BEIJING, Feb. 4 -- China's infant mortality rate dropped to 9.5 per thousand in 2013 thanks to an improved healthcare system, data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) showed on Wednesday.

The figure has continued to decline in recent years compared with 12.1 per thousand in 2011 and 29.2 per thousand in 2002, said the NBS.

The mortality rate of children under five has also kept dropping to 12 per thousand, down from 34.9 per thousand in 2002 and 15.6 per thousand in 2011.

The NBS data also revealed that both the infant mortality rate and the mortality rate of children under five were higher in rural areas than in cities in 2013, reaching 11.3 per thousand and 14.5 per thousand, respectively.

The NBS report suggested that although China has made progress in developing its healthcare, greater efforts should be made to provide affordable and accessible care for both rural and urban residents.