Global Under-Five Mortality Rate Falls in 2021, Reaching a Three-Decade Low

According to data from the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), the global under-five mortality rate in 2021 decreased by 59% compared to 1990, reaching the lowest level in the last three decades.

“The global under-five mortality rate decreased from 93 deaths per 1,000 live births in 1990 to 38 in 2021,” UNICEF stated on its website.

Despite this significant progress, UNICEF emphasizes that improving child survival remains a pressing issue. UNICEF reports that in 2021, approximately 13,800 under-five deaths occurred daily worldwide.

Globally, UNICEF indicates that infectious diseases, including pneumonia, diarrhea, and malaria, remain the leading causes of under-five mortality. "This is coupled with preterm birth and intrapartum-related complications," UNICEF added.

Regionally, Africa dominated global under-five mortality rates in 2021. Western and Central Africa had the highest under-five mortality rate during this period, reaching 91 deaths per 1,000 births.

Sub-Saharan Africa recorded 73 under-five deaths per 1,000 live births, followed by Eastern and Southern Africa with 52 under-five deaths per 1,000 live births.

The following details the global under-five mortality rate in 2021 by region:

* Western and Central Africa: 91.5 deaths per 1,000 live births
* Sub-Saharan Africa: 73.01 deaths per 1,000 live births
* Eastern and Southern Africa: 52.82 deaths per 1,000 live births
* Southern Asia: 37.06 deaths per 1,000 live births
* Middle East and North Africa: 21.89 deaths per 1,000 live births
* Latin America and the Caribbean: 15.92 deaths per 1,000 live births
* East Asia and the Pacific: 14.69 deaths per 1,000 live births
* Eastern Europe and Central Asia: 10.82 deaths per 1,000 live births
* Europe and Central Asia: 7.6 deaths per 1,000 live births
* Northern America: 6.13 deaths per 1,000 live births
* Western Europe: 3.68 deaths per 1,000 live births
* World: 38.09 deaths per 1,000 live births