Decades of Progress in Reducing Global Child Deaths

The world has made huge strides in reducing child mortality over the past few decades. Since 1993, the global under-five mortality has dropped by 60 percent, with the mortality rate of newborns having dropped by 51 percent. According to UNICEF, these improvements reflect years of investment and collaboration between governments, donors, health professionals, communities and families.

However, there is still a long way to go, and as this chart based on UNICEF data shows, progress is slowing down. In 2023, an estimated 4.8 million children died before the age of five, equating to around 36 infants out of every 1,000 live births around the world. This figure includes 2.3 million newborns, which is close to 17 deaths for every 1,000 live births among children under the age of 28 days. Progress has been unequal across age groups, with nearly half of all deaths of under five year olds occuring within the first month of life.

These global figures also hide regional inequalities. According to UNICEF, the risk of death under the age of five is 80 times higher in the highest mortality country compared to the lowest. Children living in rural areas, in poorer households and in areas of fragility or conflict are among those to face far higher mortality risks. Research shows that disparities are also linked to factors such as maternal education and wealth.