Child mortality in Colombia 1900-2020

In 1900, the child mortality rate in Columbia was estimated to be approximately 417 deaths per thousand births, meaning that almost 42% of all children born in these years would not survive past their fifth birthday. This rate would remain largely unchanged until the end of the First World War, when a return of export markets and a booming coffee market would provide the economic capital needed for improvements in health and sanitation programs in Colombia, causing child mortality to nearly halve between 1915 and 1930. However, the Great Depression, and the subsequent loss of export markets in the Second World War, would cause child mortality to begin to rise in Colombia, as scaled-back government health programs would have trouble importing necessary medical supplies.

After peaking at almost 250 deaths per thousand births in 1945, however, child mortality would begin to decline once more, as mass vaccination programs, improvements in access to the country’s healthcare services, and continued modernization would see child mortality decline throughout the remainder of the 20^th century, falling to just 27 deaths per thousand by 2000. As Colombia continues to modernize its health programs and improve access to nutrition in the country, child mortality has continued to fall, and it is estimated that over 98% of all children born today will survive past their fifth birthday.