Mortality rate, infant (per 1,000 live births) (UNESCO Institute) in China
China: Mortality rate, infant (per 1,000 live births) (UNESCO Institute) was 4.5 per 1,000 live births in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
4.5 per 1,000 live births
Change on year
down 6.2%
World rank
151st
of 195 countries
All-time high
84.3 per 1,000 live births
in 1970
All-time low
4.5 per 1,000 live births
in 2023
Years of data
54
1970–2023
Mortality rate, infant in China, 1970–2023
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in per 1,000 live births.
Analysis
China recorded 4.5 per 1,000 live births for mortality rate, infant in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 54 years on record.
The figure is down 6.2% on the previous year and down 53.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, mortality rate, infant in China peaked at 84.3 per 1,000 live births in 1970 and was at its lowest, 4.5 per 1,000 live births, in 2023.
China ranks 151st of 195 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Mortality rate, infant (per 1,000 live births) (UNESCO Institute) in China, year by year
| Year | per 1,000 live births | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 84.3 per 1,000 live births | — |
| 1971 | 80.3 per 1,000 live births | -4.7% |
| 1972 | 76.4 per 1,000 live births | -4.9% |
| 1973 | 72.5 per 1,000 live births | -5.1% |
| 1974 | 68.6 per 1,000 live births | -5.4% |
| 1975 | 64.7 per 1,000 live births | -5.7% |
| 1976 | 60.9 per 1,000 live births | -5.9% |
| 1977 | 57.3 per 1,000 live births | -5.9% |
| 1978 | 54 per 1,000 live births | -5.8% |
| 1979 | 51.2 per 1,000 live births | -5.2% |
| 1980 | 48.8 per 1,000 live births | -4.7% |
| 1981 | 46.8 per 1,000 live births | -4.1% |
| 1982 | 45.3 per 1,000 live births | -3.2% |
| 1983 | 44.1 per 1,000 live births | -2.6% |
| 1984 | 43.4 per 1,000 live births | -1.6% |
| 1985 | 43 per 1,000 live births | -0.9% |
| 1986 | 43 per 1,000 live births | +0.0% |
| 1987 | 43.1 per 1,000 live births | +0.2% |
| 1988 | 43.3 per 1,000 live births | +0.5% |
| 1989 | 43.3 per 1,000 live births | +0.0% |
| 1990 | 43.3 per 1,000 live births | +0.0% |
| 1991 | 42.9 per 1,000 live births | -0.9% |
| 1992 | 42.3 per 1,000 live births | -1.4% |
| 1993 | 41.3 per 1,000 live births | -2.4% |
| 1994 | 40.1 per 1,000 live births | -2.9% |
| 1995 | 38.7 per 1,000 live births | -3.5% |
| 1996 | 37.2 per 1,000 live births | -3.9% |
| 1997 | 35.6 per 1,000 live births | -4.3% |
| 1998 | 33.8 per 1,000 live births | -5.1% |
| 1999 | 31.9 per 1,000 live births | -5.6% |
| 2000 | 30 per 1,000 live births | -6.0% |
| 2001 | 27.8 per 1,000 live births | -7.3% |
| 2002 | 25.6 per 1,000 live births | -7.9% |
| 2003 | 23.5 per 1,000 live births | -8.2% |
| 2004 | 21.3 per 1,000 live births | -9.4% |
| 2005 | 19.4 per 1,000 live births | -8.9% |
| 2006 | 17.7 per 1,000 live births | -8.8% |
| 2007 | 16.1 per 1,000 live births | -9.0% |
| 2008 | 14.8 per 1,000 live births | -8.1% |
| 2009 | 13.6 per 1,000 live births | -8.1% |
| 2010 | 12.5 per 1,000 live births | -8.1% |
| 2011 | 11.5 per 1,000 live births | -8.0% |
| 2012 | 10.5 per 1,000 live births | -8.7% |
| 2013 | 9.7 per 1,000 live births | -7.6% |
| 2014 | 8.9 per 1,000 live births | -8.2% |
| 2015 | 8.2 per 1,000 live births | -7.9% |
| 2016 | 7.6 per 1,000 live births | -7.3% |
| 2017 | 7 per 1,000 live births | -7.9% |
| 2018 | 6.4 per 1,000 live births | -8.6% |
| 2019 | 6 per 1,000 live births | -6.3% |
| 2020 | 5.5 per 1,000 live births | -8.3% |
| 2021 | 5.1 per 1,000 live births | -7.3% |
| 2022 | 4.8 per 1,000 live births | -5.9% |
| 2023 | 4.5 per 1,000 live births | -6.2% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 4.5 per 1,000 live births is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 12.35 per 1,000 live births, 36% of the median. (58 countries reporting)
- China's 4.5 per 1,000 live births is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 14.35 per 1,000 live births, 31% of the median. (30 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 67.02 per 1,000 live births | 51.2 per 1,000 live births | 84.3 per 1,000 live births | 10 |
| 1980s | 44.41 per 1,000 live births | 43 per 1,000 live births | 48.8 per 1,000 live births | 10 |
| 1990s | 38.71 per 1,000 live births | 31.9 per 1,000 live births | 43.3 per 1,000 live births | 10 |
| 2000s | 20.98 per 1,000 live births | 13.6 per 1,000 live births | 30 per 1,000 live births | 10 |
| 2010s | 8.83 per 1,000 live births | 6 per 1,000 live births | 12.5 per 1,000 live births | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.97 per 1,000 live births | 4.5 per 1,000 live births | 5.5 per 1,000 live births | 4 |
Countries ranked near China
- 148 Qatar 4.9 per 1,000 live births compare
- 148 Saudi Arabia 4.9 per 1,000 live births compare
- 150 Malta 4.8 per 1,000 live births compare
- 151 Serbia 4.5 per 1,000 live births compare
- 153 Canada 4.4 per 1,000 live births compare
- 154 United Arab Emirates 4 per 1,000 live births compare
- 154 United Kingdom 4 per 1,000 live births compare
- 154 New Zealand 4 per 1,000 live births compare
- 154 Turks and Caicos Islands 4 per 1,000 live births compare
More population data for China
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -1.66 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -12.97 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -1.66 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -1.19 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 1.31 million Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population -0.1671 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.3489 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate -1.68 (2100)
- Population density 67.46 (2100)
- Projected population under age 5 15.54 million (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is mortality rate, infant in China?
- Mortality rate, infant in China was 4.5 per 1,000 live births in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest mortality rate, infant recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 84.3 per 1,000 live births in 1970.
- What is the lowest mortality rate, infant recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.5 per 1,000 live births in 2023.
- How does China rank for mortality rate, infant?
- China ranks 151st out of 195 countries with data for 2023.
- Is mortality rate, infant rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is down 53.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this China data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Mortality rate, infant (per 1,000 live births). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 54 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release