The 2025 report of the Lancet Countdown to 2030 for women's, children's, and adolescents' health: tracking progress on health and nutrition

Abstract

Abstract: This 2025 Lancet Countdown to 2030 report evaluates global progress in women’s, children’s, and adolescents’ health and nutrition during the first half of the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) era, with emphasis on low- and middle-income countries. The review analyzes trends in mortality, nutrition, healthcare coverage, health systems, financing, and social determinants affecting reproductive, maternal, newborn, child, and adolescent health (RMNCAH). Although important improvements have continued since 2015, the report identifies a marked slowdown in progress compared with the Millennium Development Goal period, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. The authors highlight growing challenges related to armed conflict, economic instability, debt crises, food insecurity, climate change, gender inequality, and the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, all of which disproportionately affect vulnerable populations. Persistent inequalities in healthcare access, workforce capacity, financing, and quality of care continue to hinder achievement of the 2030 SDG targets. The report concludes that stronger health systems, increased investment, improved accountability, and renewed global prioritization of RMNCAH and nutrition are urgently needed to accelerate progress and protect gains achieved over recent decades.