Belfast: Northern Ireland now has the highest infant mortality rate in the UK, with paediatricians warning that worsening child health indicators could have consequences lasting well into adulthood.
The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) said infant mortality increased from 4.2 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2018 to 4.5 in 2024. The rate is highest in the region’s most deprived communities.
Infant deaths rise as health inequalities deepen
The RCPCH said the figures were part of a wider deterioration in children’s health. By the age of five, only 86% of children had received both doses of the MMR vaccine, while Northern Ireland has the lowest uptake of the 6-in-1 childhood vaccine in the UK.
More than a third of children aged 11 to 12 were classified as overweight or obese in 2023/24. Meanwhile, an estimated 45.2% of 16-year-olds have a probable mental illness, while wellbeing among 11-year-olds is at its lowest recorded level since 2010.
The disparities are particularly concerning in deprived communities. Official Northern Ireland health data has also highlighted significant inequalities in health outcomes between the most and least deprived areas.
Paediatricians call for urgent action
RCPCH Ireland officer Dr Thomas Bourke described the findings as a “wake-up call” and said too many children were being let down.
The college linked the challenges to years of political instability, underinvestment and growing pressure on paediatric services. It warned that failure to improve child health could contribute to lifelong health problems, poorer educational outcomes and entrenched inequalities.
Ahead of the next Northern Ireland election, the RCPCH has called on political parties to make child health a priority, with greater investment, a sustainable workforce and stronger action on the underlying causes of inequality.