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Topic 05 of 18 · Country Index 2026
China: Health & Wellbeing
How long, and how well fed, do people live?
China is placed 47th of 200 countries on health & wellbeing in the Country Index 2026, from 3 of its 4 key statistics. Readings behind it: Life Expectancy at Birth 77.95 (2023); Under-Five Mortality Rate 5.724 (2024).
Share
Health & Wellbeing
47th
of 200 countries placed
Placed from 3 of 4 key statistics
- 77.95Life Expectancy at Birth, 2023Years a newborn would live at current death rates
- 5.724Under-Five Mortality Rate, 2024Deaths before age five (per 1,000 live births)
- 4.8Stunting Prevalence in Children Under Five, 2024Children under 5 who are stunted (%)
- —Prevalence of Severe Food Insecurity, 2024No reading for this country
01The evidence
The 4 key statistics that decide it
Only these place China on health & wellbeing — one vote each. Every value is the publisher’s own, read at the edition the Country Index 2026 used — or, for a survey-based key, each country’s latest reading; the grey ticks are every other country it was compared with, lowest on the left.
Key 1 of 4
Life Expectancy at Birth
UN DESA Population Division
2023 edition · data for 2023 · CC BY 3.0 IGO
77.95
Years a newborn would live at current death rates
Higher is better
China: 77.95. Across the 222 countries in this edition, values run from 54.46 (Nigeria) to 86.37 (Monaco); the world median is 74.63.
- World median
- 74.63
- Best in Eastern Asia
- 85.51 Hong Kong
- Land neighbours
- Afghanistan 66.03 · Bhutan 72.98 · Hong Kong 85.51 · India 72 · Kazakhstan 74.4 · Kyrgyzstan 71.68 · Laos 68.96 · Macau 83.07 · Myanmar 66.89 · Mongolia 71.73 · Nepal 70.35 · Pakistan 67.65 · North Korea 73.64 · Russia 73.15 · Tajikistan 71.79 · Vietnam 74.59
Key 2 of 4
Under-Five Mortality Rate
UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME)
2024 edition · data for 2024 · CC BY 3.0 IGO
5.724
Deaths before age five (per 1,000 live births)
Lower is better
China: 5.724. Across the 200 countries in this edition, values run from 1.26 (San Marino) to 115.65 (Nigeria); the world median is 14.54.
- World median
- 14.54
- Best in Eastern Asia
- 2.434 Japan
- Land neighbours
- Afghanistan 53.03 · Bhutan 17.17 · India 26.58 · Kazakhstan 9.437 · Kyrgyzstan 16.78 · Laos 29.35 · Myanmar 36.93 · Mongolia 13.42 · Nepal 25.12 · Pakistan 55.96 · North Korea 16.67 · Russia 5.173 · Tajikistan 28.13 · Vietnam 17.27
Key 3 of 4
Stunting Prevalence in Children Under Five
UNICEF, WHO and World Bank Group (Joint Malnutrition Estimates)
Latest reading per country, 2014–2024 · China’s is from 2017 · CC BY 3.0 IGO
4.8
Children under 5 who are stunted (%)
Lower is better
China: 4.8. Across the 162 countries at their latest reading, values run from 0.518 (Latvia) to 52.8 (Burundi); the world median is 13.8.
- World median
- 13.8
- Best in Eastern Asia
- 0.852 South Korea
- Land neighbours
- Afghanistan 44.6 · Bhutan 17.9 · India 35.47 · Kazakhstan 8.036 · Kyrgyzstan 14.15 · Laos 32.8 · Myanmar 26.7 · Mongolia 8.8 · Nepal 24.81 · Pakistan 37.63 · North Korea 19.1 · Tajikistan 13.7 · Vietnam 18.2
Key 4 of 4
Prevalence of Severe Food Insecurity
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
2024 edition · data for 2024 · CC BY 4.0
No reading
Population in severe food insecurity (%)
Lower is better
FAO publishes no 2024 figure for China, so the standing rests on the other keys.
Across the 125 countries in this edition, values run from 0.6 (Brazil) to 62.9 (South Sudan); the world median is 4.9.
