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Number of deaths of children under age 5 (2026)

237/237 countries
World Total4.6millionYear-over-year-3.64%5-year change-15.65%
1950
2026
2100

Rankings at a glance

Top 10 · Number of deaths of children under age 5 (2026)

Nigeria is projected to lead the world in number of deaths of children under age 5 at 767.9 thousand in 2026, followed by India (600.1 thousand) and Pakistan (385.8 thousand). DR Congo (320.5 thousand) and Ethiopia (169.4 thousand) close out the top 5. Next up, Niger (124.0 thousand) and Tanzania (88.1 thousand). Mali (87.7 thousand), Angola (87.5 thousand), and Sudan (85.4 thousand) round out the top ten. The gap across the top ten is wide: Nigeria would have 9.0× the value of Sudan (85.4 thousand). Eight of the top ten are in Africa, with three from Western Africa. Among these countries, India is projected to see the largest year-over-year change at -4.0%.

Rank changes

How number of deaths of children under age 5 changed between 2025 and 2026

2025and2026

Historical trends

All countries

Frequently asked questions

Which country has the most under-five deaths?
Nigeria is projected to have the most under-five deaths at 767.9 thousand deaths in 2026, according to UN Population Division (2024).
Which country has the fewest under-five deaths?
Tokelau is projected to have the fewest under-five deaths at 0 deaths in 2026, according to UN Population Division (2024).
How many under-five deaths are projected worldwide?
The combined under-five deaths across 237 countries are projected to total 4.6 million deaths in 2026, according to UN Population Division (2024).

Source: UN Population Division (2024) · Updated