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🌍 Child Mortality as a Key Indicator in UNDP Global MPI Analysis
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) does not publish a single, standalone "UNDP Child Mortality Indicator." Instead, it utilizes and highlights child mortality data—primarily the Under-Five Mortality Rate (U5MR)—as a critical component within its broader human development metrics, most notably the Global Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) and in its analyses related to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), specifically SDG Target 3.2.
Child mortality rates are considered a fundamental indicator of a country's overall health system, socio-economic conditions, and quality of life. The data itself is typically compiled and reported by the United Nations Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME), which includes UNICEF, WHO, the World Bank, and the UN Population Division, and is subsequently used by UNDP in its reports.
Key Child Mortality Indicators Used
UNDP-related reports frequently focus on three main child mortality indicators, all expressed as a number of deaths per 1,000 live births:
Under-Five Mortality Rate (U5MR): The probability that a newborn will die before reaching exactly five years of age. This is the most common indicator for overall child survival and is central to SDG Target 3.2.
Infant Mortality Rate (IMR): The probability of dying between birth and exactly one year of age.
Neonatal Mortality Rate (NMR): The probability of dying during the first 28 days of life.
📊 Child Mortality in the Global Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI)
The most direct way the UNDP incorporates child mortality into its own development measure is through the Global MPI, a joint initiative with the Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI). The MPI measures acute deprivations across three dimensions: Health, Education, and Standard of Living.
The indicator for Child Mortality is one of the ten components of the MPI, falling under the Health dimension.
Indicator: Child Mortality
Deprivation Criterion: A household is considered deprived if any child under the age of 18 has died in the family in the five-year period preceding the survey.
Weight: $1/6$ (as Health dimension has a total weight of $1/3$, split between Nutrition and Child Mortality).
Global Child Mortality Trends and Data Example
The global trend in child mortality has been one of significant progress, although severe disparities persist between regions and income groups. The Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) Target 3.2 aims to end preventable deaths of newborns and children under 5, with all countries aiming to reduce U5MR to at least as low as 25 per 1,000 live births and NMR to at least as low as 12 per 1,000 live births by 2030.
The table below provides a representative example of Under-Five Mortality Rates (U5MR), a core metric used in UNDP's analysis of human development and progress toward the SDGs.
| Country Income Group/Region | Under-Five Mortality Rate (U5MR) (Deaths per 1,000 Live Births) - Example Year |
| Global Average | 37 |
| High-Income Countries | 5 |
| Low-Income Countries | 67 |
| Sub-Saharan Africa | 74 |
| Southern Asia | 35 |
| Latin America & Caribbean | 14 |
| SDG Target (2030) | $\le 25$ |
Note: The U5MR figures presented are illustrative, based on generalized data from UN-IGME and related reports, and highlight the typical disparities observed in development reporting.
🗝️ The Imperative of Child Survival for Human Development
The consistent tracking and analysis of child mortality indicators, particularly the Under-Five Mortality Rate (U5MR), remain indispensable for global development efforts. For the UNDP, this indicator serves not just as a health statistic but as a fundamental measure of human potential and social equity. Progress in reducing child deaths is inextricably linked to advancements in poverty eradication, education, and overall human development. While significant global strides have been made, the wide disparities between regions—especially the high rates in Sub-Saharan Africa and Southern Asia—underscore an urgent need for targeted investment in maternal and child health, resilient health systems, and interventions addressing the root causes of poverty and deprivation. Ultimately, achieving the ambitious SDG 3.2 targets for child survival by 2030 is crucial for realizing the UNDP's vision of a prosperous, equitable, and sustainable world for all.
.jpg "UNDP Under-Five Mortality Rate (U5MR)-Measuring Child Survival")
👶 Measuring Child Survival: The UNDP Under-Five Mortality Rate (U5MR)
The Under-Five Mortality Rate (U5MR) is a critical benchmark for global health and development, serving as a key indicator of a country's overall health system, socio-economic conditions, and child well-being. Though the data is primarily compiled by the United Nations Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME)—which includes the UNDP, UNICEF, the World Bank, and WHO—the UNDP (United Nations Development Programme) prominently features it in its analysis of human development, particularly within its Human Development Reports and efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
What is U5MR?
