Infant mortality in South Korea 1950-2020

The infant mortality rate in South Korea in 1950 was approximately 222 deaths per thousand births, meaning that 22% of all newborns in 1950 would not survive past their first birthday. Infant mortality would decline sharply in South Korea in the second half of the 20^th century, as the country would recover rapidly from the Korean War and gradually begin to modernize, greatly improving access to healthcare throughout the country. While decline would slow somewhat in the late 1970s, in part the result of significant instability in South Korea’s Fourth Republic government, mortality would decline greatly by the turn of the century, falling to just seven deaths per thousand children by 2000. This decline has continued well into the 21^st century, and in 2020, South Korea has one of the lowest infant mortality rates in the world, at just two deaths per thousand births.