
| 2006 | 0.518 deaths per 100 live births | -7.0% |
| 2007 | 0.4832 deaths per 100 live births | -6.7% |
| 2008 | 0.4543 deaths per 100 live births | -6.0% |
| 2009 | 0.4307 deaths per 100 live births | -5.2% |
| 2010 | 0.4124 deaths per 100 live births | -4.3% |
| 2011 | 0.3976 deaths per 100 live births | -3.6% |
| 2012 | 0.3848 deaths per 100 live births | -3.2% |
| 2013 | 0.3728 deaths per 100 live births | -3.1% |
| 2014 | 0.3616 deaths per 100 live births | -3.0% |
| 2015 | 0.3512 deaths per 100 live births | -2.9% |
| 2016 | 0.3413 deaths per 100 live births | -2.8% |
| 2017 | 0.3319 deaths per 100 live births | -2.8% |
| 2018 | 0.3225 deaths per 100 live births | -2.8% |
| 2019 | 0.3136 deaths per 100 live births | -2.8% |
| 2020 | 0.3051 deaths per 100 live births | -2.7% |
| 2021 | 0.2973 deaths per 100 live births | -2.5% |
| 2022 | 0.2906 deaths per 100 live births | -2.3% |
| 2023 | 0.285 deaths per 100 live births | -1.9% |
| 2024 | 0.2796 deaths per 100 live births | -1.9% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 0.2796 deaths per 100 live births is below the median for high income countries, which is 0.4653 deaths per 100 live births, 60% of the median. (65 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 0.2796 deaths per 100 live births is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 1.72 deaths per 100 live births, 16% of the median. (30 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 20.86 deaths per 100 live births | 11.97 deaths per 100 live births | 36.94 deaths per 100 live births | 10 |
| 1960s | 8.95 deaths per 100 live births | 6.6 deaths per 100 live births | 11.29 deaths per 100 live births | 10 |
| 1970s | 4.83 deaths per 100 live births | 3.85 deaths per 100 live births | 6.14 deaths per 100 live births | 10 |
| 1980s | 2.61 deaths per 100 live births | 1.71 deaths per 100 live births | 3.63 deaths per 100 live births | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.13 deaths per 100 live births | 0.7999 deaths per 100 live births | 1.57 deaths per 100 live births | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.5828 deaths per 100 live births | 0.4307 deaths per 100 live births | 0.7553 deaths per 100 live births | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.359 deaths per 100 live births | 0.3136 deaths per 100 live births | 0.4124 deaths per 100 live births | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.2915 deaths per 100 live births | 0.2796 deaths per 100 live births | 0.3051 deaths per 100 live births | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
- 180 Spain 0.3193 deaths per 100 live births compare
- 181 Iceland 0.282 deaths per 100 live births compare
- 182 North Macedonia 0.2803 deaths per 100 live births compare
- 184 Italy 0.2702 deaths per 100 live births compare
- 185 Singapore 0.268 deaths per 100 live births compare
- 186 Monaco 0.2661 deaths per 100 live births compare
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)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 2,072 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 69 deaths (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)
Frequently asked questions
- What is child mortality rate in South Korea?
- Child mortality rate in South Korea was 0.2796 deaths per 100 live births in 2024, according to United Nations Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (2025) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest child mortality rate recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 36.94 deaths per 100 live births in 1950.
- What is the lowest child mortality rate recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.2796 deaths per 100 live births in 2024.
- How does South Korea rank for child mortality rate?
- South Korea ranks 183rd out of 199 countries with data for 2024.
- Is child mortality rate rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 22.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Korea data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (2025) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Child mortality rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Estimated number of deaths of children aged under five years, per 100 live births .