Has smallpox been eradicated?
As of 1980, deaths from smallpox is 0 (eradicated 1980): ≈2M/year in the 1960s → 0.
Why it changed
A disease that killed around 300 million people in the 20th century vanished completely through a global vaccination campaign. That number is only as good as the systems behind it — holding 0 (eradicated 1980) as of 1980 means keeping the same funding and policy in place.
Source · Our World in Data CC-BY 4.0 (Our World in Data) Last reviewed 2026-06-30
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What is the source for this number?
Our World in Data. Last reviewed 2026-06-30 — CC-BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
How has this changed since 1900?
≈2M/year in the 1960s → 0. As of 1980, deaths from smallpox stands at 0 (eradicated 1980).
What still isn't solved?
It is worth remembering that 1980's 0 (eradicated 1980) is not guaranteed to hold: comparable gains elsewhere have stalled or reversed once attention moved on.