Under-five mortality rate in China
China: Under-five mortality rate was 5.72 in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
5.72
Change on year
down 6.5%
World rank
153rd
of 200 countries
All-time high
117.99
in 1969
All-time low
5.72
in 2024
Years of data
56
1969–2024
Under-five mortality rate in China, 1969–2024
Source: World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory.
Analysis
In 2024, under-five mortality rate in China stood at 5.72. That is the lowest value across all 56 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 6.5% on the previous year and down 50.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, under-five mortality rate in China peaked at 117.99 in 1969 and was at its lowest, 5.72, in 2024.
China ranks 153rd of 200 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Under-five mortality rate in China, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1969 | 117.99 | — |
| 1970 | 112.09 | -5.0% |
| 1971 | 106.3 | -5.2% |
| 1972 | 100.78 | -5.2% |
| 1973 | 95.2 | -5.5% |
| 1974 | 89.68 | -5.8% |
| 1975 | 84.27 | -6.0% |
| 1976 | 79.07 | -6.2% |
| 1977 | 74.15 | -6.2% |
| 1978 | 69.76 | -5.9% |
| 1979 | 65.92 | -5.5% |
| 1980 | 62.62 | -5.0% |
| 1981 | 59.88 | -4.4% |
| 1982 | 57.71 | -3.6% |
| 1983 | 56.06 | -2.9% |
| 1984 | 54.93 | -2.0% |
| 1985 | 54.22 | -1.3% |
| 1986 | 53.87 | -0.7% |
| 1987 | 53.81 | -0.1% |
| 1988 | 53.85 | +0.1% |
| 1989 | 53.8 | -0.1% |
| 1990 | 53.58 | -0.4% |
| 1991 | 53.03 | -1.0% |
| 1992 | 52.08 | -1.8% |
| 1993 | 50.82 | -2.4% |
| 1994 | 49.25 | -3.1% |
| 1995 | 47.44 | -3.7% |
| 1996 | 45.54 | -4.0% |
| 1997 | 43.51 | -4.5% |
| 1998 | 41.36 | -5.0% |
| 1999 | 39.08 | -5.5% |
| 2000 | 36.64 | -6.2% |
| 2001 | 34.07 | -7.0% |
| 2002 | 31.44 | -7.7% |
| 2003 | 28.83 | -8.3% |
| 2004 | 26.33 | -8.7% |
| 2005 | 24.02 | -8.8% |
| 2006 | 21.95 | -8.6% |
| 2007 | 20.12 | -8.3% |
| 2008 | 18.49 | -8.1% |
| 2009 | 17.05 | -7.8% |
| 2010 | 15.75 | -7.6% |
| 2011 | 14.56 | -7.5% |
| 2012 | 13.48 | -7.4% |
| 2013 | 12.48 | -7.5% |
| 2014 | 11.56 | -7.3% |
| 2015 | 10.72 | -7.3% |
| 2016 | 9.96 | -7.2% |
| 2017 | 9.25 | -7.1% |
| 2018 | 8.61 | -6.9% |
| 2019 | 8.03 | -6.7% |
| 2020 | 7.5 | -6.6% |
| 2021 | 7.01 | -6.5% |
| 2022 | 6.56 | -6.4% |
| 2023 | 6.12 | -6.6% |
| 2024 | 5.72 | -6.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 117.99 | 117.99 | 117.99 | 1 |
| 1970s | 87.72 | 65.92 | 112.09 | 10 |
| 1980s | 56.08 | 53.8 | 62.62 | 10 |
| 1990s | 47.57 | 39.08 | 53.58 | 10 |
| 2000s | 25.89 | 17.05 | 36.64 | 10 |
| 2010s | 11.44 | 8.03 | 15.75 | 10 |
| 2020s | 6.58 | 5.72 | 7.5 | 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)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 2,029 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 4,642 deaths (2100)
- Population ages 50-54, male, annual growth rate -3.85 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 50-54, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 50-54, male, per capita 0.041 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 55-59, female, annual growth rate 1.68 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 55-59, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 55-59, female, per capita 0.0414 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is under-five mortality rate in China?
- Under-five mortality rate in China was 5.72 in 2024, according to World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory.
- What is the highest under-five mortality rate recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 117.99 in 1969.
- What is the lowest under-five mortality rate recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.72 in 2024.
- How does China rank for under-five mortality rate?
- China ranks 153rd out of 200 countries with data for 2024.
- Is under-five mortality rate rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is down 50.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this China data come from?
- The figures come from World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory, published as part of Under-five mortality rate (probability of dying by age 5 per 1000 live births). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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