Global Child-Survival Gains Are Slowing, Putting 2030 Targets at Risk

A new BMJ series has warned that the world's progress in reducing preventable deaths among newborns, children and adolescents has slowed sharply since 2015, raising concern that many countries may miss the 2030 child-survival targets. The research shows that while the global under-five mortality rate declined by about 3.9% per year between 2000 and 2015, the pace slowed to only 1.5% per year between 2015 and 2024, with the heaviest burden still falling on sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. Preterm birth complications and pneumonia remain major causes of death among children under five, even though many of these deaths can be prevented through stronger maternal care, newborn services, vaccination, nutrition, clean water, infection treatment and accessible primary healthcare. The BMJ Group summary warns that if current trends continue, 27.3 million under-five deaths could occur by 2030, with 60 countries expected to miss child-survival goals. For South Africa and the wider region, the findings are a reminder that child survival depends not only on hospitals, but on the full health system around a child: antenatal care, safe delivery, immunisation, nutrition, community health workers, clean environments and early treatment when illness begins.