Death rates in the 20th century


Death rates in the 20th century from natural causes, including disease and
malnutrition, plummeted in wealthier countries.

In 1900 around 17 Americans per 1000 died in any given year. At the close of
the century the number was around 9 per thousand.

Age-adjusted death rates fell even more dramatically. Children in 1999 were
10 times less likely to die than children in 1900. For adults 24-65, death
rates have been halved. The death rate for Americans aged 65 to 74 fell from
nearly 7% per year to fewer than 2% per year.

However, war, genocide and democide led to many millions of deaths
throughout the century, and late in the century AIDS had already killed
millions, particularly in Africa and south-east Asia.