Mortality rate, infant (per 1,000 live births) (UNESCO Institute) in South Korea
South Korea: Mortality rate, infant (per 1,000 live births) (UNESCO Institute) was 2.3 per 1,000 live births in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
2.3 per 1,000 live births
Change on year
down 4.2%
World rank
180th
of 195 countries
All-time high
45.6 per 1,000 live births
in 1970
All-time low
2.3 per 1,000 live births
in 2023
Years of data
54
1970–2023
Mortality rate, infant in South Korea, 1970–2023
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in per 1,000 live births.
Analysis
The most recent figure for mortality rate, infant in South Korea is 2.3 per 1,000 live births, measured in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 54 years on record.
That represents a change of down 4.2% on the previous year and down 23.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, mortality rate, infant in South Korea peaked at 45.6 per 1,000 live births in 1970 and was at its lowest, 2.3 per 1,000 live births, in 2023.
That places South Korea 180th out of 195 countries with data for 2023, putting it 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 South Korea, year by year
| Year | per 1,000 live births | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 45.6 per 1,000 live births | — |
| 1971 | 42.9 per 1,000 live births | -5.9% |
| 1972 | 40.5 per 1,000 live births | -5.6% |
| 1973 | 38.5 per 1,000 live births | -4.9% |
| 1974 | 36.8 per 1,000 live births | -4.4% |
| 1975 | 35.3 per 1,000 live births | -4.1% |
| 1976 | 34 per 1,000 live births | -3.7% |
| 1977 | 32.7 per 1,000 live births | -3.8% |
| 1978 | 31.3 per 1,000 live births | -4.3% |
| 1979 | 29.8 per 1,000 live births | -4.8% |
| 1980 | 28.2 per 1,000 live births | -5.4% |
| 1981 | 26.5 per 1,000 live births | -6.0% |
| 1982 | 24.7 per 1,000 live births | -6.8% |
| 1983 | 22.8 per 1,000 live births | -7.7% |
| 1984 | 21 per 1,000 live births | -7.9% |
| 1985 | 19.2 per 1,000 live births | -8.6% |
| 1986 | 17.5 per 1,000 live births | -8.9% |
| 1987 | 15.9 per 1,000 live births | -9.1% |
| 1988 | 14.5 per 1,000 live births | -8.8% |
| 1989 | 13.2 per 1,000 live births | -9.0% |
| 1990 | 12.1 per 1,000 live births | -8.3% |
| 1991 | 11.2 per 1,000 live births | -7.4% |
| 1992 | 10.3 per 1,000 live births | -8.0% |
| 1993 | 9.5 per 1,000 live births | -7.8% |
| 1994 | 8.8 per 1,000 live births | -7.4% |
| 1995 | 8.1 per 1,000 live births | -8.0% |
| 1996 | 7.5 per 1,000 live births | -7.4% |
| 1997 | 7 per 1,000 live births | -6.7% |
| 1998 | 6.6 per 1,000 live births | -5.7% |
| 1999 | 6.2 per 1,000 live births | -6.1% |
| 2000 | 5.8 per 1,000 live births | -6.5% |
| 2001 | 5.5 per 1,000 live births | -5.2% |
| 2002 | 5.3 per 1,000 live births | -3.6% |
| 2003 | 5 per 1,000 live births | -5.7% |
| 2004 | 4.7 per 1,000 live births | -6.0% |
| 2005 | 4.4 per 1,000 live births | -6.4% |
| 2006 | 4.1 per 1,000 live births | -6.8% |
| 2007 | 3.8 per 1,000 live births | -7.3% |
| 2008 | 3.6 per 1,000 live births | -5.3% |
| 2009 | 3.4 per 1,000 live births | -5.6% |
| 2010 | 3.3 per 1,000 live births | -2.9% |
| 2011 | 3.2 per 1,000 live births | -3.0% |
| 2012 | 3.1 per 1,000 live births | -3.1% |
| 2013 | 3 per 1,000 live births | -3.2% |
| 2014 | 2.9 per 1,000 live births | -3.3% |
| 2015 | 2.9 per 1,000 live births | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 2.8 per 1,000 live births | -3.4% |
| 2017 | 2.7 per 1,000 live births | -3.6% |
| 2018 | 2.7 per 1,000 live births | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 2.6 per 1,000 live births | -3.7% |
| 2020 | 2.5 per 1,000 live births | -3.8% |
| 2021 | 2.4 per 1,000 live births | -4.0% |
| 2022 | 2.4 per 1,000 live births | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 2.3 per 1,000 live births | -4.2% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 2.3 per 1,000 live births is below the median for high income countries, which is 3.7 per 1,000 live births, 62% of the median. (65 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 2.3 per 1,000 live births is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 14.35 per 1,000 live births, 16% of the median. (30 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 36.74 per 1,000 live births | 29.8 per 1,000 live births | 45.6 per 1,000 live births | 10 |
| 1980s | 20.35 per 1,000 live births | 13.2 per 1,000 live births | 28.2 per 1,000 live births | 10 |
| 1990s | 8.73 per 1,000 live births | 6.2 per 1,000 live births | 12.1 per 1,000 live births | 10 |
| 2000s | 4.56 per 1,000 live births | 3.4 per 1,000 live births | 5.8 per 1,000 live births | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.92 per 1,000 live births | 2.6 per 1,000 live births | 3.3 per 1,000 live births | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.4 per 1,000 live births | 2.3 per 1,000 live births | 2.5 per 1,000 live births | 4 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
More population data for South Korea
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -1.44 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -2.17 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -1.44 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -1.17 % change on previous year (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.3601 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate -1.45 (2100)
- Population density 223.86 (2100)
- Projected population under age 5 599,530 (2100)
- Population growth rate by level of development -1.45 (2100)
- Urbanization vs gdp, annual growth rate 0.007 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is mortality rate, infant in South Korea?
- Mortality rate, infant in South Korea was 2.3 per 1,000 live births in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest mortality rate, infant recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 45.6 per 1,000 live births in 1970.
- What is the lowest mortality rate, infant recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.3 per 1,000 live births in 2023.
- How does South Korea rank for mortality rate, infant?
- South Korea ranks 180th out of 195 countries with data for 2023.
- Is mortality rate, infant rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 23.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Korea 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.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release