The child mortality rate in the United States, for children under the age of five, was 462.9 deaths per thousand births in 1800. This means that for every thousand babies born in 1800, over 46 percent did not make it to their fifth birthday. Over the course of the next 220 years, this number has dropped drastically, and the rate has dropped to its lowest point ever in 2020 where it is just seven deaths per thousand births. Although the child mortality rate has decreased greatly over this 220 year period, there were two occasions where it increased; in the 1870s, as a result of the fourth cholera pandemic, smallpox outbreaks, and yellow fever, and in the late 1910s, due to the Spanish Flu pandemic.

Historical dataset showing U.S. infant mortality rate by year from 1950 to 2025.

The infant mortality rate in the United States, for children under the age of one (twelve months), was 60 deaths per thousand births in 1935. Approximately six percent of children born in 1935 did not survive past their first birthday. Over the course of the next 85 years, this number has dropped significantly, and the rate has reached its lowest point ever in the period between 2015 and 2020, at six deaths per thousand births. Figures have been below ten since the 1990s.

Historical dataset showing Canada infant mortality rate by year from 1950 to 2025.

The child mortality rate in the United Kingdom, for children under the age of five, was 329 deaths per thousand births in 1800. This means that approximately one in every three children born in 1800 did not make it to their fifth birthday. Over the course of the next 220 years, this number has dropped drastically, particularly in the first half of the twentieth century, and the rate has dropped to its lowest point ever in 2020 where it is just four deaths per thousand births.

In 2021, the infant mortality rate in the United Kingdom was four deaths one year per 1,000 live births, one of the lowest infant mortality rate in this period. Infant mortality has fallen considerably since 1900, when there were 150 infant deaths per 1,000 live births.

Number of infant deaths and infant mortality rates, by age group (neonatal and post-neonatal), 1991 to most recent year.

In 1955, the infant mortality rate in Turkey was 217 deaths per thousand live births; this means that for every child born in Turkey between 1950 and 1955, over one fifth of these would not survive past their first birthday. Since these records began, the rate of infant mortality in Turkey has fallen continuously during each five year period, with the largest rate of decline occurring in the 1980s. This increased rate can largely be attributed to campaigns of mass immunization and vaccination programs launched by the Turkish government. Infant mortality has continued to decline well into the 21st century, and in 2020, it is estimated that over 99 percent of all babies born in Turkey survive past their first birthday.

The child mortality rate in India, for children under the age of five, was 509 deaths per thousand births in 1880. This means that over half of all children born in 1880 did not survive past the age of five, and it remained this way until the twentieth century. From 1900 until today, the child mortality rate has fallen from over 53 percent in 1900, to under four percent in 2020. Since 1900, there were only two times where the child mortality rate increased in India, which were as a result of the Spanish Flu pandemic in the 1910s, and in the 1950s as India adjusted to its newfound independence.

This dataset of U.S. mortality trends since 1900 highlights childhood mortality rates by age group for age at death. Age-adjusted death rates (deaths per 100,000) after 1998 are calculated based on the 2000 U.S. standard population. Populations used for computing death rates for 2011–2017 are postcensal estimates based on the 2010 census, estimated as of July 1, 2010. Rates for census years are based on populations enumerated in the corresponding censuses. Rates for noncensus years between 2000 and 2010 are revised using updated intercensal population estimates and may differ from rates previously published. Data on age-adjusted death rates prior to 1999 are taken from historical data (see References below). Age groups for childhood death rates are based on age at death. SOURCES CDC/NCHS, National Vital Statistics System, historical data, 1900-1998 (see https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nvss/mortality_historical_data.htm); CDC/NCHS, National Vital Statistics System, mortality data (see http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/deaths.htm); and CDC WONDER (see http://wonder.cdc.gov). REFERENCES National Center for Health Statistics, Data Warehouse. Comparability of cause-of-death between ICD revisions. 2008. Available from: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nvss/mortality/comparability_icd.htm. National Center for Health Statistics. Vital statistics data available. Mortality multiple cause files. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics. Available from: https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data_access/vitalstatsonline.htm. Kochanek KD, Murphy SL, Xu JQ, Arias E. Deaths: Final data for 2017. National Vital Statistics Reports; vol 68 no 9. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics. 2019. Available from: https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nvsr/nvsr68/nvsr68_09-508.pdf. Arias E, Xu JQ. United States life tables, 2017. National Vital Statistics Reports; vol 68 no 7. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics. 2019. Available from: https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nvsr/nvsr68/nvsr68_07-508.pdf. National Center for Health Statistics. Historical Data, 1900-1998. 2009. Available from: https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nvss/mortality_historical_data.htm.

