After decades of progress in preventing child deaths, 2025 marks the first year of this century where the number of children dying under the age of 5 will increase, according to the Gates Foundation’s annual Goalkeepers Report.
In 2024, 4.6 million children died before their fifth birthday. The report indicates that figure is projected to rise by just over 200,000 — to an estimated 4.8 million children this year.
The deaths are taking place concurrently with steep cuts to global health funding. Overall development assistance fell sharply this year, totaling 26.9% below 2024 levels, the foundation said.
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About the author
Anna Gawel
Anna Gawel is the Managing Editor of Devex. She previously worked as the managing editor of The Washington Diplomat, the flagship publication of D.C.’s diplomatic community. She’s had hundreds of articles published on world affairs, U.S. foreign policy, politics, security, trade, travel and the arts on topics ranging from the impact of State Department budget cuts to Caribbean efforts to fight climate change. She was also a broadcast producer and digital editor at WTOP News and host of the Global 360 podcast. She holds a journalism degree from the University of Maryland in College Park.