The U5MR is defined as the probability (expressed as a rate per 1,000 live births) that a child born in a specific year or period will die before reaching the age of five.
Significance:
Reflects National Progress: It reflects the quality and accessibility of healthcare, nutritional status, and immunization coverage, as well as the social and environmental factors like maternal education, income, and access to clean water and sanitation.
SDG Target: Reducing the U5MR is a core target under SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being (Target 3.2), which calls for all countries to aim to reduce under-five mortality to at least as low as 25 deaths per 1,000 live births by 2030.
Indicator of Inequality: Persistent high U5MR in certain regions and among specific demographic groups highlights glaring global and national inequities.
Global Trends and Challenges
The world has achieved remarkable progress in reducing child mortality over the past few decades. The global U5MR has fallen significantly since 1990, preventing millions of deaths. This progress is largely attributed to sustained investments in immunizations, better maternal and newborn care, malaria control, and improved access to clean water.
However, the progress is often uneven:
Geographic Disparity: The majority of under-five deaths are concentrated in Sub-Saharan Africa and Southern Asia. A child born in Sub-Saharan Africa, for example, faces a significantly higher risk of dying before age five compared to a child born in a high-income country.
Preventable Causes: Most under-five deaths are still due to preventable or treatable causes, such as pneumonia, diarrhea, malaria, and complications from pre-term birth and birth asphyxia, underscoring the need for stronger primary health care systems.
Slowing Progress: The pace of reduction in U5MR has slowed in recent years compared to the period of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), jeopardizing the attainment of the 2030 SDG target for many countries.
U5MR by World Bank Income Group (Illustrative Data)
The disparities in child survival chances are starkly visible when comparing countries by their income levels. The table below illustrates the general pattern, based on recent UN IGME reports which the UNDP uses in its development analysis:
| Income Group | Under-Five Mortality Rate (Deaths per 1,000 Live Births) | Key Trend/Observation |
| Low-Income Countries | Significantly High (e.g., typically 60+) | Highest rates; most vulnerable to preventable diseases and lack of access to care. |
| Lower-Middle-Income Countries | Medium-High (e.g., typically 30-60) | Variability exists; progress often tied to specific national health and development programs. |
| Upper-Middle-Income Countries | Low-Medium (e.g., typically 10-30) | Substantial declines achieved; focus shifts to addressing internal inequalities. |
| High-Income Countries | Very Low (e.g., typically < 5) | Lowest rates globally; deaths are often due to congenital or highly complex causes. |
| Global Average | Moderate (e.g., typically around 37) | Driven largely by high-population countries with moderate to high mortality rates. |
Note: The specific figures are illustrative and can vary slightly based on the year of the report and data revision. For the most recent and precise data, consulting the latest UN IGME/UNDP Human Development Report is recommended.
The focus of the UNDP and its partners remains on accelerating progress, particularly in the most vulnerable regions, through investing in strong primary health care, promoting maternal and child health, and addressing the underlying socio-economic drivers of child mortality.
.jpg "The UNDP and Infant Mortality Rate (IMR)")
👶 The UNDP and Infant Mortality Rate (IMR)
The Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) is a crucial health and development indicator monitored by international organizations like the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) as part of their broader analysis of human development and progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Infant mortality refers to the number of deaths of children under one year of age per 1,000 live births in a given year. The IMR is widely used to assess the overall health, socio-economic conditions, and quality of maternal and child healthcare systems within a country.
Significance and Context
Indicator of Development: A high IMR is often a sign of poor sanitation, inadequate nutrition, limited access to clean water, insufficient maternal education, and a lack of quality healthcare, especially prenatal and neonatal care.
