Millions of lives have been saved since 2000—but the World Health Organization says the fight to protect children is losing momentum.
Global child survival has recorded major gains over the past two decades, with under-five deaths dropping from over 10 million in 2000 to 4.9 million in 2024, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the progress reflects decades of investment in vaccines, maternal care, nutrition, and stronger primary healthcare systems, which have helped save millions of young lives.
He noted that immunisation has been a major driver of success, rising from just 5% coverage in 1974 to about 85% today, preventing millions of deaths through routine childhood vaccines.
However, he warned that despite these gains, 4.9 million child deaths annually is still too high, adding that progress has significantly slowed since 2015.
Sub-Saharan Africa remains the hardest hit region, accounting for about 2.8 million under-five deaths, with many newborns still dying within days of birth.
Tedros also raised concerns about rising global challenges such as conflict, humanitarian crises, and shrinking health funding, which are putting essential services at risk.
He urged countries to prioritise primary healthcare, maternal and newborn services, nutrition, and equitable vaccine access to prevent avoidable deaths.
The WHO also highlighted success stories like Sierra Leone, which declared child mortality a national emergency, and North Macedonia, where improved emergency care has sharply reduced newborn deaths.
Working with partners including UNICEF, the agency says sustained investment is critical to ensure every child has a fair chance to survive and thrive.
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