Progress in reducing child deaths slows sharply since 2015 despite preventable causes
By Bunmi Yekini
An estimated 4.9 million children died before their fifth birthday in 2024, including 2.3 million newborns, according to a new global report, highlighting a slowdown in progress against largely preventable deaths.
The report, “Levels & Trends in Child Mortality,” released by the United Nations Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation, shows that while under-five deaths have dropped by more than half since 2000, progress has weakened significantly in recent years. Since 2015, the pace of reduction has slowed by more than 60 percent.
Most of the deaths, the report said, could have been avoided with low-cost interventions such as vaccines, proper nutrition and access to quality healthcare.
Newborn deaths accounted for nearly half of all under-five fatalities, reflecting slower gains in care around pregnancy and childbirth. Complications from preterm births and difficulties during labour were the leading causes, alongside infections.
Beyond infancy, infectious diseases such as malaria, pneumonia and diarrhoea remained major killers. Malaria alone accounted for about 17 percent of deaths among young children, with the burden heaviest in sub-Saharan Africa. Countries such as Nigeria, Niger and the Democratic Republic of Congo continue to record some of the highest numbers of deaths, driven by factors including conflict, climate shocks and limited access to treatment.
The report also highlights the growing toll of severe acute malnutrition, which directly caused more than 100,000 child deaths in 2024. Experts warn the true figure is likely higher, as malnutrition often weakens immunity and contributes to deaths from other diseases.
Geographically, child mortality remains heavily concentrated. Sub-Saharan Africa accounted for 58 percent of all under-five deaths, followed by Southern Asia with 25 percent. In contrast, deaths from infectious diseases were far lower in regions such as Europe and Northern America, underscoring deep global inequalities in access to healthcare.
Children born in fragile and conflict-affected settings are nearly three times more likely to die before age five than those in more stable environments, the report found.
Among older children and young people aged 5 to 24, about 2.1 million deaths were recorded in 2024. While infectious diseases and injuries dominate in younger age groups, risks shift in adolescence, with self-harm the leading cause of death among girls aged 15–19 and road traffic injuries among boys.
Global health leaders warned that funding pressures could further stall progress.
“No child should die from diseases that we know how to prevent, but we are seeing worrying signs that progress is slowing,” said Catherine Russell, Executive Director of UNICEF.
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization, said children in crisis settings remain the most vulnerable. He calls for urgent protection of essential health and nutrition services.
The report urges governments and donors to prioritise child survival through stronger investment in primary healthcare, improved data systems and targeted support for high-risk regions.
It adds that investing in child health remains one of the most cost-effective development strategies, with every dollar spent potentially generating up to twenty dollars in social and economic returns.