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.

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.

The infant mortality rate in Canada, for children under the age of one year old, was 187 deaths per thousand births in 1900. This means that for all babies born in 1865, almost one fifth did not survive past their first birthday. Over the course of the next 120 years, this number has dropped significantly. The rate dropped to its lowest point ever in the 2000s, at five deaths per thousand births.

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.

The study’s theme: The development of infant mortality in Germany for the 19th century is only poorly documented. Especially for the period prior to 1871 only small area statistics are available. With the preparation of the information collected by the authorities of the former German States the author tries to create a new statistical basis. The reconstructed national series of birth and infant mortality (from 1826) documents relatively high infant mortality rates with little progress (i.e. improvement of the situation) until the beginning of the 20th Century. Considering the influence of urbanization the evaluation of the different regional patterns and trends leads to a new weighting of the problem. Thus the living and working conditions in the country were of considerable importance. Overall, the prevailing habits and attitudes are considered crucial to the survival of small children (Gehrmann 2011, S. 807) Data and data preparation, source problems:The federal structure of the Empire leads to the problem that the printed statistics on infant mortality before 1901 remained incomplete. In some German states, information concerning infant mortality was not collected from the beginning of the registry offices. However, the ‘Kaiserliches Statistisches Amt’ (Imperial Statistical Office) was able to create despi9te the difficult situation a life table, which represented 97,3% of live birth for the period of 1872 to 1880. Hence, the annual infant mortality rate in 1872 is known. „Die föderale Struktur des Kaiserreichs hatte (…) zur Folge, dass die gedruckte Statistik zur Säuglingssterblichkeit vor 1901 lückenhaft blieb. Mehr noch: es wurden offensichtlich in einigen Staaten diesbezügliche Angaben gar nicht oder zumindest nicht von Anfang an bei den Standesämtern abgefragt. Als das Kaiserliche Statistische Amt in den 1880er Jahren die erste Sterbetafel für das Deutsche Reich erstellen wollte, musste es deshalb konstatieren, dass in den Einzelstaaten „fast alle in der Statistik überhaupt üblichen Arten und Grade der Spezialisierung vertreten“ (Kaiserliches Statistisches Amt 1887: 21) waren, aus manchen aber trotzdem keine geeigneten Unterlagen beschafft werden konnten. Immerhin repräsentierte die Sterbetafel am Ende doch 96,8% der Reichsbevölkerung im Jahre 1885 und 97,3% der Lebendgeborenen 1872 bis 1880. Damit ist auch die jährliche Säuglingssterblichkeitsrate ab 1872 bekannt. (…) Mit Hilfe des Sterbetafel-Materials kann die statistische Reihe aus „Bevölkerung und Wirtschaft“ also um fast 30 Jahre nach hinten verlängert werden. (…) Komplizierter stellt sich die Sachlage für weiter zurückliegende Zeitabschnitte dar. „ (S. 812-813)Although in most German states statistical collection on population movement has been carried out, the statistics vary considerably in quality. In the first step therefore, the author reject the procedure of simply extrapolating the birth rates because of the qualitative differences of the early statistics are too fundamental. Especially, in this approach of simply summing up, the values of the undocumented areas would equate with the values of the other well documented regions. Therefore, the author chose a complex way to estimate the lacking values: The missing values in small territories are estimated on the basis of the values of neighboring regions. Finally, it can be seen, that the data for the period from 1828 to 1871, calculated by the complex procedure of filling in missing data does not lead to significantly different results comparing to the data row calculated by the simple sum of the different sources. Per year, the difference between the two series (the series calculated in the complex way and the series calculated by summing up the values of the available statistics) is not more than 0,9 percent points, which can be seen as a slight difference between the two series in relation to the former level of infant mortality. The indeterminate values of those German states lacking a birth statistics may not being significantly different to those calculated on the basis of the complex procedure, because even unexpected, extreme runaway values in individual states can not realistically assumed to be so large that they could have a sufficient impact on the overall values. Thus, the presented row is a solid basis for the assessment of the overall development of the German Empire’s birth development. „Vielmehr empfiehlt es sich, zunächst in kleinen Schritten für die einzelnen Territorien fehlende Werte durch wahrscheinliche zu ersetzen. Diese ergeben sich in erster Linie aus dem Vergleich der Säuglingssterblichkeitswerte benachbarter Gebiete zu anderen Zeitpunkten. So können für Württemberg die vor 1859 zu längeren Zeiträumen zusammengefassten Informationen auf Einzeljahre herunter gerechnet werden, indem die Verteilung über die Jahre wie in Bayern angenommen wird. … Alle ermittelten Werte beziehen sich auf Lebendgeborene.“ (S. 814) „Die komplexe Prozedur der Ergänzung fehlend...

