The 2025 data for England shows:
- The number of child (0-17 years) deaths decreased by 2% on the previous year but remained higher than 2019-20
- Deaths by ethnicity
- Child death rate remained highest for children of black or black British ethnicity (58.1 per 100,000 population)
- Mortality rates for all ethnic groups other than Asian or Asian British ethnicity have decreased since 2023
- The estimated infant death rate continued to be highest for infants of black or black British ethnicity (7.0 per 1,000 live births); more than double the rate of infants of white ethnicity (3.0 per 1,000 live births)
- Deaths by deprivation
- The child death rate for children resident in the most deprived neighbourhoods was 42.0 per 100,000 population, more than twice that of children resident in the least deprived neighbourhoods (17.4 per 100,000 population). Over the last six years, death rates for children of black and Asian ethnicities remained higher than for children of white British ethnicity across all five deprivation quintiles.
- The death rate of infants residing in the most deprived neighbourhoods (5.3 per 1,000 infant population), remained more than twice that of infants residing in the least deprived neighbourhoods (2.2 per 1,000 infant population)
Responding to the data, RCPCH President, Professor Steve Turner, said:
The death of a child or young person is a unique tragedy and a devastating loss for their families and carers. Paediatricians know that the NCMD report isn’t simply numbers on a page, but a reflection of precious lives that matter deeply.
This year’s report is a difficult read. While there has been a welcome decrease in child deaths overall, the data reveals stark racial and socio-economic inequities that cannot be ignored. It should also be noted that death rates remain higher than before the COVID-19 pandemic.
It is wholly unacceptable that infants of Black or Black British ethnicity die at more than twice the rate of their White peers. Similarly, infants from our most deprived areas in England are more than twice as likely to die compared to those living in the least deprived areas. The data is a chilling reminder of how we are failing our children, and particularly our most vulnerable children.
If the Government is serious about creating the healthiest generation of children, this commitment must include every demographic and background. We once again urge the Westminster Government to scrap the two-child limit on benefits, embed health in the upcoming child poverty strategy, and ensure a well-supported child health workforce to deliver high-quality services for families as part of the Ten-Year Plan.