- World median
- 4.9
- Best in Eastern Asia
- 0.6 Mongolia
- Land neighbours
- Afghanistan 30.2 · Kyrgyzstan 0.6 · Laos 5.5 · Myanmar 7.9 · Mongolia 0.6 · Nepal 12.3 · Pakistan 5.5 · Tajikistan 4.9 · Vietnam 1.8
02Over time
Which way China is moving
Each key’s published value, edition by edition, beside the world median. The Country Index 2026 is the first edition of the standing, so the standing itself has no history to chart yet.
Life Expectancy at Birth
Years a newborn would live at current death rates · higher is better
ChinaWorld median
China rose from 72.29 in 2000 to 77.95 in 2023; the world median went from 70.68 to 74.63.
Every year’s figures
Year China World median 2023 77.95 74.630 2022 78.20 74.313 2021 78.12 72.433 2020 78.02 73.063 2019 77.94 74.196 2018 77.71 74.081 2017 77.24 74.029 2016 77.21 74.013 2015 76.98 73.783 2014 76.71 73.330 2013 76.45 73.386 2012 76.20 73.210 2011 75.89 73.003 2010 75.67 72.827 2009 75.32 72.426 2008 74.83 72.264 2007 74.79 72.113 2006 74.40 72.027 2005 74.09 71.876 2004 73.73 71.477 2003 73.39 71.409 2002 73.03 71.173 2001 72.68 70.926 2000 72.29 70.678 Under-Five Mortality Rate
Deaths before age five (per 1,000 live births) · lower is better
ChinaWorld median
China fell from 36.64 in 2000 to 5.724 in 2024; the world median went from 30.43 to 14.54.
Every year’s figures
Year China World median 2024 5.7 14.5 2023 6.1 15.2 2022 6.6 14.7 2021 7.0 15.1 2020 7.5 15.3 2019 8.0 15.7 2018 8.6 16.3 2017 9.3 16.8 2016 10.0 17.5 2015 10.7 17.9 2014 11.6 18.3 2013 12.5 18.7 2012 13.5 18.8 2011 14.6 19.0 2010 15.7 19.2 2009 17.1 20.8 2008 18.5 20.7 2007 20.1 21.8 2006 21.9 22.8 2005 24.0 24.0 2004 26.3 25.9 2003 28.8 26.9 2002 31.4 28.0 2001 34.1 29.1 2000 36.6 30.4
03In context
China beside its neighbours
A position reads best beside the countries around it. Every position below is a place among all 200 countries on health & wellbeing, never a place within the region.
China and the countries it borders
Standing among all 200; the key columns are the publishers’ own values.
| Country | Standing | Life Expectancy at BirthYears a newborn would live at current death rates | Under-Five Mortality RateDeaths before age five (per 1,000 live births) | Stunting Prevalence in Children Under FiveChildren under 5 who are stunted (%) | Prevalence of Severe Food InsecurityPopulation in severe food insecurity (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| China | 47th | 77.95 | 5.724 | 4.8 | — |
 Mongolia | 71st | 71.73 | 13.42 | 8.8 | 0.6 |
 Russiacompare | 73rd | 73.15 | 5.173 | — | — |
 Kazakhstan | 75th | 74.4 | 9.437 | 8.036 | — |
 Kyrgyzstan | =83rd | 71.68 | 16.78 | 14.15 | 0.6 |
 Vietnam | 100th | 74.59 | 17.27 | 18.2 | 1.8 |
 North Korea | 115th | 73.64 | 16.67 | 19.1 | — |
 Bhutan | =118th | 72.98 | 17.17 | 17.9 | — |
 Tajikistan | =118th | 71.79 | 28.13 | 13.7 | 4.9 |
 Nepal | 143rd | 70.35 | 25.12 | 24.81 | 12.3 |
 Laos | 146th | 68.96 | 29.35 | 32.8 | 5.5 |
 Indiacompare | 150th | 72 | 26.58 | 35.47 | — |
 Myanmar | 155th | 66.89 | 36.93 | 26.7 | 7.9 |
 Pakistancompare | 161st | 67.65 | 55.96 | 37.63 | 5.5 |
 Afghanistan | 190th | 66.03 | 53.03 | 44.6 | 30.2 |
 Hong Kong | not placed | 85.51 | — | — | — |
 Macau | not placed | 83.07 | — | — | — |
“—”: no published reading in that edition. What a standing is
Across Eastern Asia
Every country in the sub-region, by its place among all 200.
Placed either side on health & wellbeing
The countries immediately above and below China in the topic’s list.
