The number of children dying before their fifth birthday worldwide dropped to 4.8 million in 2023, with stillbirths slightly declining to approximately 1.9 million, according to two new reports released on Tuesday by the United Nations Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation.
Despite these positive developments, the reports issued a warning that decades of progress in child survival are now at risk due to significant funding cuts from major donors for child health initiatives.
The World Health Organization (WHO) stated that since 2000, child deaths have been reduced by more than half, and stillbirths have decreased by over a third, largely due to sustained investments in child survival programs. In 2022, global child mortality fell below five million for the first time in recorded history. However, progress has slowed, and preventable deaths remain a major issue.
“Millions of children are alive today because of global commitments to proven interventions such as vaccines, nutrition, and access to clean water and sanitation,” said UNICEF Executive Director, Catherine Russell. “Achieving a record low in preventable child deaths is a remarkable milestone, but without the right policies and sustained investment, we risk reversing these hard-won gains.”
The UN IGME reports emphasize that declining global funding for child survival programs is leading to shortages of healthcare workers, clinic closures, disruptions in vaccination programs, and shortages of essential medical supplies like malaria treatments. These cuts are particularly affecting regions with already high child mortality rates, including areas grappling with humanitarian crises and economic instability.
“From tackling malaria to preventing stillbirths and ensuring life-saving care for newborns, we have the tools to make a difference,” said WHO Director-General, Dr. Tedros Ghebreyesus. “But as funding declines, now more than ever, we must strengthen collaboration to protect children’s health.”
The reports also highlighted that even before the current funding crisis, progress in child survival had begun to slow. Since 2015, the annual rate of reduction in under-five mortality has slowed by 42%, while the decline in stillbirths has slowed by 53%, compared to the 2000-2015 period.
