India has been recognized for its outstanding efforts in reducing childhood mortality and stillbirths. According to the UN IGME 2024 report, India achieved:
- 70% reduction in under-five mortality rate between 2000 and 2023
- 61% reduction in neonatal mortality rate during the same period
- 60.4% reduction in stillbirths compared to the global average of 37%
Global Achievements in Child Mortality
The global under-five mortality rate has seen a 52% decline since 2000, thanks to continuous investments and collaborations by governments and organizations like UNICEF. However, despite these advances, progress is slowing, with 4.8 million children dying before the age of five in 2023, including 2.3 million newborns.
India Ranked 7th in Stillbirth Reduction
India is ranked seventh among the top 10 countries with the highest reduction in stillbirths, achieving a remarkable 60-70% decline. This progress reflects India’s sustained focus on improving maternal and child healthcare.
Challenges Still Remain
Despite notable progress, millions of children continue to die due to preventable causes such as lack of access to healthcare, nutrition, and protection, especially in fragile and underserved regions.
About UN IGME
The United Nations Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME) is a collaborative effort by UNICEF, WHO, the World Bank, and the United Nations Population Division. It publishes the “Levels and Trends in Child Mortality” report annually, with data covering 195 countries. The 2024 report was released on March 25, 2025