04Context, no vote
Where China is ahead of the world, and behind
44 more statistics filed under health & wellbeing, published in full and deliberately given no vote in the standing. Select a row for the publisher, the rank and the links.
Ahead of the world median27
Statistics on which China does better than the middle country measured.
Vegetable Supply per PersonFAO · 2023 · world median 102.69412.72102.69No real change since 2013
China: 412.72 · world median 102.69 · Vegetables available as food (kg per person per year). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 6.89 to 412.72; higher is better.
Demand for Family Planning Satisfied by Modern MethodsUN DESA Population Division · 2023 · world median 71.259271.25No real change since 2013
China: 92 · world median 71.25 · Share of women aged 15–49 wanting to avoid pregnancy who use a modern method (%). UN DESA Population Division, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 8.4 to 92.4; higher is better.
Position 2nd of 196 · derived.
Coefficient of Variation of Habitual Caloric ConsumptionFAO · 2024 · world median 0.250.180.25No real change since 2014
China: 0.18 · world median 0.25 · Coefficient of variation of habitual calorie consumption across the population (standard deviation ÷ mean). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.17 to 0.4; lower is better.
Institutional DeliveriesUNICEF · 2025 · world median 96.999.996.9No earlier reading
China: 99.9 · world median 96.9 · Live births delivered in a health facility (%). UNICEF, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 11.5 to 100; higher is better.
Low Birthweight PrevalenceUNICEF and WHO (Joint Low Birthweight Estimates) · 2020 · world median 10.214.97410.21No real change since 2010
China: 4.974 · world median 10.21 · Live births weighing under 2,500 g (%). UNICEF and WHO (Joint Low Birthweight Estimates), 2020 edition, data for 2020.
Published values in that edition run from 3.993 to 27.44; lower is better.
Position 147th of 158 · derived, 1st = worst.
Dietary Energy SupplyFAO · 2024 · world median 2,9823,5042,982▲ Improved since 2014
China: 3,504 · world median 2,982 · Dietary energy supply (kcal per person per day). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 1,757 to 3,962; higher is better.
Position 23rd of 155 · derived.
Adolescent Birth Rate (Ages 15–19)UN DESA Population Division · 2023 · world median 27.465.22727.46▲ Improved since 2013
China: 5.227 · world median 27.46 · Live births per 1,000 women aged 15–19. UN DESA Population Division, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.465 to 163.09; lower is better.
Position 190th of 222 · derived, 1st = worst.
Neonatal Mortality RateUN IGME · 2024 · world median 8.1342.5948.134▲ Improved since 2014
China: 2.594 · world median 8.134 · Deaths in the first 28 days (per 1,000 live births). UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.544 to 39.47; lower is better.
Position 165th of 200 · derived, 1st = worst.
Minimum Dietary Diversity, Children Aged 6–23 MonthsUNICEF · 2025 · world median 37.5760.637.57No earlier reading
China: 60.6 · world median 37.57 · Children aged 6-23 months fed from at least 5 of 8 food groups (%). UNICEF, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 8.089 to 85.88; higher is better.
Position 22nd of 115 · derived.
Prevalence of UndernourishmentFAO · 2023 · world median 5.22.55.2▼ Worsened since 2013
China: 2.5 · world median 5.2 · Population undernourished (%). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 2.5 to 54.2; lower is better.
Position 104th of 104 · derived, 1st = worst.
Immunisation Coverage, DTP3WUENIC · 2025 · world median 919791▼ Worsened since 2015
China: 97 · world median 91 · Infants given a third dose of DTP vaccine (%). WHO and UNICEF (WUENIC), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 39 to 99; higher is better.
Infant Mortality RateUN IGME · 2024 · world median 12.264.07912.26▲ Improved since 2014
China: 4.079 · world median 12.26 · Deaths before age one (per 1,000 live births). UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 1.214 to 71.87; lower is better.
Position 162nd of 200 · derived, 1st = worst.
Gender Inequality IndexUNDP Human Development Report Office · 2023 · world median 0.3510.1320.351▲ Improved since 2013
China: 0.132 · world median 0.351 · GII (0 = full equality, 1 = maximum inequality). UNDP Human Development Report Office, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.003 to 0.838; lower is better.
Ranked 41st of 172 by UNDP Human Development Report Office.
