China is witnessing a remarkable decline in maternal and infant mortality rates, reaching record lows in 2024. According to health authorities, the maternal mortality rate dropped to 14.3 per 100,000 live births, while the infant mortality rate fell to 4 per 1,000 live births. The mortality rate for children under five also decreased to 5.6 per 1,000.
These improvements reflect consistent advancements in maternal and child health across the Chinese mainland. Over recent years, the maternal mortality rate has declined at an average annual rate of about 4%, with infant and under-five mortality rates decreasing by approximately 5% each year.
Significant progress has been made in preventing and treating major diseases affecting women and children. In the past five years, mortality rates among infants and children under five caused by birth defects have each dropped by more than 30%. Severe and disabling birth defects, such as neural tube defects and Down syndrome, have seen a 21% decline in incidence. Additionally, the rate of mother-to-child transmission of HIV has fallen to 1.3%.
These achievements are largely due to ongoing enhancements in China’s maternal and child healthcare system. Data from the National Health Commission shows the country now boasts 3,491 treatment centers for critically ill pregnant women, 3,221 centers for critically ill newborns, and 3,081 maternal and child health institutions. The number of obstetricians and gynecologists has reached 373,000 nationwide.
By the end of 2023, the number of pediatricians had risen to 234,000. The availability of hospital beds for children increased to 2.55 per 1,000 children, up by 0.62 compared to 2015. Impressively, over 90% of primary-level healthcare institutions are now equipped to provide pediatric services.
China is also extending its healthcare expertise overseas. Chinese medical teams dispatched for foreign aid have provided maternal and child healthcare services in 44 countries and regions, including Morocco and Ethiopia. In 2024 alone, these teams assisted in the delivery of 63,800 babies.
(Cover image: A therapist massages a newborn baby’s foot, April 7, 2025. /VCG)