The probability of dying between birth and the exact age of 1, expressed per 1,000 live births. The data is sorted by both sex and total and includes a range of values from 1900 to 2019. The calculation for infant mortality rates is derived from a standard period abridged life table using the age-specific deaths and mid-year population counts from civil registration data. This data is sourced from the UN Inter-Agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation. The UN IGME uses the same estimation method across all countries to arrive at a smooth trend curve of age-specific mortality rates. The estimates are based on high quality nationally representative data including statistics from civil registration systems, results from household surveys, and censuses. The child mortality estimates are produced in conjunction with national level agencies such as a country’s Ministry of Health, National Statistics Office, or other relevant agencies.

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.

The infant mortality rate in Germany, for children under the age of one (twelve months), was 295 deaths per thousand births in 1840. This translated into approximately three out of every ten children born in 1840 not surviving past their first birthday. The largest decrease in this 180 year period came in the late 1870s, as Germany introduced mandatory vaccination for children, which brought infant mortality down by almost sixty in this five year period. From the turn of the twentieth century onwards, the infant mortality rate in Germany dropped considerably (although data in and immediately after the Second World War is not available), and by 2020 the number is expected to be just three deaths per thousand births.

The infant mortality rate in Russia, for children under the age of one year old, was over 266 deaths per thousand births in 1870. This means that for all babies born in 1870, over one quarter did not survive past their first birthday. Unfortunately some information is missing in the early twentieth century, during Russia's revolutionary period and again during the Second World War, however it is noticeable that Russia's infant mortality rate fell to one death for every ten babies born in 1955, and from this point the rate has fallen to just six deaths per thousand births today.

UNICEF's country profile for Canada, including under-five mortality rates, child health, education and sanitation data.

This table presents a wide variety of historical data in the field of health, lifestyle and health care. Figures on births and mortality, causes of death and the occurrence of certain infectious diseases are available from 1900, other series from later dates. In addition to self-perceived health, the table contains figures on infectious diseases, hospitalisations per diagnosis, life expectancy, lifestyle factors such as smoking, alcohol consumption and obesity, and causes of death. The table also gives information on several aspects of health care, such as the number of practising professionals, the number of available hospital beds, nursing day averages and the expenditures on care. Many subjects are also covered in more detail by data in other tables, although sometimes with a shorter history. Data on notifiable infectious diseases and HIV/AIDS are not included in other tables.

Data available from: 1900

Status of the figures:

2025: The available figures are definite.

2024: Most available figures are definite. Figures are provisional for: - notifiable infectious diseases, hiv, aids; - causes of death.

2023: Most available figures are definite. Figures are provisional for: - notifiable infectious diseases, HIV/AIDS; - diagnoses at hospital admissions; - number of hospital discharges and length of stay; - number of hospital beds; - health professions; - perinatal and infant mortality. Figures are revised provisional for: - expenditures on health and welfare.

2022: Most available figures are definite. Figures are provisional for: - notifiable infectious diseases, HIV/AIDS; - diagnoses at hospital admissions; - number of hospital discharges and length of stay; - number of hospital beds; - health professions. Figures are revised provisional for: - expenditures on health and welfare.

2021: Most available figures are definite. Figures are provisional for: - notifiable infectious diseases, HIV/AIDS; Figures are revised provisional for: - expenditures on health and welfare.

2020 and earlier: Most available figures are definite. Due to 'dynamic' registrations, figures for notifiable infectious diseases, HIV/AIDS remain provisional.

Changes as of 4 July 2025: The most recent available figures have been added for: - population on January 1; - live born children, deaths; - persons in (very) good health; - notifiable infectious diseases, HIV/AIDS; - diagnoses at hospital admissions; - use of medication; - sickness absence; - lifestyle; - use of health care services; - number of hospital discharges and length of stay; - number of hospital beds; - health professions; - expenditures on health and welfare; - healthy life expectancy; - causes of death.

Changes as of 18 december 2024: - Due to a revision of the statistics Health and welfare expenditure 2021, figures for expenditure on health and welfare have been replaced from 2021 onwards. - Revised figures on the volume index of healthcare costs are not yet available, these figures have been deleted from 2021 onwards.

When will new figures be published? December 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 infant mortality rate in France, for children under the age of one year old, was 182 deaths per thousand births in 1830. This means that for all babies born in 1830, over eighteen percent did not survive past their first birthday. Over the course of the next two centuries, this number has dropped significantly, reaching its lowest point ever in the 2015 to 2020 period, at three deaths per thousand births. Since the turn of the twentieth century, infant mortality in France has increased just two times, once in the 1910s as a result of the First World War and Spanish Flu pandemic, and then again in the 1940s due to the Second World War.

Number of deaths and mortality rates, by age group, sex, and place of residence, 1991 to most recent year.

