Summary: Three hundred and thirty children admitted to the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital with a diagnosis of pneumonia were studied prospectively. Various clinical parameters were examined to determine their sensitivity, specificity and ability to predict the outcome of pneumonia in children. Tachypnoea (respiratory rate >40 per minute), age < 3 years, duration of illness > 3 days before admission, and presence of associated diseases were strong predictors of mortality. Awareness and recognition of these simple clinical criteria at the family and primary health care level will reduce mortality from childhood pneumonia and improve child survival.