Home / Health / UN Report: Child Mortality Slowdown Alarming
UN Report: Child Mortality Slowdown Alarming
18 Mar
Summary
- Nearly 5 million children died before age five in 2024.
- Progress in reducing child deaths has significantly slowed since 2015.
- India demonstrates steady progress in reducing child mortality rates.
An estimated 4.9 million children globally died before reaching their fifth birthday in 2024, with newborns accounting for 2.3 million of these deaths, as per a UN report. Most of these tragic losses were preventable through accessible, low-cost interventions and quality healthcare.
While global under-five deaths have fallen by over half since 2000, the rate of reduction has slowed by more than 60% since 2015. This slowdown is placing critical maternal, newborn, and child health programs under increasing pressure, despite evidence showing investments in child health yield high returns.
India has been recognized for its steady progress in reducing child mortality. The country's Neonatal Mortality Rate fell from 57 per 1,000 live births in 1990 to 17 in 2024. Similarly, the Under 5 Mortality Rate dropped from 127 per 1,000 live births in 1990 to 27 in 2024.
The report also estimated that 2.1 million children, adolescents, and youth aged five to 24 years died in 2024. Infectious diseases and injuries were leading causes for younger children, while self-harm and road traffic injuries were significant for adolescents.
