By Uche Onyeali
Nigeria has been ranked highest in under-five mortality rate in the world in 2024 in a new United Nations report.
The report, titled ‘Levels & Trends in Child Mortality,’ found that Nigeria had 115 deaths per 1,000 live births, the highest globally.
This is followed closely by Niger Republic with 110 deaths per 1,000 births and Somalia with 101 deaths per 1,000 births.
According to the report, all three countries which are in Sub-Saharan Africa, continue to bear the heaviest burden of child deaths.
The study said overall, an estimated 4.9 million children died before their fifth birthday in 2024 worldwide, including 2.3 million newborns.
The report added that while global under-five deaths have dropped by more than half since 2000, progress has slowed significantly in recent years.
“Since 2015, the pace of reduction in child mortality has slowed by more than 60 percent.
“Newborn deaths account for nearly half of all under-five deaths, reflecting slower progress in preventing deaths around the time of birth. Leading causes among newborns were complications from preterm birth (36 percent) and complications during labour and delivery (21 percent). Infections, including neonatal sepsis and congenital anomalies, were also important causes.
“Beyond the first month, infectious diseases such as malaria, diarrhoea and pneumonia were major killers. Malaria remained the single largest killer in this age group (17 percent) – with most deaths occurring in endemic areas of Sub-Saharan Africa. After steep declines between 2000 and 2015, progress towards reducing malaria mortality slowed in recent years,” the report stated.
It also highlighted the growing impact of malnutrition, estimating that for the first time, more than 100,000 children aged one–59 months died directly from Severe Acute Malnutrition, SAM, in 2024.
The document warned that the true toll is likely higher, as malnutrition often goes unrecorded as an underlying cause of death.
Execuive Director of UNICEF, Catherine Russell noted that despite the grim statistics, proven, low-cost interventions including vaccines, improved nutrition and skilled care at birth, could significantly reduce child mortality.
“No child should die from diseases that we know how to prevent. But we see worrying signs that progress in child survival is slowing – and at a time where we are seeing further global budget cuts,” she said.
Similarly, the Director-General, World Health Organisation, WHO, Tedros Ghebreyesus said “the world has made remarkable progress in saving children’s lives, but many still die from preventable causes.”
He added that children in fragile and conflict-affected settings are “nearly three times more likely to die before their fifth birthday,” underscoring the need to protect essential health and nutrition services.
