Globally and regionally, under-5 mortality is decreasing. However, globally we have yet to reach the Millenium Development Goals (MDG) in child mortality. Sub-Saharan Africa has had the most rapid rate of reduction, although it stil remains the region with the highest under-5 mortality rate in the world.
The MDG target for under-5 mortality is as follows: "reduce child mortality (globally) by two-thirds, from 87 children of every 1,000 dying before age 5 in 1990 to 29 of every 1,000 in 2015" (UNICEF). This target number (29) is shown on the chart below. According to the most recent UNICEF report, the global under-5 mortality rate stands at 43, above the goal for 2015.
Roll over a line to view the country it represents. Lines in red represent Sub-Saharan African countries.
Source: UNICEF, 2015