In 2024, the world lost an estimated 4.9 million children before their fifth birthday, alongside 2.1 million deaths among older children, adolescents and youth. Despite decades of progress, the pace of mortality reduction is slowing, and in some places stalling, with the heaviest burdens falling on sub‑Saharan Africa and Southern Asia.

For the first time, the United Nations Inter‑agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME) has produced fully synchronized cause‑of‑death estimates, showing what children are dying from at different ages. This offers the strongest evidence yet on where urgent action is needed most, and which life‑saving interventions will have the greatest impact.

This year’s combined release of UN IGME’s all‑cause mortality estimates and the CA CODE group’s cause‑specific estimates provides the most comprehensive evidence base to date. Yet, major data gaps persist, particularly in the highest‑burden countries. Closing these gaps is critical to targeting interventions effectively and accelerating progress toward ending preventable child deaths everywhere.

The tools to end these deaths already exist, but they must be deployed at far greater scale and speed. As conflict, climate shocks, fragile health systems and funding pressures intensify, the window to protect millions of young lives is narrowing.

This year’s report calls for renewed commitment, targeted investments, and accelerated action to ensure that every child, everywhere, survives and thrives.