In 1955, the infant mortality rate in North Korea was estimated to be 121 deaths per thousand live births, meaning that for every thousand children born in North Korea in this year, one eighth would not survive past their first birthday. This figure was recorded during the five year period between 1951 and 1955, which was dominated by the effects of the Korean War; following the war's end and the period of adjustment that followed, North Korea's infant mortality rate fell significantly over the next four decades. However, following the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 and the subsequent cut off of economic aid, infant mortality in North Korea more than doubled in the 1990s. Flooding, famine and drought, exacerbated by the governments inefficient response saw infant mortality rise to 58 deaths per thousand births by the late 1990s. This figure has dropped to just 14 deaths per thousand births since the turn of the millennium, although this rate is seven times higher than that of South Korea.

UNICEF's country profile for Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, including under-five mortality rates, child health, education and sanitation data.

North Korea KP: Mortality Rate: Infant: Female: per 1000 Live Births data was reported at 12.500 Ratio in 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of 13.900 Ratio for 2015. North Korea KP: Mortality Rate: Infant: Female: per 1000 Live Births data is updated yearly, averaging 20.000 Ratio from Dec 1990 (Median) to 2017, with 5 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 39.500 Ratio in 2000 and a record low of 12.500 Ratio in 2017. North Korea KP: Mortality Rate: Infant: Female: per 1000 Live Births data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s North Korea – Table KP.World Bank.WDI: Health Statistics. Infant mortality rate, female is the number of female infants dying before reaching one year of age, per 1,000 female live births in a given year.; ; Estimates developed by the UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UNICEF, WHO, World Bank, UN DESA Population Division) at www.childmortality.org.; Weighted average; Given that data on the incidence and prevalence of diseases are frequently unavailable, mortality rates are often used to identify vulnerable populations. Moreover, they are among the indicators most frequently used to compare socioeconomic development across countries. Under-five mortality rates are higher for boys than for girls in countries in which parental gender preferences are insignificant. Under-five mortality captures the effect of gender discrimination better than infant mortality does, as malnutrition and medical interventions have more significant impacts to this age group. Where female under-five mortality is higher, girls are likely to have less access to resources than boys.

In 2022, the mortality rate of children under five years old in South Korea amounted to ***** per *** thousand live births. The under-five mortality rate in North Korea was ** per *** thousand live births in the same year. Although the under-five mortality rate in North Korea has declined in recent years, it is still much higher compared to South Korea.

Graph and download economic data for Infant Mortality Rate for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (SPDYNIMRTINPRK) from 1960 to 2023 about North Korea, mortality, infant, and rate.

Mortality rate, infant, male (per 1,000 live births) in North Korea was reported at 16.1 % in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. North Korea - Mortality rate, infant, male (per 1,000 live births) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on July of 2025.

In 1900, the child mortality rate in the area of present-day North Korea was estimated to be almost five hundred deaths per thousand live births, meaning that approximately half of all children born at this time were not expected to survive past their fifth birthday. This rate would increase to 524 deaths per thousand births in the 1910s, before rapidly falling from the 1910s until the middle of the century (following the Japanese annexation of the peninsula in 1910). There was a slight increase in child mortality rates in the late 1940s, as the Korean peninsula was divided into two states; although it continued upon its rapid decline in the 1950s, with the decrease slowing in the next three decades.

This decline would continue steadily until the 1990s, when the collapse of the Soviet Union and the resulting cut-off of economic aid would cause child mortality to rise for a decade, and this was exacerbated by the flooding, drought, famine and economic mismanagement of the late 1990s. The past two decades, however, have seen child mortality fall once more, and in 2020, it is estimated that for every thousand children born in North Korea, over 98 percent will make it past the age of five.

Korea, Democratic People's Republic of (North Korea) - Infant Mortality Rate for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea was 14.50000 Number per 1,000 Live Births in January of 2023, according to the United States Federal Reserve. Historically, Korea, Democratic People's Republic of (North Korea) - Infant Mortality Rate for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea reached a record high of 55.10000 in January of 1996 and a record low of 13.10000 in January of 2019. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for Korea, Democratic People's Republic of (North Korea) - Infant Mortality Rate for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea - last updated from the United States Federal Reserve on July of 2025.