Antenatal Care Coverage, At Least Four VisitsUNICEF · 2025 · world median 8192.981No earlier reading
China: 92.9 · world median 81 · Women with a live birth who had 4+ antenatal visits (%). UNICEF, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 22.6 to 100; higher is better.
Position 37th of 153 · derived.
Fruit Supply per PersonFAO · 2023 · world median 84.83114.3684.83▲ Improved since 2013
China: 114.36 · world median 84.83 · Fruit available as food, excluding wine (kg per person per year). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 4.27 to 379.63; higher is better.
Wasting Prevalence in Children Under FiveUNICEF, WHO and World Bank Group (Joint Malnutrition Estimates) · 2024 · world median 3.5461.93.546No earlier reading
China: 1.9 · world median 3.546 · Children under 5 who are wasted (%). UNICEF, WHO and World Bank Group (Joint Malnutrition Estimates), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.1 to 22.74; lower is better.
Position 122nd of 163 · derived, 1st = worst.
Human Capital IndexWorld Bank Group · 2020 · world median 0.5640.6530.564▲ Improved since 2017
China: 0.653 · world median 0.564 · HCI score (0–1). World Bank Group, 2020 edition, data for 2020.
Published values in that edition run from 0.292 to 0.879; higher is better.
Position 45th of 172 · derived.
Adult Mortality (Probability of Dying Between 15 and 60)UN DESA Population Division · 2023 · world median 133.782.26133.7No real change since 2013
China: 82.26 · world median 133.7 · Deaths before age 60 per 1,000 people alive at 15, at that year's death rates. UN DESA Population Division, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 25.15 to 415.44; lower is better.
Position 160th of 222 · derived, 1st = worst.
Severe Child Food Poverty, Children Aged 6–23 MonthsUNICEF · 2024 · world median 21.2610.221.26No earlier reading
China: 10.2 · world median 21.26 · Children aged 6-23 months fed from at most 2 of 8 food groups (%). UNICEF, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 1.169 to 63.08; lower is better.
Position 81st of 113 · derived, 1st = worst.
Immunisation Coverage, Measles First Dose (MCV1)WUENIC · 2025 · world median 909590▼ Worsened since 2015
China: 95 · world median 90 · Infants given a first dose of measles vaccine (%). WHO and UNICEF (WUENIC), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 13 to 99; higher is better.
Mortality Rate, Ages 5–14UN IGME · 2024 · world median 2.8581.6942.858▲ Improved since 2014
China: 1.694 · world median 2.858 · Deaths between ages 5 and 14 (per 1,000 children aged 5). UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.392 to 59.04; lower is better.
Position 139th of 200 · derived, 1st = worst.
Stillbirth RateUN IGME · 2023 · world median 8.1634.6698.163▲ Improved since 2013
China: 4.669 · world median 8.163 · Stillbirths (per 1,000 total births). UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 1.18 to 34.9; lower is better.
Position 138th of 200 · derived, 1st = worst.
Share of Population Unable to Afford a Healthy DietFAO · 2025 · world median 26.411.326.4▲ Improved since 2017
China: 11.3 · world median 26.4 · Share of the population unable to afford a healthy diet (%). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.6 to 93.9; lower is better.
Position 100th of 145 · derived, 1st = worst.
Global Multidimensional Poverty IndexOPHI · 2025 · world median 0.0390.0160.039▼ Worsened since 2018
China: 0.016 · world median 0.039 · MPI (0–1). Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 0.517; lower is better.
Position 74th of 109 · derived, 1st = worst.
Maternal Mortality RatioMMEIG · 2023 · world median 46.6516.2546.65▲ Improved since 2013
China: 16.25 · world median 46.65 · Maternal deaths per 100,000 live births. UN Maternal Mortality Estimation Inter-Agency Group (MMEIG), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.11 to 992.83; lower is better.
Position 131st of 195 · derived, 1st = worst.
Life Expectancy at Age 65UN DESA Population Division · 2023 · world median 16.3917.4516.39▼ Worsened since 2013
China: 17.45 · world median 16.39 · Further years a 65-year-old would live at current death rates. UN DESA Population Division, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 12.13 to 23.21; higher is better.
Position 87th of 222 · derived.
Human Development IndexUNDP Human Development Report Office · 2023 · world median 0.7620.7970.762▲ Improved since 2013
China: 0.797 · world median 0.762 · HDI score (0–1). UNDP Human Development Report Office, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.388 to 0.972; higher is better.