The infant mortality rate in Italy, for children under the age of one year old, was 231 deaths per thousand births in 1865. This means that for all babies born in 1865, over 23 percent did not survive past their first birthday. Over the course of the next 155 years, the rate has dropped to its lowest point ever, amounting to three deaths per thousand births in the period between 2015 and 2020. Since the turn of the twentieth century, infant mortality in Italy has increased just two times, once in the 1910s as a result of the First World War and Spanish Flu pandemic, and then again in the 1940s due to the Second World War.

The infant mortality rate in Spain, for children under the age of one year old, was 180 deaths per thousand births in 1860. This means that for all babies born in 1860, approximately eighteen percent did not survive past their first birthday. Unfortunately no data is available for the early 1870s and early 1890s. Infant mortality in Spain was over 200 deaths per thousand in 1900, but then dropped significantly over the next 120 years, increasing only in the 1930s as a result of the Spanish Civil War. Infant mortality in Spain will have dropped to its lowest point ever by the end of 2020, to just two deaths per thousand births.

This study contains selected demographic, social, economic, public policy, and political comparative data for Switzerland, Canada, France, and Mexico for the decades of 1900-1960. Each dataset presents comparable data at the province or district level for each decade in the period. Various derived measures, such as percentages, ratios, and indices, constitute the bulk of these datasets. Data for Switzerland contain information for all cantons for each decennial year from 1900 to 1960. Variables describe population characteristics, such as the age of men and women, county and commune of origin, ratio of foreigners to Swiss, percentage of the population from other countries such as Germany, Austria and Lichtenstein, Italy, and France, the percentage of the population that were Protestants, Catholics, and Jews, births, deaths, infant mortality rates, persons per household, population density, the percentage of urban and agricultural population, marital status, marriages, divorces, professions, factory workers, and primary, secondary, and university students. Economic variables provide information on the number of corporations, factory workers, economic status, cultivated land, taxation and tax revenues, canton revenues and expenditures, federal subsidies, bankruptcies, bank account deposits, and taxable assets. Additional variables provide political information, such as national referenda returns, party votes cast in National Council elections, and seats in the cantonal legislature held by political groups such as the Peasants, Socialists, Democrats, Catholics, Radicals, and others. Data for Canada provide information for all provinces for the decades 1900-1960 on population characteristics, such as national origin, the net internal migration per 1,000 of native population, population density per square mile, the percentage of owner-occupied dwellings, the percentage of urban population, the percentage of change in population from preceding censuses, the percentage of illiterate population aged 5 years and older, and the median years of schooling. Economic variables provide information on per capita personal income, total provincial revenue and expenditure per capita, the percentage of the labor force employed in manufacturing and in agriculture, the average number of employees per manufacturing establishment, assessed value of real property per capita, the average number of acres per farm, highway and rural road mileage, transportation and communication, the number of telephones per 100 population, and the number of motor vehicles registered per 1,000 population. Additional variables on elections and votes are supplied as well. Data for France provide information for all departements for all legislative elections since 1936, the two presidential elections of 1965 and 1969, and several referenda held in the period since 1958. Social and economic data are provided for the years 1946, 1954, and 1962, while various policy data are presented for the period 1959-1962. Variables provide information on population characteristics, such as the percentages of population by age group, foreign-born, bachelors aged 20 to 59, divorced men aged 25 and older, elementary school students in private schools, elementary school students per million population from 1966 to 1967, the number of persons in household in 1962, infant mortality rates per million births, and the number of priests per 10,000 population in 1946. Economic variables focus on the Gross National Product (GNP), the revenue per capita per household, personal income per capita, income tax, the percentage of active population in industry, construction and public works, transportation, hotels, public administration, and other jobs, the percentage of skilled and unskilled industrial workers, the number of doctors per 10,000 population, the number of agricultural cooperatives in 1946, the average hectares per farm, the percentage of farms cultivated by the owner, tenants, and sharecroppers, the number of workhorses, cows, and oxen per 100 hectares of farmland in 1946, and the percentages of automobiles per 1,000 population, radios per 100 homes, and cinema seats per 1,000 population. Data are also provided on the percentage of Communists (PCF), Socialists, Radical Socialists, Conservatives, Gaullists, Moderates, Poujadists, Independents, Turnouts, and other political groups and p

The infant mortality rate in Australia, for children under the age of one year old, was 111 deaths per thousand births in 1870. This means that for all babies born in 1870, over eleven percent did not survive past their first birthday. Over the course of the next 150 years, this number has dropped significantly, reaching its lowest point ever in 2020 to three deaths per thousand births.

Using data on 25 major American cities for the period 1900-1940, we explore the effects of municipal-level public health efforts that were viewed as critical in the fight against food- and water-borne diseases. In addition to studying interventions such as treating sewage and setting bacteriological standards for milk, which have received little attention, we provide new evidence on the effects of water filtration and chlorination, extending the work of previous scholars. Although water filtration is associated with an 11-12 percent reduction in infant mortality, none of the other interventions under study appear to have contributed to the observed mortality declines.

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.