North Korea KP: Mortality Rate: Under-5: Female: per 1000 Live Births data was reported at 17.200 Ratio in 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of 19.000 Ratio for 2015. North Korea KP: Mortality Rate: Under-5: Female: per 1000 Live Births data is updated yearly, averaging 26.900 Ratio from Dec 1990 (Median) to 2017, with 5 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 55.800 Ratio in 2000 and a record low of 17.200 Ratio in 2017. North Korea KP: Mortality Rate: Under-5: Female: per 1000 Live Births data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s North Korea – Table KP.World Bank: Health Statistics. Under-five mortality rate, female is the probability per 1,000 that a newborn female baby will die before reaching age five, if subject to female age-specific mortality rates of the specified year.; ; Estimates Developed by the UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UNICEF, WHO, World Bank, UN DESA Population Division) at www.childmortality.org.; Weighted average; Given that data on the incidence and prevalence of diseases are frequently unavailable, mortality rates are often used to identify vulnerable populations. Moreover, they are among the indicators most frequently used to compare socioeconomic development across countries. Under-five mortality rates are higher for boys than for girls in countries in which parental gender preferences are insignificant. Under-five mortality captures the effect of gender discrimination better than infant mortality does, as malnutrition and medical interventions have more significant impacts to this age group. Where female under-five mortality is higher, girls are likely to have less access to resources than boys.

Mortality rate, infant (per 1,000 live births) in North Korea was reported at 14.5 % in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. North Korea - Mortality rate, infant (per 1,000 live births) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on July of 2025.

Number of infant deaths in North Korea was reported at 4989 deaths in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. North Korea - Number of infant deaths - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on July of 2025.

North Korea KP: Completeness of Infant Death Reporting data was reported at 72.540 % in 2008. North Korea KP: Completeness of Infant Death Reporting data is updated yearly, averaging 72.540 % from Dec 2008 (Median) to 2008, with 1 observations. North Korea KP: Completeness of Infant Death Reporting data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s North Korea – Table KP.World Bank: Health Statistics. Completeness of infant death reporting is the number of infant deaths reported by national statistics authorities to the United Nations Statistics Division's Demography Yearbook divided by the number of infant deaths estimated by the United Nations Population Division.; ; The United Nations Statistics Division's Population and Vital Statistics Report and the United Nations Population Division's World Population Prospects.; ;

North Korea KP: Pregnant Women Receiving Prenatal Care data was reported at 100.000 % in 2009. This records an increase from the previous number of 97.100 % for 2000. North Korea KP: Pregnant Women Receiving Prenatal Care data is updated yearly, averaging 98.550 % from Dec 2000 (Median) to 2009, with 2 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 100.000 % in 2009 and a record low of 97.100 % in 2000. North Korea KP: Pregnant Women Receiving Prenatal Care data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s North Korea – Table KP.World Bank: Health Statistics. Pregnant women receiving prenatal care are the percentage of women attended at least once during pregnancy by skilled health personnel for reasons related to pregnancy.; ; UNICEF, State of the World's Children, Childinfo, and Demographic and Health Surveys.; Weighted average; Good prenatal and postnatal care improve maternal health and reduce maternal and infant mortality.

North Korea KP: Life Expectancy at Birth: Total data was reported at 71.685 Year in 2016. This records an increase from the previous number of 71.457 Year for 2015. North Korea KP: Life Expectancy at Birth: Total data is updated yearly, averaging 66.571 Year from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2016, with 57 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 71.685 Year in 2016 and a record low of 51.297 Year in 1960. North Korea KP: Life Expectancy at Birth: Total data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s North Korea – Table KP.World Bank: Health Statistics. Life expectancy at birth indicates the number of years a newborn infant would live if prevailing patterns of mortality at the time of its birth were to stay the same throughout its life.; ; (1) United Nations Population Division. World Population Prospects: 2017 Revision, or derived from male and female life expectancy at birth from sources such as: (2) Census reports and other statistical publications from national statistical offices, (3) Eurostat: Demographic Statistics, (4) United Nations Statistical Division. Population and Vital Statistics Reprot (various years), (5) U.S. Census Bureau: International Database, and (6) Secretariat of the Pacific Community: Statistics and Demography Programme.; Weighted average;