Ranked 78th of 193 by UNDP Human Development Report Office.
Behind the world median7
Statistics on which China does worse than the middle country measured.
Exclusive Breastfeeding Under Six MonthsUNICEF · 2024 · world median 40.7435.140.74No earlier reading
China: 35.1 · world median 40.74 · Infants under 6 months exclusively breastfed (%). UNICEF, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 3.497 to 83.3; higher is better.
Position 84th of 136 · derived.
Days Above 35°CECMWF · 2025 · world median 3.4810.163.48▼ Worsened since 2015
China: 10.16 · world median 3.48 · Days a year with a maximum temperature above 35°C, averaged over the country’s land. World Bank Group (Climate Change Knowledge Portal), from Copernicus ERA5 (ECMWF), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 222.89; lower is better.
Agreement That Vaccines Are SafeWellcome Trust · 2018 · world median 77.6572.2977.65No earlier reading
China: 72.29 · world median 77.65 · People aged 15+ who agree that vaccines are safe (% of those who had heard of vaccines). Wellcome Trust, 2018 edition, data for 2018.
Published values in that edition run from 29.29 to 97.91; higher is better.
Position 95th of 144 · derived.
Share of Dietary Energy Supply from Cereals, Roots and TubersFAO · 2022 · world median 415041▲ Improved since 2012
China: 50 · world median 41 · Share of dietary energy supply from cereals, roots and tubers (%). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2022 edition, data for 2022.
Published values in that edition run from 21 to 82; lower is better.
Overweight Prevalence in Children Under FiveUNICEF, WHO and World Bank Group (Joint Malnutrition Estimates) · 2024 · world median 5.511.135.5▼ Worsened since 2014
China: 11.13 · world median 5.5 · Children under 5 who are overweight (%). UNICEF, WHO and World Bank Group (Joint Malnutrition Estimates), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.623 to 26.43; lower is better.
Position 26th of 163 · derived, 1st = worst.
PM2.5 Air Pollution ExposureAtmospheric Composition Analysis Group, Washington University in St. Louis · 2023 · world median 14.4532.614.45▲ Improved since 2013
China: 32.6 · world median 14.45 · Population-weighted PM2.5 concentration (µg/m³). Atmospheric Composition Analysis Group, Washington University in St. Louis, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 2.5 to 68.2; lower is better.
Position 28th of 220 · derived, 1st = worst.
Early Initiation of BreastfeedingUNICEF · 2024 · world median 52.9528.752.95No earlier reading
China: 28.7 · world median 52.95 · Newborns put to the breast within one hour of birth (%). UNICEF, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 7.749 to 93.1; higher is better.
Position 124th of 136 · derived.
No better end10
These describe the shape of a country — more is not better or worse, only different — so they are never ahead or behind.
Modern Contraceptive PrevalenceUN DESA Population Division · 2023 · world median 35.46535.4No real change since 2013
China: 65 · world median 35.4 · Share of all women aged 15–49 using a modern contraceptive method (%). UN DESA Population Division, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 2 to 73.8.
Contraceptive Prevalence (Any Method)UN DESA Population Division · 2023 · world median 41.2567.241.25No real change since 2013
China: 67.2 · world median 41.25 · Share of all women aged 15–49 using any contraceptive method (%). UN DESA Population Division, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 6.6 to 78.7.
Catastrophic Out-of-Pocket Health SpendingWorld Bank Group · 2019 · world median 6.8823.986.88No earlier reading
China: 23.98 · world median 6.88 · Population in households spending more than 10% of their budget on health out of pocket (%). World Bank Group, 2019 edition, data for 2019.
Published values in that edition run from 0.133 to 31.21.
Fish and Seafood Supply per PersonFAO · 2023 · world median 16.1741.6816.17No real change since 2013
China: 41.68 · world median 16.17 · Fish and seafood available as food (kg per person per year, live-weight equivalent). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.38 to 83.81.
Caesarean Section RateUNICEF · 2025 · world median 20.654120.65No earlier reading
China: 41 · world median 20.65 · Live births delivered by caesarean section (%). UNICEF, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.6 to 72.2.
Average Weekly Hours WorkedILO · 2025 · world median 38.8944.5638.89Moved since 2015
China: 44.56 · world median 38.89 · Average weekly hours actually worked per employed person. International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 23.64 to 54.7.
