Global Child Mortality Crisis: 4.8 Million Children Under Five Die Each Year from Preventable Causes | WHO

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📍 Geneva — August 2025

The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued a stark reminder of the ongoing global child mortality crisis, reporting that one child under the age of five dies every 18 seconds—totaling approximately 4.8 million deaths annually. Most of these deaths are caused by preventable and treatable conditions.

🛑 Leading Causes of Death Among Children Under Five

The primary causes include:

• Birth complications
• Pneumonia
• Diarrhoea
• Malaria

These conditions disproportionately affect children in low- and middle-income countries, where access to timely and quality healthcare remains limited.

📉 Funding Cuts Threaten Progress

WHO warns that recent large-scale reductions in health funding are placing millions of children at greater risk. Cuts to essential health services—including maternal care, immunization programs, and disease prevention—are undermining decades of progress in child survival.

🌍 Call to Action

Health experts emphasize that most child deaths are preventable with affordable interventions such as vaccines, clean water, nutrition support, and skilled birth care. WHO urges governments, donors, and international partners to prioritize investment in child health and strengthen primary healthcare systems.

The organization continues to advocate for universal health coverage and equitable access to life-saving services to ensure that every child has the chance to reach their fifth birthday.