This article examines the impact of war on young children's mortality in a sample of 137 countries. Years recently at war (1990-5) interact with years previously at war (1946-89) to elevate children's mortality rates (1995). Religious composition (percentage Christian and percentage Muslim) also interacts with years recently at war to reduce the effect of war on children's mortality rates. Controlling for women's literacy and access to safe water completely eliminates the effect of years previously at war, but not years recently at war.