WHO/Europe | Child and adolescent health

Child and adolescent health

Most children and adolescents in the WHO European Region enjoy a high standard of health and well-being. However, disparities in child health between and within countries persist. The Region includes countries with the lowest infant and child mortality rates in the world, but mortality in countries with the highest rate for children under 5 years is 25 times higher than that in countries with the lowest rate. Every year more than 160 000 children in the European Region die before the age of five, 50% of them in the first month of life.

The right to a safe, healthy and meaningful adolescence

Every adolescent deserves the opportunity to have a safe and healthy transition into adulthood. Adolescence is a time of experimentation, but some behaviour may jeopardize health. Supporting young people at this vulnerable time is a key issue in the new WHO European strategy for child and adolescent health 2015-2020.