UN Reports 4.9 Million Children Under Five Died in 2024 Amid Worrying Slowdown in Global Health Progress

UN Reports 4.9 Million Children Under Five Died in 2024 Amid Worrying Slowdown in Global Health Progress
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New estimates from the United Nations indicate that approximately 4.9 million children under the age of five died in 2024, signaling a troubling slowdown in global efforts to reduce child mortality despite significant progress over past decades.

The report, prepared jointly by UNICEF, the World Bank, the World Health Organization, and the UN Population Division, notes that the majority of these deaths were preventable through improved access to healthcare and low-cost interventions, particularly addressing challenges such as complications from preterm birth and infectious diseases like malaria.

According to the report, preventable child deaths have declined by more than half since 2000; however, the pace of progress has slowed noticeably since 2015, raising growing concerns about the future of global child health.

While 2024 figures are close to previous years—4.8 million deaths were recorded in 2023—the organizations warn that the current slowdown could reverse hard-won gains if negative factors persist.

The WHO highlighted contributing factors including conflicts, economic instability, climate change, and weak health systems, noting that reductions in international aid budgets further complicate the crisis.

It should be note that, according to the report’s data, approximately 2.3 million of those deaths were newborns.