An estimated 4.9 million children died before their fifth birthday in 2024, including 2.3 million newborns, according to new estimates, the World Health Organization said. Most of these deaths are preventable with proven, low-cost interventions and access to quality healthcare.

Citing the report, ‘Levels & trends in child mortality’, the WHO said that under-five deaths globally have more than halved since 2000. However, since 2015, the pace of reduction in child mortality has slowed by more than 60 per cent.

For the first time, the report estimates deaths directly caused by severe acute malnutrition (SAM) — more than 100,000 children aged 1-59 months in 2024. The toll is far greater when indirect effects are considered, as malnutrition weakens children’s immunity and increases their risk of dying from common childhood diseases.

Newborn deaths account for nearly half of all under-five mortality, reflecting slower progress in preventive care around the time of birth. The leading causes of death among newborns were complications from preterm birth (36 per cent) and complications during labour and delivery (21 per cent). Infections, including neonatal sepsis and congenital anomalies, were also major causes. Beyond the first month, infectious diseases such as malaria, diarrhoea, and pneumonia were major killers.

Fragile and conflict-affected countries continue to bear a disproportionate share of the burden. Children born in these settings are nearly three times more likely to die before their fifth birthday than their peers elsewhere, the WHO said. Evidence shows that investments in child health remain among the most cost-effective development measures, it added.

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Published on March 23, 2026