The world's three most populous nations have achieved unprecedented success in reducing infant mortality, marking a significant milestone in global public health. India, China, and Indonesia have each recorded their lowest child mortality rates in history, demonstrating the transformative impact of improved healthcare access and rising living standards across Asia.
India, the most populous of the three nations, saw its infant mortality rate decline from 30 per 1,000 live births in 2019 to 24 in 2024. While this figure remains more than four times higher than the United States rate, the progress represents substantial advancement for a country with dramatic variance in income and poverty levels across its vast territory.
The improvements have been particularly striking at the state level. Both lower-income Bihar and higher-income Tamil Nadu recorded nearly 50 percent reductions in their mortality rates during this period. A critical factor driving this success has been the dramatic expansion of medical care during childbirth. The percentage of live births where mothers received medical attention surged from 83 percent to 95 percent between 2019 and 2024.
China achieved even more remarkable results in 2025, with its infant mortality rate dropping to 3.8 per 1,000 live births and the under-5 mortality rate falling to 5.4 per 1,000 live births, according to Fu Wei, director of the country's Department of Maternal and Child Health. These figures represent fewer infant mortality events than countries including the United States, France, and Portugal—a major accomplishment for an upper-middle income nation.
China's success is particularly noteworthy given the limitations of its public medical insurance system. While the program covers 95 percent of the population, it remains lean in terms of what conditions it will insure against and how much it will cover in terms of cost. However, the system does provide free medical care for children aged 0-6, a strategic investment aimed at building a foundation of health and reducing future impacts on the healthcare system throughout the child's life.
Indonesia, also classified as an upper-middle income country alongside China, recorded its lowest ever infant mortality rate of 14 per 1,000 live births in 2024. This achievement marks a 50 percent decline from 2010 levels, according to data from the World Bank Group.
These historic improvements in child survival rates across Asia underscore the region's success in raising living standards and expanding access to essential healthcare services. The progress demonstrates that targeted investments in maternal and child health can yield transformative results, even in countries facing significant economic challenges. As these nations continue to develop their healthcare infrastructure, the trend suggests that further gains in child survival rates remain achievable in the years ahead.
