Child mortality rates in Asia have dropped dramatically since 2000, with nine countries—including India, China, and Bangladesh—cutting rates by more than half. According to the UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation, millions more children are now surviving their early years. India’s child mortality fell from 9% to 3%, while China saw a decline from 4% to just 1%.
This progress is largely due to better nutrition, clean water, improved sanitation, vaccinations, and poverty reduction. However, the fact that child mortality still ranges between 1% and 6% means hundreds of thousands of young lives are lost each year—many to preventable causes. While the steep decline is a reason for optimism, there is still much to do. Access to basic necessities like clean water, food, and medical care remains critical in ensuring that even more children have a chance to thrive.
