Asia's Babies Are Thriving: What India and China Got Right

Here’s something that deserves to break through the noise: millions of babies across Asia are making it past their first birthday at record rates. And it’s not luck—it’s the result of deliberate policy, expanded healthcare access, and sustained commitment to maternal and child health.

India offers the most striking example of rapid progress. The country’s infant mortality rate dropped from 30 per 1,000 live births in 2019 to 24 in 2024. That’s a 20 percent improvement in five years for a nation of nearly 1.4 billion people. States like Bihar and Tamil Nadu have recorded nearly 50% declines, despite their vastly different economic profiles. The secret? The percentage of live births attended by medical professionals jumped from 83% to 95% over the same period. When mothers have access to trained care, babies survive. It’s that straightforward—and that transformative.

China, meanwhile, has already crossed into developed-nation territory. In 2025, the country’s infant mortality rate reached 3.8 per 1,000 live births, with under-5 mortality at 5.4 per 1,000. That beats the United States, France, and Portugal. Fu Wei, director of the country’s Department of Maternal and Child Health, confirmed the figures. What’s remarkable is how China achieved this despite having relatively sparse health insurance coverage in terms of what’s actually paid for. The country’s solution was elegant: free medical care for children aged 0-6, building a foundation of early health that pays dividends for the entire rest of the child’s life. It’s preventive health policy at its finest.

Indonesia rounds out the trio. The country recorded its lowest-ever infant mortality rate of 14 per 1,000 live births in 2024—a stunning 50% drop from 2010 according to the World Bank. An upper-middle income country making dramatic headway.

These numbers matter because they’re not abstract statistics. They represent millions of families who get to keep their children. They signal that healthcare investment at scale works—that you don’t need to be wealthy to be effective. And they suggest that when governments prioritize maternal and child health with real resources and real attention, the results speak for themselves.