Fewer Kids Dying is Good

Child mortality (sub 5 years old) is down. Waaaaaaaay down.

Today’s good thing summarizes nicely into one chart:

This chart really paints a heartening picture: child mortality rates have plummeted across the globe, offering hope for a future where fewer children lose their lives before reaching their fifth birthday.

The data, presented in a compelling chart, reveals a dramatic decline in every region:

• Africa: From 32% in the 1950s to 7% today.

• Asia: From 25% to a remarkable 3%.

• Oceania: From 9% to a low of 2%.

• Latin America & Caribbean: From 21% to just 2%.

• North America: Witnessing the most significant decline, from 4% to a mere 0.6%.

• Europe: From 9% to a very low 0.4%.

On a global scale, child mortality has dropped from 22% to 3.7%, representing a remarkable 83% decrease.

Obviously, there are a myriad of contributing factors here: governance and nutrition improving, fewer wars, public health and education, medicine (including vaccinations), classic liberalism and prosperity. Sanitation and transportation.

Falling infant mortality also leads to social stability. On the smaller level, it translates to less emotional and mental distress for town, communities and, of course, families.

Working up from there, improved childhood health leads to healthier and more productive adults and workplaces.

And then on a level up from there less frequent infant mortality leads to more stabilized populations, better resource allocation and more confident future planning. 

In final, one thing I’d also like to note is that I think you can make the case that as the mortality rate drops so too should (will?) the fertility rate. If you are confident your children will live (and prosper! That’s important) there is less incentive to have more of them. 

Reducing preventable deaths in our kids reflects a commitment to human rights and the value of life’s potential.

That’s good.