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Globally, there is a downward trend in child mortality under 5 years of age
Last reviewed: 02.07.2025
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According to new UN reports, there has been a reduction in deaths of children under 5 years of age by almost 50% (from 1990 to 2013). On average, there has been an acceleration in the rate of reduction of child mortality, in a number of countries a threefold reduction in child deaths under 5 years of age has been recorded, however, such indicators are insufficient on the way to achieving the large-scale goal of reducing child mortality by 2/3 by 2015.
As noted in the UN report, in 2013, more than 6 million children under 5 died from preventable causes, which is 200 thousand fewer than in the previous year. But despite the downward trend, 17 thousand children continue to die every day.
UNICEF's chief of health programs, Mickey Chopra, noted that the significant improvements in reducing child mortality rates give hope that the situation can change in countries where resources are limited. Now, countries around the world are implementing proven and effective measures that will save thousands of children's lives.
Over the past year, nearly 3 million infants died within the first 4 weeks after birth (almost 50% of infant mortality cases).
This year, UNICEF and its partners released the first ambitious plan to end preventable child deaths and stillbirths by 2035. The plan calls for every country to provide essential and effective health services, including during childbirth and the seven days after birth – a particularly dangerous period in the life of newborns – and to improve the quality of health services for young and sick children.
WHO Assistant Director-General Flavia Bustreo noted that the civil society is already ready to minimize preventable deaths of mothers, infants and children under 5. It is already known how best to act, and the main task today is to move from the plan to real actions, as happened, for example, in India.
Children under 5 years of age mostly die from complications caused by premature birth, difficult labor or birth, as well as pneumonia, diarrhea, malaria. Almost half of deaths occur as a result of malnutrition.
What is needed now is increased investment in the healthcare system to help provide high-quality and affordable services to women in labor, children, and those who need them most.
The UN report also notes that significant improvements in reducing the rate of death of children under 5 years of age have been achieved through affordable prices, vaccination, distribution of mosquito nets treated with insecticides, restorative water and electrolyte treatment for diarrhea, and the introduction of therapeutic nutrition.
In the first 4 weeks, the death of children is mainly caused by premature birth, difficult labor. In this case, it is extremely necessary to carry out medical measures related to the protection of women's health.
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