Child mortality in Iran 1900-2020

In 1900, the child mortality rate in Iran was approximately 506 deaths for every thousand live births, meaning that approximately half of all babies born at this time would not make it past their fifth birthday. Child mortality would fall gradually for the first four decades of the 20^th century, falling to 464 deaths by 1940, but would begin to fall sharply beginning in the 1940s, following the implementation of mass vaccinations in the country by the Iranian government and rapid modernization of the country’s healthcare, facilitated by the economic boost granted by Iran's oil industry. As improved healthcare saw a large reduction in most causes of child mortality, the rate would continue to fall throughout the 20^th century and into the 21^st century. As a result, in 2020, it is estimated that almost 99 percent of all babies born in Iran will live past their fifth birthday.