North Korea KP: Life Expectancy at Birth: Female data was reported at 75.071 Year in 2016. This records an increase from the previous number of 74.819 Year for 2015. North Korea KP: Life Expectancy at Birth: Female data is updated yearly, averaging 69.692 Year from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2016, with 57 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 75.071 Year in 2016 and a record low of 53.863 Year in 1960. North Korea KP: Life Expectancy at Birth: Female data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s North Korea – Table KP.World Bank: Health Statistics. Life expectancy at birth indicates the number of years a newborn infant would live if prevailing patterns of mortality at the time of its birth were to stay the same throughout its life.; ; (1) United Nations Population Division. World Population Prospects: 2017 Revision. (2) Census reports and other statistical publications from national statistical offices, (3) Eurostat: Demographic Statistics, (4) United Nations Statistical Division. Population and Vital Statistics Reprot (various years), (5) U.S. Census Bureau: International Database, and (6) Secretariat of the Pacific Community: Statistics and Demography Programme.; Weighted average;

North Korea KP: Life Expectancy at Birth: Male data was reported at 68.055 Year in 2016. This records an increase from the previous number of 67.829 Year for 2015. North Korea KP: Life Expectancy at Birth: Male data is updated yearly, averaging 62.993 Year from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2016, with 57 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 68.055 Year in 2016 and a record low of 48.424 Year in 1960. North Korea KP: Life Expectancy at Birth: Male data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s North Korea – Table KP.World Bank: Health Statistics. Life expectancy at birth indicates the number of years a newborn infant would live if prevailing patterns of mortality at the time of its birth were to stay the same throughout its life.; ; (1) United Nations Population Division. World Population Prospects: 2017 Revision. (2) Census reports and other statistical publications from national statistical offices, (3) Eurostat: Demographic Statistics, (4) United Nations Statistical Division. Population and Vital Statistics Reprot (various years), (5) U.S. Census Bureau: International Database, and (6) Secretariat of the Pacific Community: Statistics and Demography Programme.; Weighted average;

North Korea KP: Consumption of Iodized Salt: % of Households data was reported at 24.500 % in 2009. This records a decrease from the previous number of 40.200 % for 2004. North Korea KP: Consumption of Iodized Salt: % of Households data is updated yearly, averaging 32.350 % from Dec 2004 (Median) to 2009, with 2 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 40.200 % in 2004 and a record low of 24.500 % in 2009. North Korea KP: Consumption of Iodized Salt: % of Households data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s North Korea – Table KP.World Bank: Health Statistics. Consumption of iodized salt refers to the percentage of households that use edible salt fortified with iodine.; ; United Nations Children's Fund, State of the World's Children.; Weighted average; Iodine deficiency is the single most important cause of preventable mental retardation, contributes significantly to the risk of stillbirth and miscarriage, and increases the incidence of infant mortality. A diet low in iodine is the main cause of iodine deficiency. It usually occurs among populations living in areas where the soil has been depleted of iodine. If soil is deficient in iodine, then so are the plants grown in it, including the grains and vegetables that people and animals consume. There are almost no countries in the world where iodine deficiency has not been a public health problem. Many newborns in low- and middle-income countries remain unprotected from the lifelong consequences of brain damage associated with iodine deficiency disorders, which affect a child's ability to learn and to earn a living as an adult, and in turn prevents children, communities, and countries from fulfilling their potential (UNICEF, www.childinfo.org). Widely used and inexpensive, iodized salt is the best source of iodine, and a global campaign to iodize edible salt is significantly reducing the risks associated with iodine deficiency.

KP：死亡率：婴儿：男性：每1000名新生儿在12-01-2017达15.700Ratio，相较于12-01-2015的17.400Ratio有所下降。KP：死亡率：婴儿：男性：每1000名新生儿数据按年更新，12-01-1990至12-01-2017期间平均值为25.000Ratio，共5份观测结果。该数据的历史最高值出现于12-01-2000，达48.000Ratio，而历史最低值则出现于12-01-2017，为15.700Ratio。CEIC提供的KP：死亡率：婴儿：男性：每1000名新生儿数据处于定期更新的状态，数据来源于World Bank，数据归类于Global Database的朝鲜 – 表 KP.世界银行：卫生统计。

KP：死亡率：婴儿：每1000名新生儿在12-01-2016达15.100Ratio，相较于12-01-2015的16.000Ratio有所下降。KP：死亡率：婴儿：每1000名新生儿数据按年更新，12-01-1985至12-01-2016期间平均值为28.350Ratio，共32份观测结果。该数据的历史最高值出现于12-01-1996，达55.100Ratio，而历史最低值则出现于12-01-2016，为15.100Ratio。CEIC提供的KP：死亡率：婴儿：每1000名新生儿数据处于定期更新的状态，数据来源于World Bank，数据归类于Global Database的朝鲜 – 表 KP.世界银行：卫生统计。