- In 2019 an estimated 5.2 million children under 5 years died mostly from preventable and treatable causes.
- Children aged 1 to 11 months accounted for 1.5 million of these deaths while children aged 1 to 4 years accounted for 1.3 million deaths. Newborns (under 28 days) accounted for the remaining 2.4 million deaths.
- An additional 500,000 children aged 5 to 9 years died in 2019.
- Leading causes of death in children under age 5 are: preterm birth complications, birth asphyxia/trauma, pneumonia, congenital anomalies, diarrhoea and malaria, all of which can be prevented or treated with access to simple, affordable interventions including immunization, adequate nutrition, safe water and food and quality care by a trained health provider when needed.
Source: https://www.who.int/en/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/children-reducing-mortality (Sept 2020)
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