US, UK, Germany Aid Cuts Stall Global Child Mortality Gains, 4.9M Under-5 Deaths in 2024

Global progress in reducing child mortality is showing signs of stalling , with about 4.9 million children under the age of five dying in 2024, according to new estimates by the United Nations. The slowdown comes even before the full impact of recent aid cuts by major donors such as the United States, United Kingdom, and Germany , raising concerns about further setbacks.

Most of these deaths were preventable , with access to basic healthcare and low-cost interventions capable of addressing complications from pre-term birth, infections, and diseases like malaria, pneumonia, and diarrhoea. The 2024 figure translates to roughly 36 deaths per 1,000 live births globally , still well above the Sustainable Development Goal target of less than 25 per 1,000 by 2030 .

The contrast with earlier decades highlights both progress and the challenge ahead. In 2000, nearly 10 million children died before the age of five, with a mortality rate of about 76 per 1,000 live births . While deaths have more than halved since 2000 , the world remains off track to meet the 2030 target , with improvements slowing since 2015.

UN agencies including UNICEF, the World Bank, WHO, and the U.N. Population Division point to a combination of conflict, economic instability, climate pressures, and weak health systems as key factors behind the slowdown. A WHO spokesperson warned that these pressures, combined with shrinking global health funding, could undermine past gains and even reverse progress in child survival.

The burden of child mortality remains highly uneven. Sub-Saharan Africa accounts for over half of global under-five deaths , driven by malaria, fragile health systems, and conflict-related disruptions. South Asia contributes a significant share , where neonatal deaths linked to pre-term birth, inadequate maternal care, and malnutrition remain major causes. In contrast, developed regions report far lower mortality rates due to stronger health infrastructure and near-universal access to vaccines and treatment.

Many deaths continue to stem from gaps in healthcare access, including inadequate neonatal care, low immunisation coverage, limited access to treatment for common infections, and insufficient nutrition programmes. In several low- and middle-income countries, weak health infrastructure, lack of skilled birth attendants, and shortages of essential supplies prevent children from receiving timely, lifesaving care.

The latest estimates precede a sharp decline in global health funding, with international development assistance for health falling by nearly 27% in 2025 following aid cuts by major donors. UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell said no child should die from preventable diseases, warning that reduced funding could further slow progress and weaken the ability to track child survival outcomes.

The report, based on UN data and estimates from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, underscores the urgent need for renewed investment in basic health services, vaccination, nutrition, and newborn care to ensure that millions of children are not lost to deaths that are both treatable and preventable .