Position 25th of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Meat Supply per PersonFAO · 2023 · world median 57.8373.5457.83Moved since 2013
China: 73.54 · world median 57.83 · Meat available as food (kg per person per year, carcass weight). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 3.49 to 156.95.
Pesticide Use per HectareFAO · 2024 · world median 1.731.881.73Moved since 2014
China: 1.88 · world median 1.73 · Pesticide use (kg per hectare of cropland). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 37.72.
Position 89th of 178 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Cost of a Healthy DietFAO · 2025 · world median 4.553.644.55Moved since 2017
China: 3.64 · world median 4.55 · Cost of the cheapest locally available healthy diet, PPP dollars per person per day. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 2.66 to 8.27.
Adults Who Have Been Too Anxious or Depressed to Carry OnWellcome Trust · 2020 · world median 20.058.56620.05No earlier reading
China: 8.566 · world median 20.05 · People aged 15+ who have ever been too anxious or depressed to continue their usual activities for two weeks or more (%). Wellcome Trust, 2020 edition, data for 2020.
Published values in that edition run from 2.934 to 49.35.
No current reading for China
Births Attended by Skilled Health Staff (last 2016), Care-Seeking for Children with Symptoms of Pneumonia, Children with Functional Difficulties, Excess Mortality During the COVID-19 Pandemic, Fatal Occupational Injuries, Female Genital Mutilation Prevalence, Global Report on Food Crises, HPV Vaccination Coverage, Girls, INFORM Severity Index, Insecticide-Treated Net Use, Malaria Incidence (P. falciparum) (last 2015), Malaria Incidence (P. vivax) (last 2016), Malaria Mortality (P. falciparum) (last 2015), Oral Rehydration Salts for Children with Diarrhoea, Postnatal Care for Newborns Within Two Days, Prevalence of Moderate or Severe Food Insecurity, Prevalence of Severe Food Insecurity and Violent Discipline of Children. Listed rather than hidden, so the page can be checked against it.
“Position · derived” is this site’s ordering of the published values, 1st = best unless the row says otherwise; the publisher ranks no country on it. Rank, position and standing
05Country Index 2026
Health & Wellbeing among China’s 16 topics
Health & Wellbeing is China’s 4th best-placed topic of 16. Strongest first, each marker at its share of that topic’s field.
- Food & Agriculture6th of 1844/4 keys
- Mobility & Trade9th of 1774/4 keys
- Digital & Technologyjoint 23rd of 1984/4 keys
- Health & Wellbeing47th of 2003/4 keys
- Poverty & Inequality39th of 1593/3 keys
- Education & Knowledge51st of 1982/4 keys
- Economy & Innovationjoint 46th of 1764/4 keys
- Development & Human Capital62nd of 1963/3 keys
- Work & Labour60th of 1824/4 keys
- Risk & Resilience80th of 1934/4 keys
- Energyjoint 87th of 1653/3 keys
- Peace & Security102nd of 1774/4 keys
- Governance & Institutions125th of 1944/4 keys
- Gender & Equality124th of 1834/4 keys
- Environment & Sustainability157th of 1864/4 keys
- Democracy & Civil Liberties178th of 1983/4 keys
06The top of the list
Who leads on health & wellbeing
The three countries placed highest of 200, and the leaders China can most readily be measured against.
1
San MarinoSouthern Europe
1st of 200 · 2 of 4 keys
Photo: Matl derivative work: Jjtkk · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
2
MonacoWestern Europe
2nd of 200 · 2 of 4 keys
Photo: Martin Weber derivative work: Jjtkk · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
3
AndorraSouthern Europe
3rd of 200 · 2 of 4 keys
Photo: Tiia Monto derivative work: Jjtkk · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
Placed highest nearby
Highest placed on all 4 keys
South Korea5th4/4 keysThis page
China47th3/4 keys
Positions out of 200 placed on the topic. A country needs readings on enough keys to be placed, and the top of the list is often held on fewer of them.
07Analysis
Charts and analysis about China and health & wellbeing
About China
China Leads Global High-Technology Exports
The world’s ten largest high-technology exporters as a treemap, with the rest of the world beside them. Each country’s figure is its own most recent year, between 2022 and 2024.
On health & wellbeing
Global Hunger Index 2025: Countries with the Most Alarming Hunger Crisis
Thirteen countries scored across four editions — 2000, 2008, 2016 and 2025 — and five the report could not score at all. DR Congo and South Sudan share 121st place on 37.5.
