The Modern Triumph and Persistent Challenges in Child Mortality Reduction

One of the often-overlooked successes of the modern era is the rapid innovation in healthcare, which is easily seen in the improvements in life expectancy. The dramatic drop in infant mortality rates serves as another prime example. In 1990, over 12 million preventable child deaths occurred. Three decades later, that number has more than halved, showcasing significant progress. Despite these gains, there are still formidable challenges to overcome.

Visualizing Leading Causes of Death in 2022 for Children Under Five

According to a UNICEF report published in March 2024, 4.9 million children under the age of five died globally in 2022. The leading causes of these deaths are visualized in the accompanying infographic above , providing a stark reminder of the critical health issues that continue to affect young children worldwide.

Ranked: The Causes of Death for Children Under Five

The following is a breakdown of the primary causes of death for children under five in 2022:

1. Prematurity – 18%
2. Pneumonia – 14%
3. Birth Asphyxia – 12%
4. Malaria – 9%
5. Diarrhea – 9%
6. Congenital Anomalies – 8%
7. Injuries – 5%
8. Sepsis – 3%
9. Tuberculosis – 3%
10. Other – 19% (including measles, meningitis, HIV/AIDS, tetanus, and other causes)

Prematurity remains the leading cause, accounting for nearly one-in-five of all deaths. Babies born too early, before 37 weeks of pregnancy, face significant survival challenges. The disparity in survival rates between low-income and high-income countries is particularly stark. In low-income regions with suboptimal health infrastructure, half of the babies born two months early do not survive. In contrast, nearly all preterm babies in high-income countries survive, thanks to advanced neonatal support that includes access to warmth, breastfeeding, and basic infection care.

Pneumonia, the second leading cause, is an acute respiratory infection that is highly contagious, spreading through air, fluids, and contaminated surfaces. Exposure to air pollution significantly increases the risk of developing pneumonia. However, bacterial pneumonia is highly treatable with low-cost antibiotics and preventable through the pneumococcal (PCV) vaccine.

When combined, preterm births and pneumonia are responsible for nearly one-in-three preventable child deaths.

The infographic highlights the urgent need for targeted healthcare interventions and infrastructure improvements in low-income countries to address these leading causes of child mortality. As we continue to innovate and improve healthcare systems, the goal remains to reduce these preventable deaths and ensure that children everywhere have a chance to thrive.