What is Bill Gates' warning in the 2025 Goalkeepers Report?

Bill Gates warns that declining global health funding could lead to a rise in child mortality for the first time this century.

How many children are projected to die before age five in 2025?

An estimated 4.8 million children globally are projected to die before their fifth birthday in 2025.

What is the Gates Foundation committing to combat child mortality?

The Gates Foundation is committing approximately $100 billion to eradicate or drastically reduce lethal diseases and child mortality rates.

Home / Health / Global Aid Cuts Threaten Millions of Child Lives, Warns Gates

Global Aid Cuts Threaten Millions of Child Lives, Warns Gates

5 Dec, 2025

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Summary

Child deaths projected to rise for the first time this century.
Funding cuts could lead to millions of additional child deaths by 2045.
Gates Foundation pledges $100 billion to combat deadly diseases.

Global Aid Cuts Threaten Millions of Child Lives, Warns Gates

The number of children dying before their fifth birthday is projected to increase for the first time this century, reaching an estimated 4.8 million globally in 2025. This alarming trend is linked to significant declines in global development assistance for health. Bill Gates highlights this reversal as a critical juncture, warning that steep funding cuts could lead to millions of additional child deaths by 2045.

The Gates Foundation is pledging approximately $100 billion to combat lethal diseases and reduce child mortality rates. However, Gates stresses that government support, particularly from wealthy nations, is crucial for success. The report outlines a roadmap prioritizing primary healthcare, doubling down on routine immunizations, and investing in next-generation innovations to protect progress.