To evaluate the level of health attained before the war started, premature mortality from all causes in the former Yugoslavia was analyzed by republics and provinces in two respective periods. Premature mortality, measured by the crude rate of years of potential life lost, fell from 12,762.6 in 1970 to 6,320.1 per 100,000 population aged 0-64 in 1990 (50% decrease). Age-adjusted rates of republics/provinces declined during the same period to various degrees (30% to 70%).