Historical dataset showing Aruba infant mortality rate by year from 1950 to 2025.

Yearly (annual) dataset of the Czech Republic Infant Mortality Rate, including historical data, latest releases, and long-term trends from 1960-12-31 to 2023-12-31. Available for free download in CSV format.

The child mortality rate in Mexico, for children under the age of five, was 487 deaths per thousand births in 1890. This means that roughly half of all children born in 1890 did not make it to their fifth birthday (the number did rise above fifty percent in 1895). Since the turn of the twentieth century, the child mortality rate in Mexico has fallen during each five year interval, and is expected to be sixteen deaths per thousand births in 2020.

Historical dataset showing North America infant mortality rate by year from 1950 to 2025.

The infant mortality rate in Japan, for children under the age of one year old, was 166 deaths per thousand births in 1920. This means that for all babies born in 1920, just under 17 percent did survive past their first birthday. This rate decreased gradually and consistently over the next century, and today, Japan has one of the lowest infant mortality rates in the world, with approximately 99.8% of all babies surviving past their first birthday.

The child mortality rate in Poland, for children under the age of five, was 369 deaths per thousand births in 1885. For every one thousand babies born in 1885, almost 37 percent did not survive past their fifth birthday. Over the course of the next 135 years, this number has dropped drastically, reaching its lowest point ever in the period between 2015 and 2020, at four deaths per thousand births. In Poland's recorded history, there were two periods where the child mortality rate increased, which were in the 1910s and 1930s, mostly due tot he Spanish Flu pandemic that swept across the world, and also the events of the Second World War.

The child mortality rate in Canada, for children under the age of five, was 333 deaths per thousand births in the year 1830. This means that one third of all children born in 1830 did not make it to their fifth birthday. Child mortality remained above 25 percent for the remainder of the nineteenth century, before falling at a much faster rate throughout the 1900s. By the year 2020, Canada's child mortality rate is expected to be just five deaths per thousand births.

Yearly (annual) dataset of the India Infant Mortality Rate, including historical data, latest releases, and long-term trends from 1960-12-31 to 2023-12-31. Available for free download in CSV format.

Crude death rate : The ratio of the number of deaths during the year to the average population in that year. The value is expressed per 1 000 population

Infant mortality rate : The ratio of the number of deaths of children under one year of age during the year to the number of live births in that year. The value is expressed per 1 000 live births.

In the early 1910s, the infant mortality rate of Argentina was estimated to be just over 130 deaths per thousand births, meaning that for every thousand children born in Argentina, more than thirteen percent would not survive past their first birthday. Infant mortality would decline steadily in Argentina throughout the first half of the 20th century, as mass vaccination programs, increased medical access, and improvements in sanitation would greatly improve infant healthcare in the country. As a result, infant mortality would fall to just over 71 deaths per thousand births by the middle of the century. While declines in infant mortality would see a brief reversal in the late 1960s, due to disruptions caused by political instability, infant mortality would largely continue to decline for the remainder of the 20th century, falling to just twenty deaths per thousand births by 2000. As Argentina continues to modernize in the 21st century, infant mortality has continued to fall, and in 2020, it is estimated that 99 percent of all babies born in Argentina will survive past their first birthday.