On health & wellbeing
World Happiness Report 2025: Finland Leads Again as the US and UK Face Major Declines
The ten highest life evaluations of 2025, drawn on a world map, and the six things the report uses to explain them. Costa Rica and Mexico are the only two outside Europe and the Middle East.
08Questions
China on health & wellbeing: questions answered
Every answer is built from the numbers on this page, so none can say something the page does not.
How does China rank on health & wellbeing?
China is placed 47th of 200 countries on Health & Wellbeing in the Country Index 2026, from 3 of its 4 key statistics (Life Expectancy at Birth, Under-Five Mortality Rate and Stunting Prevalence in Children Under Five). The position is this site’s ordering of published statistics, not a rank any publisher printed.
What is the latest Life Expectancy at Birth figure for China?
77.95 in 2023 (years a newborn would live at current death rates), according to UN DESA Population Division. The world median in the same edition was 74.63.
What is the latest Under-Five Mortality Rate figure for China?
5.724 in 2024 (deaths before age five (per 1,000 live births)), according to UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME). The world median in the same edition was 14.54.
How does China compare with India on health & wellbeing?
India is placed 150th of 200, and China 47th. Life Expectancy at Birth: India 72, China 77.95; Under-Five Mortality Rate: India 26.58, China 5.724; Stunting Prevalence in Children Under Five: India 35.47, China 4.8.
How have China’s health & wellbeing figures changed?
Life Expectancy at Birth rose from 72.29 in 2000 to 77.95 in 2023; Under-Five Mortality Rate fell from 36.64 in 2000 to 5.724 in 2024.
Which health & wellbeing statistics are missing for China?
No current reading is published for China on Births Attended by Skilled Health Staff, Care-Seeking for Children with Symptoms of Pneumonia, Children with Functional Difficulties, Excess Mortality During the COVID-19 Pandemic, Fatal Occupational Injuries, Female Genital Mutilation Prevalence, Global Report on Food Crises, HPV Vaccination Coverage, Girls, INFORM Severity Index, Insecticide-Treated Net Use, Malaria Incidence (P. falciparum), Malaria Incidence (P. vivax), Malaria Mortality (P. falciparum), Oral Rehydration Salts for Children with Diarrhoea, Postnatal Care for Newborns Within Two Days, Prevalence of Moderate or Severe Food Insecurity, Prevalence of Severe Food Insecurity and Violent Discipline of Children. They are listed rather than hidden, so the evidence on the page can be checked against it.
09Method
Method, sources and how to cite
What this topic does not measure
Health spending, hospital beds and doctors per person are not measured, because more of any of them does not guarantee better outcomes. Mental health and self-reported happiness are not part of this topic. Food supply per person is measured under Food & Agriculture. Maternal mortality and many other indicators are published here as context; maternal mortality is a key in Development & Human Capital instead.
How the Health & Wellbeing standing is decided
A standing is this site’s ordering, named with its edition — never a publisher’s rank. 4 key statistics vote, one vote each; every country’s published value becomes a place within that key’s own field, the places are averaged, and the average is never published. A country needs 2 of the 4 keys to be placed.
The health & wellbeing method, step by stepHow every standing on this site is built
The key statistics and their licences
- Life Expectancy at Birth — UN DESA Population Division, CC BY 3.0 IGO
- Under-Five Mortality Rate — UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME), CC BY 3.0 IGO
- Stunting Prevalence in Children Under Five — UNICEF, WHO and World Bank Group (Joint Malnutrition Estimates), CC BY 3.0 IGO
- Prevalence of Severe Food Insecurity — Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), CC BY 4.0
The other 44 statistics on this page come from 15 publishers, each named beside its numbers, with every edition and licence on the datasets pages.
The standing itself is part of the Country Index 2026, published under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Photographs
China’s banner and the countries placed highest, from their profiles: Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale, each used under the licence named.
- China (banner) — Seebeer Edited by Nicholasjf21, Public domain
- San Marino — Matl derivative work: Jjtkk, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Monaco — Martin Weber derivative work: Jjtkk, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Andorra — Tiia Monto derivative work: Jjtkk, CC BY-SA 3.0
Cite this page
Nations Inquiry (2026). China: Health & Wellbeing — standing and statistics, Country Index 2026. https://nationsinquiry.com/countries/china/health