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Infant mortality is the death of a baby within their first year of life. Pregnancy complications, preterm birth, birth defects, SIDS and accidental injuries are leading causes in the U.S. If you’re coping with a loss, reach out to a healthcare provider or counselor. They can help you work through your feelings and find a way forward.
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Infant mortality is when a baby dies within 12 months of birth. Healthcare providers, researchers and others use this term when discussing the causes of infant death and ways to prevent it. Neonatal mortality is a related term that means a baby dies within 28 days of birth.
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Some terms, like infant mortality, have a very specific meaning within healthcare or statistics. But in daily life, such words don’t capture the thoughts, feelings or lived experiences of the people behind the stats. If you’ve lost a baby or know someone who has, you likely don’t say “infant mortality” to describe the situation. It’s a heartbreak. It’s losing part of yourself and not knowing how to move forward.
Infant deaths are a focus of research because providers and others know this situation should never happen. In a perfect world, all babies would have a healthy start and go on to celebrate their first, second and many more birthdays. But so many things affect the health of babies and their families.
Social determinants of health — all the nonmedical things that can affect our health and longevity — are a big part of the story. When you’re pregnant and can’t access basic resources like prenatal care, you’re automatically fighting against the stream to have a healthy baby. Researchers and healthcare providers are trying to find ways to give everyone a fairer chance at having healthier pregnancies and giving birth to babies who thrive.
The most common causes of infant mortality in the U.S. today include:
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Leading causes among newborns, specifically, include:
The causes of infant mortality change over time. In the late 1800s, most infant deaths in the U.S. were due to infectious diseases like:
By 1920, these diseases didn’t cause nearly as many deaths as they had in the past. Public health efforts made a huge difference. For example, water sanitation and pasteurization of cow’s milk played a big role in protecting infants from dangerous infections. Vaccination has played a major role in reducing the prevalence and severity of many infectious diseases, as well.
As public health measures and medical practices continued to improve throughout the 1900s, infectious diseases became less of a threat to infants. In 1900, 61.6% of all infant deaths were due to infectious diseases. By 1998, that number dropped to 2%.
IMR stands for infant mortality rate. Researchers define IMR as the number of infant deaths per 1,000 live births. Stillbirths and miscarriages aren’t included in IMR.
Researchers calculate the IMR among defined groups of people. For example, they might study death rates among infants born within a specific U.S. state or more broadly within an entire country. Or they might examine the IMR among populations defined by other things like race, ethnicity, income or age of birthing parent.
Infant mortality rates help researchers identify who might need more resources to have a healthy pregnancy and delivery. But these numbers also have an impact beyond pregnancies and births. IMRs shed light on the overall health of broader groups of people. This is because infant mortality doesn’t happen in isolation. Many of the things that can contribute to infant deaths — like access to healthcare and resources — affect everyone in the group.
Researchers use IMRs to find ways to support healthy pregnancies and babies. They also use this data to help develop policies and make changes that affect all of us.
In 2022, the infant mortality rate in the U.S. was 5.6 per 1,000 live births. From 2002 to 2021, the IMR had been dropping. But from 2021 to 2022, the IMR increased. Research shows the IMR in the U.S. today is higher than that in most European nations.
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Some racial and ethnic groups carry a heavier burden of infant mortality. For example, among non-Hispanic Black people, the infant mortality rate was 10.9 per 1,000 live births in 2022. This was almost twice the national average. Among non-Hispanic American Indians or Alaskan Natives, the rate was 9.1.
These disparities aren’t new. For instance, in 1940, the IMR for Black babies was 72.9 while for white babies, it was 43.2. Researchers are working to understand the root causes of these disparities. Meanwhile, public health experts are trying to find ways to give all babies an equal chance at survival. Improving access to prenatal care is one key area of focus.
Infant mortality varies widely by state. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provides IMR data for each state.
As of 2022, states with some of the highest infant mortality rates include:
States with some of the lowest infant mortality rates include:
Infant mortality rates vary widely by country. The World Bank Group provides updated IMRs for every country.
As of 2022, the nations with some of the highest infant mortality rates include:
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The nations with some of the lowest infant mortality rates include:
In Sierra Leone, the infant mortality rate was 76 per 1,000 live births. In Japan, the rate was 2 per 1,000 live births. As you can see, the chances of a baby surviving to their first birthday can be very different depending on where they’re born — and, more specifically, the resources available in that area.
It’s not always possible to prevent infant mortality. Some causes are out of anyone’s control — including healthcare providers with the best technology. But we know that pregnancy care can make a big difference.
Not everyone has the same access to care and related resources. This is a problem that requires the constant, dedicated efforts of researchers, policymakers and others to solve. Ideally, the U.S. and other nations can achieve health equity. This means everyone has access to the resources they need to support their health and the health of their children.
If possible, you can improve the odds of a healthy pregnancy and baby by:
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Providers will check your baby for health issues right after they’re born. Routine newborn care in the hospital can catch issues early and help your baby get quick treatment.
Infant mortality isn’t easy to talk about or think about. The topic can stir up many emotions — from fear or anxiety to grief. If you’ve experienced a loss, you may be trying to find answers. If you’re coming to this topic simply to learn more, you may feel compelled to find ways to make a difference.
No matter your personal story, it may help to know that public health experts are working hard every day to reduce infant mortality. No family should have to suffer the loss of their baby. The more knowledge we gain, the better we’ll be able to support families and give all babies a chance at a healthy start.
Last reviewed on 01/07/2025.
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