Children in Scotland’s poorest communities continue to face the worst health outcomes
27% of five-year-olds in Scotland had obvious tooth decay in 2024-25, with no improvement since 2020
New analysis reveals declining or stagnant child health across Scotland, widening inequalities in oral health, obesity and vaccine uptake, and the highest child mortality rate of any UK nation.
The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) has published a Scotland-focused briefing following the launch of its UK State of Child Health 2026 report.
The briefing provides a clear and comprehensive overview of children’s health in Scotland, examining progress against 12 key child health indicators, including infant and child mortality, mental health, obesity, immunisation and asthma.
RCPCH Scotland analysis shows:
- Scotland had the highest reported child mortality rate among the UK nations in 2024, at 10.1 deaths per 100,000 children.
- 27% of five-year-olds in Scotland had obvious tooth decay in 2024-25, with no improvement since 2020.
- Of that number, 40% of children in the most deprived areas had evidence of tooth decay, compared with just 16% of children in the least deprived areas.
- Nearly a quarter (24%) of children aged four to fivewere overweight or living with obesity in 2024-25. Children living in Scotland’s most deprived areas were also twice as likely to be at risk of obesity than those living in the least deprived areas.
- Vaccination coverage remains a significant concern, with very few routine childhood vaccines meeting the 95% uptake target, and substantially lower uptake among children living in the most deprived areas.
- Socioeconomic inequalities in early childhood development remain persistent. At the 27-to-30-month review, children living inScotland’s most deprived areas are 14.8 percentage points more likely to have a developmental concern recorded than children living in the least deprived areas
Dr Lynn Macleod, RCPCH Officer for Scotland, said: “This report shows that too many children and young people in Scotland are being let down, with those living in the poorest communities facing the worst health outcomes. It is unacceptable that Scotland also has the highest reported child mortality rate among the UK nations.
“For paediatricians, it is deeply distressing to witness children experiencing preventable declines in their health and wellbeing, particularly in communities facing the greatest levels of poverty and disadvantage. These outcomes are not inevitable. That is why we are calling on the Scottish Government to deliver sustained investment and prioritise prevention, so that every child has the opportunity to grow up healthy and thrive.”