SDG Target: IMR is closely linked to SDG Target 3.2, which aims to end preventable deaths of newborns and children under 5 years of age by 2030. The related targets encourage all countries to reduce neonatal mortality to at least as low as 12 deaths per 1,000 live births and under-5 mortality to at least as low as 25 deaths per 1,000 live births.
Data Estimation: The UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME)—which includes UNICEF, WHO, the World Bank, and the UN Population Division (among others, often cited by UNDP reports)—compiles the official global and regional estimates.
Global and Regional IMR Overview (Selected Data)
While specific IMR data points vary annually and are compiled by the UN IGME, the general global trends show significant disparities across income groups and regions. The table below illustrates the most recent broad patterns, highlighting the extreme variance in child survival chances based on geographic and economic factors.
| Region/Income Group | Typical IMR (Deaths per 1,000 Live Births) | Key Observation |
| Global Average | Mid to Upper 20s | Significant progress made since 1990, but disparities remain. |
| High-Income Countries | Low Single Digits (e.g., 2–4) | Lowest rates, reflecting robust healthcare and social systems. |
| Sub-Saharan Africa | High 40s to Mid 50s | Highest rates globally; children in this region are most vulnerable. |
| South Asia | Mid to Upper 30s | Accounts for a significant share of global infant deaths, often due to infections and birth complications. |
| East Asia and Pacific | Low to Mid Teens | Shows considerable improvement, though variations exist within the region. |
| Latin America and the Caribbean | Low to Mid Teens | Generally lower than Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. |
| Low-Income Countries | Low to Mid 40s | Mortality risk is heavily correlated with national income level. |
| Least Developed Countries (LDCs) | Mid to High 40s | Face the greatest challenges in achieving the SDG targets. |
Note: These ranges are illustrative based on recent UN-published trends and not a definitive, single-year dataset. The actual data points shift annually as countries make progress.
Primary Causes of Infant Mortality
The majority of infant deaths are preventable. The main causes, especially in developing countries, include:
Neonatal Conditions: Preterm birth complications and birth asphyxia (lack of oxygen). These account for the largest share of deaths, especially in the first 28 days of life (neonatal period).
Infectious Diseases: Pneumonia, diarrhea, sepsis, and malaria.
Congenital Anomalies: Birth defects.
Lack of Skilled Care: Insufficient access to skilled birth attendants, emergency obstetric care, and postnatal care.
The UNDP and its partner organizations focus development efforts on strengthening primary healthcare, improving maternal nutrition and education, expanding immunization programs, and ensuring universal access to clean water and sanitation to drive down these mortality rates.
.jpg "UNDP MPI: Neonatal Mortality Rate (NMR)")
👶 The UNDP MPI: Neonatal Mortality Rate (NMR)
The Neonatal Mortality Rate (NMR) is one of the most sensitive indicators of a country's healthcare system and overall human development, closely tracked by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and its partner agencies.
It measures the probability of a child dying during the first 28 completed days of life (the neonatal period), expressed as the number of deaths per 1,000 live births. This period is the most vulnerable time for a child, and deaths at this stage are overwhelmingly linked to the quality of maternal health and immediate newborn care.
The Critical Significance of NMR
Vulnerability of Newborns: Nearly half of all under-five deaths occur during the neonatal period, making it the greatest challenge in achieving child survival goals.
Reflects Quality of Care: The NMR is a direct measure of the effectiveness of the most critical health interventions, including:
Access to skilled birth attendants (doctors, nurses, or midwives).
Quality of antenatal care for mothers.
Availability of emergency obstetric and neonatal care (e.g., managing preterm birth, infections, and birth asphyxia).
SDG Target 3.2: The global community, supported by the UNDP, has committed under Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) Target 3.2 to end preventable deaths of newborns by 2030, with all countries aiming to reduce the NMR to at least as low as 12 deaths per 1,000 live births.
Global and Regional Neonatal Mortality Rates
While the global NMR has seen a significant decline, progress has been slower than the reduction in mortality for older children (post-neonatal and child mortality). Marked disparities persist, with the burden concentrated in just two regions.
