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UK children among the unhealthiest in western Europe, paediatricians warn

UK children among the unhealthiest in western Europe, paediatricians warn

A major report says child health has stalled across the UK, with concerns over vaccinations, asthma, obesity and mental health.

Female doctor giving asthma inhaler to patient during house call

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Published: July 15, 2026 at 12:13 PM

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Children in the UK could grow up to be one of the unhealthiest generations in decades unless urgent action is taken, according to a major new report from the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH).

The report, State of Child Health 2026, found that progress has either stalled or worsened across almost every major measure of children's health over the past decade. Experts say the biggest challenges include falling vaccination rates, rising mental health problems, asthma and widening health inequalities affecting families in the most deprived communities.

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The findings are likely to resonate with many parents, with separate YouGov polling included in the report revealing that only 12% of parents believe children's health has improved over the past 10 years.

What the report found

The RCPCH assessed 12 internationally recognised indicators of children's health and wellbeing, including:

Infant mortality
Vaccination rates
Childhood obesity
Oral health
Mental health
Asthma

According to the report, outcomes have either remained unchanged or worsened across almost every area since its previous review.

Among the findings:

Only 84% of UK children receive both doses of the MMR vaccine by the age of five, below the World Health Organization's 95% target.
The UK has the lowest MMR uptake of any G7 country.
The UK continues to have one of the highest asthma-related mortality rates in Europe.
Infant mortality rates haven't improved since 2023, and remain higher than in many comparable European countries.

Health inequalities remain a major concern

The report highlights significant differences in children's health depending on where they live and their family's circumstances.

It found that rates of infant mortality and childhood obesity are more than twice as high in the most deprived areas compared with the least deprived. Children from ethnic minority communities are also disproportionately affected by poorer health outcomes.

Dr Helen Stewart, RCPCH Officer for Health Improvement, said the findings should be a wake-up call for policymakers.

"In early 2024, the UK government promised to create the healthiest and happiest generation of children ever in Britain. It is a noble goal that governments of all colours across our nations should hold as a priority. This report is a stark reminder to policymakers that, to achieve that goal, there is a huge amount of work to do. Since the last iteration of State of Child Health (published in 2020), very little has improved and, on some indicators, the situation has deteriorated," she writes.

What needs to happen to improve children's health?

Alongside the findings, the college has published a series of recommendations aimed at improving children's health across England.

It is calling on the government to prioritise three key areas:

Improve the collection and sharing of child health data, including creating a single national measure of children's health and wellbeing.
Introduce clear national targets to improve child health outcomes and reduce inequalities across all 12 indicators.
Increase investment in children's health services, including a long-term workforce strategy and a dedicated Children's Health Investment Standard.

Professor Steve Turner, President of the RCPCH, said:

Collectively, we must do better, and we must do it sooner. Improving child health requires sustained focus, long-term investment, and a commitment to tackling the root causes of inequality. Getting it right first time matters, not only for children today, but for the health and prosperity of our society in the years to come.

Professor Steve Turner, RCPCH President

What the government has said

Responding to the report, a government spokesperson said it recognised that too many children continue to experience poor health outcomes, particularly those growing up in deprived communities.

The spokesperson said: "Following a decade of neglect, too many children, particularly those growing up in the most deprived communities, continue to experience poorer health outcomes than they should. That's why this government is taking decisive action to lift children out of poverty, tackle health inequalities and raise the healthiest generation of children ever.

"As well as ending the two-child limit, we're expanding mental health support in schools and colleges, opening family hubs and local health centres, and protecting children through tougher rules on smoking, vapes and junk food ads.

"We're also giving primary pupils a healthier start to the day with free breakfast clubs and providing free school meals to every single child from a household in receipt of universal credit."

Why it matters for families

While many children across the UK are healthy and thriving, the report suggests that progress is slowing at a population level, particularly for families facing disadvantage.

The RCPCH says improving children's health requires long-term investment rather than short-term solutions, warning that without action today's children could face poorer health throughout adulthood.

For parents, the findings reinforce the importance of keeping up with routine childhood vaccinations, attending health appointments when concerns arise and making use of local support services where available, while highlighting the wider role that public health policies and investment play in shaping children's wellbeing.

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