Under-five mortality rate, by sex (deaths per 1,000 live births) in South Korea
South Korea: Under-five mortality rate, by sex (deaths per 1,000 live births) was 2.8 per 1,000 live births in 2024. ▼ Falling
Latest (2024)
2.8 per 1,000 live births
Change on year
down 1.9%
World rank
196th
of 213 countries
All-time high
7.55 per 1,000 live births
in 2000
All-time low
2.8 per 1,000 live births
in 2024
Years of data
25
2000–2024
Under-five mortality rate, by sex in South Korea, 2000–2024
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Measured in per 1,000 live births.
Analysis
The most recent figure for under-five mortality rate, by sex in South Korea is 2.8 per 1,000 live births, measured in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 25 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, under-five mortality rate, by sex in South Korea peaked at 7.55 per 1,000 live births in 2000 and was at its lowest, 2.8 per 1,000 live births, in 2024.
South Korea ranks 196th of 213 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 25 years of available data.
Under-five mortality rate, by sex (deaths per 1,000 live births) in South Korea, year by year
| Year | per 1,000 live births | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 7.55 per 1,000 live births | — |
| 2001 | 7.16 per 1,000 live births | -5.3% |
| 2002 | 6.77 per 1,000 live births | -5.4% |
| 2003 | 6.38 per 1,000 live births | -5.8% |
| 2004 | 5.98 per 1,000 live births | -6.3% |
| 2005 | 5.57 per 1,000 live births | -6.8% |
| 2006 | 5.18 per 1,000 live births | -7.0% |
| 2007 | 4.83 per 1,000 live births | -6.7% |
| 2008 | 4.54 per 1,000 live births | -6.0% |
| 2009 | 4.31 per 1,000 live births | -5.2% |
| 2010 | 4.12 per 1,000 live births | -4.3% |
| 2011 | 3.98 per 1,000 live births | -3.6% |
| 2012 | 3.85 per 1,000 live births | -3.2% |
| 2013 | 3.73 per 1,000 live births | -3.1% |
| 2014 | 3.62 per 1,000 live births | -3.0% |
| 2015 | 3.51 per 1,000 live births | -2.9% |
| 2016 | 3.41 per 1,000 live births | -2.8% |
| 2017 | 3.32 per 1,000 live births | -2.8% |
| 2018 | 3.23 per 1,000 live births | -2.8% |
| 2019 | 3.14 per 1,000 live births | -2.8% |
| 2020 | 3.05 per 1,000 live births | -2.7% |
| 2021 | 2.97 per 1,000 live births | -2.5% |
| 2022 | 2.91 per 1,000 live births | -2.3% |
| 2023 | 2.85 per 1,000 live births | -1.9% |
| 2024 | 2.8 per 1,000 live births | -1.9% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 2.8 per 1,000 live births is below the median for high income countries, which is 4.67 per 1,000 live births, 60% of the median. (64 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 2.8 per 1,000 live births is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 17.21 per 1,000 live births, 16% of the median. (28 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 5.83 per 1,000 live births | 4.31 per 1,000 live births | 7.55 per 1,000 live births | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.59 per 1,000 live births | 3.14 per 1,000 live births | 4.12 per 1,000 live births | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.92 per 1,000 live births | 2.8 per 1,000 live births | 3.05 per 1,000 live births | 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 under-five mortality rate, by sex in South Korea?
- Under-five mortality rate, by sex in South Korea was 2.8 per 1,000 live births in 2024, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
- What is the highest under-five mortality rate, by sex recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 7.55 per 1,000 live births in 2000.
- What is the lowest under-five mortality rate, by sex recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.8 per 1,000 live births in 2024.
- How does South Korea rank for under-five mortality rate, by sex?
- South Korea ranks 196th out of 213 countries with data for 2024.
- Is under-five mortality rate, by sex 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 falling.
- Where does this South Korea data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database, published as part of Under-five mortality rate, by sex (deaths per 1,000 live births). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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