A groundbreaking UN report has put India in the spotlight for its extraordinary progress in child survival rates. The 2025 UN IGME estimates reveal that the country has reduced under-five mortality by a staggering 79% since 1990, earning high praise from global health experts.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi shared his reaction on X, noting the international acclaim for India’s strides. This achievement reflects decades of strategic public health investments that prioritize the most at-risk populations: newborns and children under five.
From 127 deaths per 1,000 live births in 1990 to 27 in 2024, India’s under-five mortality rate tells a tale of transformation. Neonatal rates followed suit, dropping 70% from 57 to 17. These figures underscore the effectiveness of a standards-based public health framework led by federal and state partnerships.
In South Asia, India’s influence is undeniable. The region’s under-five deaths fell 76% since 1990 and 68% since 2000, propelled by India’s enhancements in vaccination coverage, institutional births, and interventions for preventable diseases like pneumonia and diarrhea.
The report emphasizes that most child deaths are avoidable. India’s expansions in universal vaccination, facility-based newborn care, and integrated disease management have yielded remarkable declines. South Asia saw newborn mortality drop 60% and infant deaths over 75% since 2000, with NICUs playing a pivotal role.
Though challenges persist—with South Asia bearing 25% of worldwide under-five deaths—the pace of improvement is the fastest globally. India’s model offers valuable lessons in scalable health reforms, proving that policy vision, when executed with precision, saves lives.