Under-Five Mortality

SDG target: End preventable deaths of newborns and children under age five, with all countries aiming to reduce under-five mortality to at least as low as 25 per 1,000 live births.

Pneumonia is the leading infectious cause of child mortality and second only to neonatal disorders as a cause of overall child mortality. However, just 3 percent of global research and development spending and 6 percent of global foreign aid spending on infectious diseases goes to pneumonia. Globally, fewer than half of children are currently protected by the leading pneumonia vaccine. A less expensive vaccine may become available soon, which would enable more countries to protect more children and drive down the global child mortality burden.

under-five mortality graph

Below is the global progress on this indicator since 1990. Explore progress for specific countries using the drop-down menu below the chart.

Under-five deaths per 1,000 live births

Current projection

If we progress

If we regress

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