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.
Infant mortality rate (under one year old) in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea from 1955 to 2020*
* All data given is an average of annual data from the preceding five year period.
UN data used from 1955 onwards. Data prior to 1955 can be found here.
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UN DESA, & Gapminder. (August 31, 2019). Infant mortality rate (under one year old) in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea from 1955 to 2020* [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved September 20, 2024, from https://www-statista-com.ezproxy.canberra.edu.au/statistics/1073202/infant-mortality-rate-north-korea-historical/
UN DESA, und Gapminder. "Infant mortality rate (under one year old) in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea from 1955 to 2020*." Chart. August 31, 2019. Statista. Accessed September 20, 2024. https://www-statista-com.ezproxy.canberra.edu.au/statistics/1073202/infant-mortality-rate-north-korea-historical/
UN DESA, Gapminder. (2019). Infant mortality rate (under one year old) in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea from 1955 to 2020*. Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: September 20, 2024. https://www-statista-com.ezproxy.canberra.edu.au/statistics/1073202/infant-mortality-rate-north-korea-historical/
UN DESA, and Gapminder. "Infant Mortality Rate (under One Year Old) in The Democratic People's Republic of Korea from 1955 to 2020*." Statista, Statista Inc., 31 Aug 2019, https://www-statista-com.ezproxy.canberra.edu.au/statistics/1073202/infant-mortality-rate-north-korea-historical/
UN DESA & Gapminder, Infant mortality rate (under one year old) in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea from 1955 to 2020* Statista, https://www-statista-com.ezproxy.canberra.edu.au/statistics/1073202/infant-mortality-rate-north-korea-historical/ (last visited September 20, 2024)
Infant mortality rate (under one year old) in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea from 1955 to 2020* [Graph], UN DESA, & Gapminder, August 31, 2019. [Online]. Available: https://www-statista-com.ezproxy.canberra.edu.au/statistics/1073202/infant-mortality-rate-north-korea-historical/