General information only. This Parent Resource summarizes WHO population-level child-survival estimates.
How large is the newborn share of under-five mortality?
WHO estimates that 2.3 million neonatal deaths occurred in 2024 and that deaths in the first 28 days represented 47% of all under-five deaths.
Has under-five mortality fallen over time?
Yes. WHO reports that the global under-five mortality rate in 2024 was less than half its level in 2000, while also noting that progress has slowed markedly since 2015.
Where is the burden concentrated?
WHO reports that sub-Saharan Africa and Southern Asia together accounted for more than 80% of under-five deaths in 2024.
Why does WHO emphasize newborn care?
WHO notes that nearly half of under-five deaths now occur in the neonatal period and links prevention of newborn deaths to quality antenatal, intrapartum and postnatal care.
Population statistics are not an individual prognosis. They describe global patterns rather than the health status of a particular newborn.
References
- World Health Organization. Child mortality (under 5 years), 1 May 2026.