What are the leading causes of child deaths? In 2015–17, the leading causes of child deaths were injuries (33%), cancer (19%) and diseases of the nervous system (10%)—rates of 3.5, 2.1 and 1.0 per 100,000 children, respectively.
Globally, infectious diseases, including pneumonia, diarrhoea and malaria, remain a leading cause of under-five deaths, along with preterm birth and intrapartum-related complications.
Globally, infectious diseases, including acute respiratory infections, diarrhoea and malaria, along with pre-term birth complications, birth asphyxia and trauma and congenital anomalies remain the leading causes of death for children under 5.
Accidents (unintentional injuries) are, by far, the leading cause of death among children and teens. 0 to 1 year: Developmental and genetic conditions that were present at birth.
Causes of Infant Mortality
Preterm birth and low birth weight. Sudden infant death syndrome. Injuries (e.g., suffocation). Maternal pregnancy complications.
Some of the leading causes of infant death in the United States include the following: birth defects; prematurity/low birthweight; sudden infant death syndrome; maternal complications of pregnancy and respiratory distress syndrome.
More physical ability and more independence can put children at risk for injuries from falls and other accidents. Motor vehicle crashes are the most common cause of death from unintentional injury among children this age.
Accidents and falls are the most common cause of severe bodily injury and death in middle and late childhood.
Heart disease
Heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women. This is the case in the U.S. and worldwide. More than half of all people who die due to heart disease are men.
The leading causes of death in children under 5 years are preterm birth complications, birth asphyxia/trauma, pneumonia, diarrhoea and malaria, all of which can be prevented or treated with access to affordable interventions in health and sanitation.
Drowning is the leading cause of unintentional injury-related death among children ages 1 to 4. The majority of drownings and near-drownings occur in residential swimming pools and in open water sites.
Females have lower mortality rates than males in these age groups. Injuries (including road traffic injuries and drowning), violence, self-harm, infectious diseases such as respiratory infections and maternal conditions (complications for pregnancy) are leading causes of death among adolescents and young adults.
Children (one to nine years)
The leading causes of death in the 1-4 age group are cancer, accidents (including injuries and poisonings), and congenital conditions. In the 5-9 age group the top three causes of death are cancer, respiratory causes, and accident (including injuries and poisonings).
Heart disease and cancer are the top causes of death.
The most common specific causes of natural deaths in the United States have shifted from the scourges of the early 1900s – tuberculosis, influenza, diarrhea – to modern killers such as heart disease and cancer.
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Unintentional injuries (accidents) are the leading cause of death after age 1 year through adolescence. The leading cause of death for those younger than 1 year is congenital anomalies, and childhood cancers and heart disease cause a significantly lower percentage of deaths in children older than 1 year of age.
Drowning is the third leading cause of unintentional injury death worldwide, accounting for 7% of all injury-related deaths. There are an estimated 236 000 annual drowning deaths worldwide.
SIDS is the leading cause of death among infants 1 month to 1 year old, and remains unpredictable despite years of research.
The first 28 days of life – the neonatal period – is the most vulnerable time for a child's survival. Children face the highest risk of dying in their first month of life at an average global rate of 18 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2021, down by 51 per cent from 37 deaths per 1,000 live births in 1990.
Each year in the United States, more than 140,000 people (approximately 97,000 men and 43,000 women) die from alcohol-related causes, making it the fourth-leading preventable cause of death in our country. The first is tobacco, the second is poor diet and physical inactivity, and the third is illegal drugs.