Infant mortality in Yemen 1955-2020

In 1955, the infant mortality rate in Yemen was estimated to be approximately 290 deaths per thousand live births, meaning that for every thousand children born in Yemen in that year, about three in ten would not survive past their first birthday. Infant mortality would decline sharply in the second half of the 20^th century, despite several civil wars in this time period, falling to less than a third of the 1955 rate by 2000. This decrease can be attributed in part to rising oil revenues in this time period, which allowed for improvements in health services and standards of living, despite the civil and political turmoil. However, while infant mortality would continue to decline into the 21^st century, declines in mortality would stagnate beginning in the 2010s, as several revolutions, coup d'états, and the on-going Yemeni Civil War would lead to both widespread food and medical shortages, as well as severe disruptions in the operations of domestic and international health programs in the country. As a result, in 2020, it is estimated that for every thousand children born in Yemen, 43 will not survive past their first birthday.