The table below shows the estimated regional NMR based on recent data compiled by the UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME):
| Region/Income Group | Estimated NMR (Deaths per 1,000 Live Births) | Share of Global Neonatal Deaths |
| Global Average | $\approx 17$ | $100\%$ |
| Sub-Saharan Africa | $\approx 27$ | $\approx 43\%$ |
| South Asia | $\approx 22$ | $\approx 40\%$ |
| Low-Income Countries | $\approx 26$ | High concentration of deaths |
| East Asia and Pacific | $\approx 8$ | Low concentration |
| Latin America and the Caribbean | $\approx 8$ | Low concentration |
| High-Income Countries | $\approx 3$ | Lowest global risk |
Data Source: Based on recent UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME) reports.
Key Insight: A newborn in Sub-Saharan Africa or South Asia is significantly more likely to die in the first month of life compared to a newborn in a high-income country. These two regions alone account for over 80% of global neonatal deaths.
Major Causes and UNDP's Focus
The leading causes of neonatal deaths are conditions that are largely preventable or treatable with basic, high-quality care:
Preterm Birth: Babies born too early are highly vulnerable.
Intrapartum-related Complications: Also known as birth asphyxia, where the baby does not get enough oxygen during labor and delivery.
Neonatal Infections: Sepsis, meningitis, and pneumonia.
To accelerate progress towards the SDG target of 12 per 1,000, the UNDP supports integrated programs focused on:
Maternal Health: Improving antenatal care, nutrition, and early identification of complications during pregnancy.
Skilled Delivery: Ensuring all births are attended by skilled health personnel, particularly in rural and disadvantaged areas.
Postnatal Care: Promoting immediate and essential care for the newborn, including warmth, breastfeeding initiation, and early detection of danger signs.
Moving Towards 2030: The Call for Accelerated Action
The steady global decline in the Neonatal Mortality Rate (NMR) since 1990 is a testament to decades of investment in maternal and child health. However, the slowing pace of this reduction, particularly when compared to the mortality decline in older children, presents a major obstacle to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The high concentration of neonatal deaths in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia underscores the critical need for equitable resource distribution and targeted health interventions. To meet the ambitious SDG target of an NMR of 12 per 1,000 live births by 2030, the UNDP and its partners emphasize the urgent acceleration of efforts focused on universal health coverage, strengthening primary healthcare systems, ensuring access to skilled birth attendants, and investing in high-impact, low-cost technologies that protect the most vulnerable—the newborns—during their most fragile 28 days of life. The fate of millions of children depends on the world's collective commitment to closing the survival gap.
.jpg "Best Performing Countries in Child Mortality: Insights from UN Data")
👶 Best Performing Countries in Child Mortality: Insights from UN Data
The reduction of child mortality is a critical component of human development, centrally monitored under the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 3.2: End preventable deaths of newborns and children under 5 years of age). Data on this indicator are often compiled and reported by the United Nations Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME), which includes UNICEF, WHO, the World Bank, and the United Nations Population Division. This data is the primary source used by organizations like the UNDP for their Human Development Reports.
The most successful countries are typically those categorized as High-Income Countries or regions like Europe, Northern America, Australia, and New Zealand, which consistently report the lowest Under-five Mortality Rates (U5MR).
Low Under-five Mortality Rate (U5MR)
The Under-five Mortality Rate (U5MR) is defined as the probability of a child dying between birth and exactly 5 years of age, expressed per 1,000 live births. The lowest rates are usually observed in nations with advanced healthcare systems, high levels of sanitation, and excellent maternal care.
While specific, up-to-the-minute country rankings change annually and are subject to data collection variations, a number of nations consistently appear at the very bottom of the mortality list (meaning the best performance).
