In the last 2 years, the State of the World's Children report has drawn worldwide attention to the fact that four simple and low-cost methods could enable parents to halve the rate of child deaths and child disability in the developing world. Part I of this year's statement reports on the progress of these strategies in different parts of the world and within the contexts of the child survival revolution, a minimum "safety net" of health and nutrition, implementation of child survival techniques, synergystic effects of intervention, dissemination of technologies and information, community health workers, support for mothers, and changing ideas about what are to be considered "normal" health risks confronting children. Part II brings together summaries of the latest research and writings on the low-cost methods. Contents focus on growth monitoring, oral rehydration therapy, breastfeeding, immunization, education of women, family spacing, and food supplements. Part III provides statistical information for all nations, including figures on nutrition, health, education, population, and economic progress. Facts involving basic indicators, nutrition, health, education, demographic indicators, economic indicators, and basic indicators for less populous countries are reported. Statistical tables list the nations of the world in order of their child survival rates. (RH)