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Northern Ireland has the highest infant mortality rate in the UK and could be raising one of the unhealthiest generations of children seen in decades, paediatricians have warned.
The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) said the region is facing serious concerns across several areas of child health. Its analysis found that MMR vaccination uptake has steadily declined, while almost half of 16-year-olds are estimated to have a probable mental illness.
The RCPCH said the findings should serve as a “wake-up call” for Northern Ireland, with experts warning that too many children are being failed by the current system.
Official data shows that infant mortality in Northern Ireland rose from 4.2 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2018 to 4.5 per 1,000 in 2024. The rate is particularly high in the most deprived areas, highlighting continuing health inequalities across the region.
The analysis also found that MMR vaccination uptake has fallen steadily since 2020. By the age of five, only 86% of children had received both recommended doses of the MMR vaccine, according to the RCPCH.
Northern Ireland also has the lowest uptake in the UK for the 6-in-1 childhood vaccine, which protects children against six serious diseases.
Obesity is another growing concern. More than a third of children aged 11 to 12 were classified as overweight or obese during 2023/24, with the figure reaching 34.7%.
The RCPCH said mental health indicators are also worsening across Northern Ireland. An estimated 45.2% of 16-year-olds are believed to have a probable mental illness, while the wellbeing of 11-year-olds has fallen to its lowest recorded level since 2010.
Paediatricians said years without a functioning Northern Ireland Executive, combined with rising demand for health and other public services, have placed the system under “immense pressure”. They urged all political parties to make improving child health a priority.
The RCPCH warned that urgent action is needed to prevent the current situation from having long-term consequences for children.
“Without urgent action, paediatricians are clear that we are potentially raising one of the unhealthiest generations of children in decades,” the organisation said.
It warned that failing to improve child health could lead to lifelong health problems, poorer educational outcomes and deeper inequalities.
Children paying the price for political instability
Dr Thomas Bourke, the RCPCH officer for Ireland, said the findings should be treated as a serious warning for everyone in Northern Ireland.
He said the data shows problems across a wide range of indicators, including infant mortality, obesity, mental health and vaccination rates, and warned that too many children are being let down.
“Children are paying the price for years of political instability, underinvestment and a failure to prioritise their health and wellbeing,” Bourke said.
He added that paediatricians are seeing the effects of the decline every day in clinics, hospitals and communities across the region.
The analysis of Northern Ireland follows the recent publication of the UK State of Child Health 2026 report. The report examined progress across 12 key child health indicators, including infant mortality, mental health, obesity, immunisation and asthma.