Based on the most recent UN IGME reports (which use data compiled by the UN agencies), the following countries have historically shown the lowest under-five mortality rates globally, often achieving rates of 2 to 3 deaths per 1,000 live births.
| Country/Region | Under-five Mortality Rate (U5MR) (per 1,000 live births) | Note |
| Iceland | $\approx 2$ | Often cited as having one of the world's lowest rates. |
| Norway | $\approx 2$ | Consistently a top performer in human development and health. |
| Japan | $\approx 2$ | Known for exceptional child and maternal health standards. |
| Finland | $\approx 2$ - $3$ | Nordic country with highly developed social welfare and healthcare. |
| Singapore | $\approx 2$ - $3$ | High-income country with excellent public health infrastructure. |
| Slovenia | $\approx 2$ - $3$ | European nation demonstrating strong child survival success. |
Note: The U5MR values are approximate and derived from recent UN IGME reports. Exact figures can vary slightly depending on the specific year and publication.
🔑 Key Factors for Low Child Mortality
The success of these countries is attributed to a combination of interconnected factors:
Universal Healthcare Access: Comprehensive and accessible health services ensure that all pregnant women and children receive essential care, vaccinations, and prompt treatment for illnesses.
High Standards of Living: Low levels of poverty, high rates of education (especially for mothers), and strong social safety nets contribute directly to better child health outcomes.
Infrastructure: Access to clean drinking water, sanitation facilities, and proper housing dramatically reduces the risk of infectious diseases, a major cause of child death globally.
Focus on Neonatal Health: A strong emphasis on care during the first 28 days of life, including skilled birth attendance and essential newborn care, is crucial, as neonatal deaths account for a significant portion of under-five mortality.
The global goal is to replicate these success stories, especially in low- and middle-income countries, to meet the SDG target of reducing under-five mortality to at least 25 per 1,000 live births by 2030.
.jpg "Institutional Collaboration for the UNDP Child Mortality Indicator (")
🌍 Institutional Collaboration for the UNDP Child Mortality Indicator
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) uses the Child Mortality indicator as a key component of its various human development metrics, most notably the Global Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) and for monitoring progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 3.2).
However, the UNDP does not directly collect and estimate the raw national child mortality data. Instead, it relies on the gold standard source for this statistic, which is the collaborative output of a specialized group within the UN system.
The UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME)
The definitive data for the Under-five Mortality Rate (U5MR) used by the UNDP and the entire international community is produced by the UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME). This group was established to harmonize data, improve estimation methods, and ensure consistent tracking of child survival goals worldwide.
The primary institutions involved in generating this vital data are the four core members of the UN IGME:
| Institution | Role in Child Mortality Estimation and Data Collection |
| United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) | Leads the UN IGME. Provides extensive primary data through its Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys (MICS), which are household surveys conducted in low- and middle-income countries. |
| World Health Organization (WHO) | Provides technical expertise on health metrics and public health; gathers data from National Vital Registration Systems and other health surveys. |
| World Bank Group | Contributes data, particularly from country-level surveys and economic statistics, and often hosts the final, published data on its Open Data platform. |
| UN Population Division (UNPD) | Provides demographic expertise and population estimates, which are crucial for generating and projecting child mortality rates. |
📏 Child Mortality in UNDP's Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI)
While the UNDP Human Development Index (HDI) is a summary measure, the Global Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) utilizes child mortality data directly as one of its ten indicators.
Dimension: Health
Indicator: Child Mortality
Deprivation Criterion: A household is considered deprived in this indicator if any child under the age of 18 years has died in the family in the five-year period preceding the survey.
By integrating this indicator, the UNDP ensures that its measure of poverty reflects not just income, but also the tragic, non-monetary reality of child loss faced by the world's most vulnerable populations. The UN IGME's consistent and methodologically sound data is essential for the accurate calculation and international comparability of the MPI.
.jpg "Data Sources for the UNDP Child Mortality Indicator")
📊 Data Sources for the UNDP Child Mortality Indicator
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) primarily uses the Under-Five Mortality Rate (U5MR) as its key Child Mortality Indicator, especially for calculating the Health dimension of the Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) and monitoring progress toward Sustainable Development Goal 3.2.
