Infant mortality rate in the Netherlands 1950-2022

In 2022, the infant mortality rate in the Netherlands was 3.2. This means that out of every 1,000 newborns, just over three had died before their first birthday. Infant mortality was lowest in the most recent period. In total, nearly 179,000 babies were born in 2021.

 Steadily declining infant mortality 

  Despite a slight increase in infant mortality in the last two years, medical developments have ensured a remarkable decrease in the number of children dying in their infancy. In 1950, out of every 1,000 live born babies nearly 27 would die in their first year. This was over seven times as high as today.

Infant mortality in Western Europe

  The infant mortality rate in the Netherlands is comparable to other Western European countries. In the United Kingdom for example, the infant mortality rate was four in 2019, whereas France had a mortality rate of 3.3 in 2020. A slightly lower infant mortality was observed in neighboring Belgium, where the mortality rate was 2.7 in 2019.