Updated Sep 21, 2019

The promising decline in global child mortality

Rashaan Ayesh

Chart depicting the number of under-five deaths cause of mortality — Graphics: Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

The number of children who die before the age of 5 has declined steadily around the world, as newborn mortality and cases of pneumonia have dropped, according to a report from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

The big picture: Inequality between countries is decreasing across the globe, but the gaps remain sizable. The report indicates the most predictive factor about a child's future is where they are born.

What else they found:

Pneumonia is still a leading cause of child mortality, and only 3% of global research and development spending goes toward pneumonia. Fewer than half the world's children are vaccinated for the infection.
The decline in mortality among newborns has been slow, with almost half of all child deaths happening during the first 28 days of life.
Health and education increased in more than 99% of districts in developing countries during the past 17 years.
Gender inequality is present in every single country.
A child in Chad is still roughly 55 times more likely to die than a child in Finland.

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The promising decline in global child mortality

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