Infant mortality in the 20th century


Infant mortality rates plummeted around the globe in the 20th century.

In the United States infant mortality fell from more than 10% to
significantly less than 1%.

In India, the child mortality rate (death at or before 5 years of age) fell
from 17.3% in 1980 to 8.5% in 1996. In Bangladesh in the same period, it
fell from over 20% to around 10%, in Iran, from 13% to around 4%.

Infant mortality rates were driven down by improved health care and
nutrition, and by cleaner, healthier environments world wide.