In 2021, the infant mortality rate in the United Kingdom was four deaths one year per 1,000 live births, one of the lowest infant mortality rate in this period. Infant mortality has fallen considerably since 1900, when there were 150 infant deaths per 1,000 live births.

The infant mortality rate in the United Kingdom increased by 0.1 deaths per 1,000 live births (+2.56 percent) in 2023. Therefore, the infant mortality rate in the United Kingdom reached a peak in 2023 with four deaths per 1,000 live births. The infant mortality rate refers to the number of infants who do not survive past the first year of life, expressed as a value per 1,000 births.Find more statistics on other topics about the United Kingdom with key insights such as total fertility rate, total life expectancy at birth, and death rate.

Graph and download economic data for Infant Mortality Rate for the United Kingdom (SPDYNIMRTINGBR) from 1960 to 2023 about mortality, infant, United Kingdom, and rate.

Live births, stillbirths and linked infant deaths occurring annually in England and Wales, and associated risk factors.

The infant mortality rate in the United Kingdom, for children under the age of one (twelve months), was 31.7 deaths per thousand births in 1950. Approximately 3.2 percent of children born in 1950 did not survive past their first birthday. Over the course of the next 70 years, this number has dropped significantly. It amounted to just four deaths per thousand births in the period between 2015 and 2020, the lowest figure recorded.

These tables include data on live births, infant deaths, and infant mortality rates by ethnic group as well as on infant deaths, and infant mortality rates by cause of death and ethnic group.

Source agency: Office for National Statistics

Designation: National Statistics

Language: English

Alternative title: Infant mortality by ethnic group

United Kingdom UK: Mortality Rate: Infant: per 1000 Live Births data was reported at 3.700 Ratio in 2016. This stayed constant from the previous number of 3.700 Ratio for 2015. United Kingdom UK: Mortality Rate: Infant: per 1000 Live Births data is updated yearly, averaging 8.900 Ratio from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2016, with 57 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 22.900 Ratio in 1960 and a record low of 3.700 Ratio in 2016. United Kingdom UK: Mortality Rate: Infant: per 1000 Live Births data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s UK – Table UK.World Bank: Health Statistics. Infant mortality rate is the number of infants dying before reaching one year of age, per 1,000 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.

The United Kingdom: Infant deaths per 1000 live births: The latest value from 2022 is 4 deaths per 1000 live births, unchanged from 4 deaths per 1000 live births in 2021. In comparison, the world average is 19 deaths per 1000 live births, based on data from 187 countries. Historically, the average for the United Kingdom from 1960 to 2022 is 10 deaths per 1000 live births. The minimum value, 4 deaths per 1000 live births, was reached in 2010 while the maximum of 23 deaths per 1000 live births was recorded in 1960.

Infant mortality rate of United Kingdom rose by 2.56% from 3.9 deaths per thousand live births in 2022 to 4.0 deaths per thousand live births in 2023. Infant mortality rate is the number of infants dying before reaching one year of age, per 1,000 live births in a given year.

Historical dataset showing U.K. infant mortality rate by year from 1950 to 2025.

United Kingdom UK: Mortality Rate: Under-5: Male: per 1000 Live Births data was reported at 4.800 Ratio in 2016. This records a decrease from the previous number of 4.900 Ratio for 2015. United Kingdom UK: Mortality Rate: Under-5: Male: per 1000 Live Births data is updated yearly, averaging 5.700 Ratio from Dec 1990 (Median) to 2016, with 5 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 10.400 Ratio in 1990 and a record low of 4.800 Ratio in 2016. United Kingdom UK: Mortality Rate: Under-5: Male: per 1000 Live Births data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s UK – Table UK.World Bank: Health Statistics. Under-five mortality rate, male is the probability per 1,000 that a newborn male baby will die before reaching age five, if subject to male 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, female (per 1,000 live births) in United Kingdom was reported at 3.6 % in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. United Kingdom - Mortality rate, infant, female (per 1,000 live births) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on August of 2025.

Annual statistics on births and infant deaths based on babies born in a calendar year that died before their first birthday linked to their corresponding birth notification and their corresponding death registration.

The child mortality rate in the United Kingdom, for children under the age of five, was 329 deaths per thousand births in 1800. This means that approximately one in every three children born in 1800 did not make it to their fifth birthday. Over the course of the next 220 years, this number has dropped drastically, particularly in the first half of the twentieth century, and the rate has dropped to its lowest point ever in 2020 where it is just four deaths per thousand births.

Infant mortality rate (under 1 year old), per 1,000 live births

Mortality rate, infant, male (per 1,000 live births) in United Kingdom was reported at 4.3 % in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. United Kingdom - Mortality rate, infant, male (per 1,000 live births) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on August of 2025.

The global fallout from atmospheric nuclear weapons testing in the 1950s and 1960s caused by far the greatest exposure of mankind to ionizing radiation. Surprisingly few epidemiological studies of the possible health effects of atmospheric testing have been conducted. Here, long-term trends in infant mortality rates in the United States (U.S.) and five major European countries (EU5) were examined: The United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, and Spain. Bell-shaped deviations from a uniformly decreasing secular trend were found beginning in 1950, with maxima around 1965 in the U.S. and 1970 in EU5. From the difference between observed and predicted infant mortality rates, in the period 1950–2000, the overall increase in infant mortality rates was estimated to be 20.6 (90% CI: 18.6 to 22.9) percent in the U.S. and 14.2 (90% CI: 11.7 to 18.3) percent in EU5 which translates to 568,624 (90% CI: 522,359 to 619,705) excess infant deaths in the U.S. and 559,370 (90% CI: 469,308 to 694,589) in the combined five European countries. The results should be interpreted with caution because they rely on the assumption of a uniformly decreasing secular trend if there had been no nuclear tests, but this cannot be verified. It is concluded that atmospheric nuclear weapons testing may be responsible for the deaths of several million babies in the Northern Hemisphere.

Live births and infant deaths by gestational age. Additionally by birthweight, multiplicity of births, mother's age, marital status (registration type), household occupation and ethnic group. Source agency: Office for National Statistics Designation: National Statistics Language: English Alternative title: Gestation-specific infant mortality

Number of infant deaths in United Kingdom was reported at 2719 deaths in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. United Kingdom - Number of infant deaths - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on August of 2025.