The data used by the UNDP are the harmonized, quality-assessed estimates produced by the UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME). This group, led by UNICEF, synthesizes data from multiple country-level sources to generate internationally comparable trend estimates.
Key Data Sources for Child Mortality Estimation
The UN IGME relies on three main types of nationally representative data sources, giving preference to the most complete and timely data available in each country.
| Data Source | Description | Method of Mortality Measurement | Preferred Use Case |
| 1. Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (CRVS) | Continuous, population-wide recording of all births and deaths by government agencies. | Direct Method: Uses the number of registered deaths and live births to calculate age-specific mortality rates (e.g., neonatal, infant, and under-five). | Gold Standard: Used in countries with complete and functioning registration systems (typically high-income countries). |
| 2. Household Surveys | Nationally representative surveys conducted in low- and middle-income countries where CRVS data are often incomplete. | Full Birth History (FBH): Women are asked retrospectively about every live birth, the child's survival status, and, if deceased, the age at death. This provides the most detailed data. | Primary Source: Used in most developing countries. Key examples include: Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys (MICS) (UNICEF-supported) and Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) (USAID-supported). |
| 3. Population Censuses | Periodic, complete counts of a country's population, typically conducted every 10 years. | Summary Birth History (SBH): Women are asked simple questions on the total number of children ever born and the number still surviving (children dead). Indirect methods are then used to estimate mortality. | Supplementary Source: Used to confirm or provide a data point for countries lacking recent surveys or complete CRVS. |
The Role of UN IGME in Data Harmonization
Because countries may have multiple data points from different sources (a survey in 2018, a census in 2020, and CRVS data every year), the raw numbers often conflict due to differences in methodology, recall period, and coverage.
The UN IGME's methodology (which involves fitting a statistical model, such as a Bayesian B-spline bias-reduction model) addresses this challenge by:
Quality Assessment: Rigorously evaluating the quality of each data source.
Harmonization: Adjusting data points where necessary (e.g., for known biases in reporting) to ensure they are comparable.
Trend Estimation: Using all quality-assessed data points to fit a single, statistically sound trend line for a country over time, minimizing errors and bridging gaps between survey years.
This ensures the final U5MR figure published and utilized by the UNDP is the most reliable, unbiased, and internationally consistent measure available.
🎯 Conclusion: Child Mortality as a Key Indicator in UNDP MPI Analysis
The inclusion of Child Mortality as a health indicator within the United Nations Development Programme's (UNDP) Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) serves as a critical and profound measure of human deprivation, making the MPI a significantly richer tool than simple income-based metrics.
Key Takeaways:
A Stark Measure of Deprivation: The indicator—the death of any child under 18 in the household within the preceding five years—is an irreparable loss that immediately flags the most severe form of poverty. It reflects a systemic failure to provide essential health care, nutrition, and safe living conditions.
Reflecting Interconnected Failures: Child mortality is not solely a health metric; it is an outcome of deprivations across multiple dimensions. It often correlates strongly with poor sanitation, lack of clean water, inadequate housing, and maternal undernutrition, thereby perfectly aligning with the MPI's core philosophy of measuring overlapping disadvantages.
Driving Policy and Accountability: By explicitly measuring this tragedy, the MPI compels policymakers to prioritize investments in primary health services and critical infrastructure like water and sanitation. Its data, provided by the rigorous UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME), is crucial for tracking progress toward SDG 3.2 (ending preventable deaths of newborns and children under 5).
The Ultimate Marker of Human Progress: Ultimately, the decline in child mortality is one of the most powerful and unambiguous signs of human development success. Its pivotal role in the UNDP MPI analysis ensures that global and national efforts remain focused on the most vulnerable population and the most fundamental human right: the right to survive.
In summary, the Child Mortality indicator anchors the MPI in human dignity, ensuring that the most extreme consequences of poverty—the loss of a child—are at the forefront of global development efforts.