UNIGME Report 2025: India’s Progress in Reducing Neonatal & Child Mortality

As per The UNIGME Report 2025, India has made good progress in reducing neonatal mortality.

• In 2024, sub-Saharan Africa accounted for 58% of all under-five deaths.
• India is among the countries demonstrating steady progress in reducing child mortality through sustained public health efforts. 

About Neonatal Mortality Rate (NMR)

• Neonatal Mortality Rate refers to the number of deaths of infants within the first 28 days of life per 1,000 live births.
• As per estimates of the Union Health Ministry in its release stated  that the Neonatal Mortality Rate (NMR) recorded a decline from 1990. 
  • In 1990, India had an NMR of 57 per 1,000 lives, which fell to 17 in 2024. 
  • Neonatal Mortality Rate (NMR) recorded a decline from 1990. In 1990, India had an NMR of 57 per 1,000 lives, which fell to 17 in 2024. 
  • The Under 5 Mortality Rate (U5MR) witnessed a sharp fall  in 1990, the U5MR stood at 127 per 1,000 live births, while in 2024 it declined to 27.
• Major Causes:
  • Preterm birth complications
  • Birth asphyxia (lack of oxygen)
  • Infections such as sepsis
  • Congenital anomalies
• Global Target: Under SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), aims to reduce NMR to 12 or fewer deaths per 1,000 live births by 2030

Key Findings

• Global Under-Five and Neonatal Mortality (2024): An estimated 4.9 million children died before their fifth birthday in 2024, including 2.3 million newborns.
  • Most of these deaths were preventable with proven, low-cost interventions and access to quality healthcare.
• Trends in Global Under-Five Mortality: Under-five deaths globally have fallen by more than half since 2000. 
  • However, since 2015, the pace of reduction in child mortality has slowed by more than 60%.
• Mortality Among Children, Adolescents, and Youth (5–24 Years): An estimated 2.1 million children, adolescents and youth aged 5-24 years died in 2024. 
  • Causes: Infectious diseases and injuries remain leading causes among younger children, while risks shift in adolescence  self-harm is the leading cause of death among girls aged 15-19 years, and road traffic injuries is the leading cause of death among boys.
• Deaths Caused by Malnutrition:  It found more than 1,00,000 children aged 1-59 months — or 5% — died from it in 2024. 
• New Born Deaths: Newborn deaths account for nearly half of all under-five deaths, reflecting slower progress in preventing deaths around the time of birth.
  • Cause: 
    • complications from preterm birth (36%), and during labour and delivery (21%). 
    • Infections, including neonatal sepsis and congenital anomalies
• Major Diseases: Beyond the first month, infectious diseases, including malaria, diarrhoea, and pneumonia were major killers. 
  • Malaria remained the single largest killer in this age group (17%), with most deaths occurring in endemic areas of sub-Saharan Africa. 
• Global funding challenges: Changes in the global development financing system are putting maternal, newborn, and child health programmes under pressure.
• High value of investment: Spending on child health is one of the most cost-effective development investments.

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