Based on the average values, the sequence of the causes of death in boys under 5 years of age was as follows: other causes (48.05%), PBU (17.76%), BA (15.36%), pneumonia (14.93%) and diarrhoea (3.09%). The sequence of the causes of death in girls under 5 years of age was as follows: other causes (51.42%), PBU (16.80%), BA (15.25%), pneumonia (14.14%) and diarrhoea (3.38%). Thus, the same sequence was observed for boys and girls (Fig. 6).Fig. 6Gender disparity trends in causes of death of children under the age of 5 years in China from 2000 to 2013