In the pre-vaccination era in Switzerland, smallpox was responsible for a considerable number of deaths annually, with almost 98 percent* of these deaths occurring in children below the age of ten. Between 1580 and 1760, over 25,000 smallpox deaths were recorded, with over 12,000 (almost half) of these occurring in children below the age of two. When compared with similar studies from Sweden and Scotland during this time period, we can gain a valuable insight into the devastation caused by smallpox in pre-vaccination Europe, and the role that vaccination played in reducing the infant and child mortality rates across the continent.
Number of smallpox deaths in select age groups in Geneva between 1580 and 1760, before the introduction of vaccination
*The total number of smallpox deaths in Geneva between 1580 and 1760 was 25,249.
As a percentage of the total smallpox deaths, the shares are as follows:
0-1: 26.9%
1-2: 21.45%
2-3: 16.3%
3-4: 11.19%
4-5: 7.64%
5-6: 5.25%
6-7: 3.74%
7-8: 2.15%
8-9: 1.8%
9-10: 1.37%
10-15: 1.06%
15-20: 0.56%
20-25: 0.34%
25-30: 0.19%
30+: 0.07%
Profit from the additional features of your individual account
Currently, you are using a shared account. To use individual functions (e.g., mark statistics as favourites, set
statistic alerts) please log in with your personal account.
If you are an admin, please authenticate by logging in again.
Learn more about how Statista can support your business.
Royal College of Physicians. (December 31, 2018). Number of smallpox deaths in select age groups in Geneva between 1580 and 1760, before the introduction of vaccination [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved December 21, 2024, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/1107715/smallpox-deaths-by-age-geneva-historical/
Royal College of Physicians. "Number of smallpox deaths in select age groups in Geneva between 1580 and 1760, before the introduction of vaccination." Chart. December 31, 2018. Statista. Accessed December 21, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1107715/smallpox-deaths-by-age-geneva-historical/
Royal College of Physicians. (2018). Number of smallpox deaths in select age groups in Geneva between 1580 and 1760, before the introduction of vaccination. Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: December 21, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1107715/smallpox-deaths-by-age-geneva-historical/
Royal College of Physicians. "Number of Smallpox Deaths in Select Age Groups in Geneva between 1580 and 1760, before The Introduction of Vaccination." Statista, Statista Inc., 31 Dec 2018, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1107715/smallpox-deaths-by-age-geneva-historical/
Royal College of Physicians, Number of smallpox deaths in select age groups in Geneva between 1580 and 1760, before the introduction of vaccination Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1107715/smallpox-deaths-by-age-geneva-historical/ (last visited December 21, 2024)
Number of smallpox deaths in select age groups in Geneva between 1580 and 1760, before the introduction of vaccination [Graph], Royal College of Physicians, December 31, 2018. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/1107715/smallpox-deaths-by-age-geneva-historical/
