Life Expectancy and Fatal Diseases in Iran before Modern Medicine (1881–1896 CE / 1298–1313 AH)

Articles in Press

Document Type : Original Article

Author

Department of History and Islamic Civilization Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad.Iran

10.30476/rhm.2025.106340.1301

Abstract

Life expectancy is a key indicator of public health. While it has been widely studied in most developed countries for the pre-modern medical era (late 19th to early 20th centuries), it has received little attention in Iran. Due to the absence of consistent and reliable data, estimating the overall average life expectancy during the Qajar period remains unfeasible. Nonetheless, some sources offer relatively accurate—though scattered—information on causes of death and ages at death among Qajar statesmen and their families. This article presents data on mortality among Iran’s elite over a 15-year period (1881–1896 CE / 1298–1313 AH) and calculates their average life expectancy. Results show an average lifespan of under 44 lunar years. When additional factors are considered, the figure likely falls below 40 lunar years (39 solar years). The leading causes of death were apoplexy and infectious diseases. Since this group had near-complete access to food, physicians, and sanitation, the general population likely experienced significantly lower life expectancy. In addition to outlining health conditions and evaluating medical practices of the time, the article compiles data from scattered and, in some cases, publicly inaccessible sources. These data provide a foundation for future research on the history of medicine in Qajar-era Iran.

Keywords

Journal of Research on History of Medicine

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 03 May 2026

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