How many children died in 1990?

A milestone in global child survival

When looking back at the state of global health over the last few decades, one of the most profound shifts has been the dramatic improvement in child survival rates. Back in 1990, the global scale presented a sobering reality: an estimated 12.8 million children under the age of five lost their lives worldwide. That figure translated to a staggering under-5 mortality rate of 93 deaths per 1,000 live births.

Fast forward to recent data from 2023, and the landscape has changed significantly. The total number of under-5 deaths dropped to 4.8 million, while the global mortality rate fell by 59% down to 37 deaths per 1,000 live births.

This remarkable progress didn't happen by accident. It represents decades of targeted global health investments, expanded access to routine vaccinations, improved maternal and newborn care, and better treatment for preventable childhood illnesses like diarrhea, pneumonia, and malaria. While millions of preventable tragedies still occur each year—particularly in resource-constrained regions—the ongoing decline proves that coordinated global action can save millions of young lives.