U.S. Childhood Mortality Rates from 1900 to 2017

NCHS - Childhood Mortality Rates provides age-adjusted death rates per 100,000 for U.S. children, with data spanning from 1900 to 2017. The dataset is compiled by the CDC/NCHS from the National Vital Statistics System, including historical records and postcensal population estimates.

Use Cases

• Analyze long-term trends in childhood mortality rates from 1900 to 2017 to identify public health milestones.
• Compare age-adjusted death rates across different childhood age groups to assess demographic risk factors.
• Study the impact of census and intercensal population estimate revisions on mortality rate calculations between 2000 and 2010.

Strengths

• Data covers a 117-year time series from 1900 to 2017, enabling longitudinal analysis.
• Rates are age-adjusted based on the 2000 U.S. standard population, improving comparability over time.
• Compiled from authoritative CDC/NCHS sources, including the National Vital Statistics System.

Limitations

• The dataset's specific row count, column structure, and sample size are not provided.
• Data for years prior to 1999 relies on historical records which may have different collection methodologies.
• Mortality rates for noncensus years between 2000-2010 are revised estimates and may differ from earlier publications.

Provenance

Source

CDC/NCHS, National Vital Statistics System, and CDC WONDER.

Collection Method

Aggregated from U.S. vital statistics records, with age-adjusted rates calculated based on the 2000 standard population.

Time Range

1900 to 2017

Freshness

The metadata was last updated on April 23, 2025, though the core data extends only to 2017.

Geography

United States