Number of under-five deaths in China
China: Number of under-five deaths was 53,968 in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Number of under-five deaths in China, 1974–2024
Source: UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation, UN Children's Fund (UNICEF).
Analysis
China recorded 53,968 for number of under-five deaths in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 51 years on record.
That represents a change of down 12.3% on the previous year and down 74.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of under-five deaths in China peaked at 2.42 million in 1974 and was at its lowest, 53,968, in 2024.
That places China 23rd out of 195 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 1.80 million | 1.37 million | 2.42 million | 6 |
| 1980s | 1.32 million | 1.22 million | 1.42 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.01 million | 670,812 | 1.46 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 435,239 | 300,704 | 631,120 | 10 |
| 2010s | 204,823 | 125,967 | 280,045 | 10 |
| 2020s | 76,248 | 53,968 | 106,403 | 5 |
Countries ranked near China
More health data for China
- Age population, age 08, male, interpolated 9.62 million (2025)
- Age population, age 11, male, interpolated 9.79 million (2025)
- Age population, age 11, female, interpolated 8.47 million (2025)
- Age population, age 10, male, interpolated 9.57 million (2025)
- Age population, age 09, male, interpolated 9.45 million (2025)
- Age population, age 09, female, interpolated 8.24 million (2025)
- Age population, age 07, female, interpolated 7.79 million (2025)
- Age population, age 06, female, interpolated 6.93 million (2025)
- Age population, age 06, male, interpolated 7.89 million (2025)
- Age population, age 12, female, interpolated 8.55 million (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is number of under-five deaths in China?
- Number of under-five deaths in China was 53,968 in 2024, according to UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation, UN Children's Fund (UNICEF).
- What is the highest number of under-five deaths recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 2.42 million in 1974.
- What is the lowest number of under-five deaths recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 53,968 in 2024.
- How does China rank for number of under-five deaths?
- China ranks 23rd out of 195 countries with data for 2024.
- Is number of under-five deaths rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is down 74.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this China data come from?
- The figures come from UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation, UN Children's Fund (UNICEF), published as part of Number of under-five deaths. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Number of children dying before reaching age five.