NEW YORK — According to preliminary data from the government, the U.S. infant mortality rate reached an unprecedented low in 2025. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that the rate fell to slightly below 5.4 deaths per 1,000 live births.
This marks a slight decrease from approximately 5.5 in 2024 and 5.6 in the preceding two years. Researchers emphasize that this reduction is statistically significant and equates to hundreds fewer infant deaths annually.
While the exact reasons behind this trend remain uncertain, Dr. Michael Warren, the chief medical and health officer for the March of Dimes, described it as “an encouraging data point” and expressed hope for its continuation.
Infant mortality measures the number of babies who die before their first birthday. As birth numbers fluctuate yearly in the U.S., rate calculations are used to track changes over time.
The overall number of infant deaths in the U.S. has also declined, with approximately 19,350 deaths reported last year based on provisional CDC data. This figure may increase slightly as further analysis is conducted, but it is still expected to fall below the roughly 20,050 deaths in 2024 and 20,160 in 2023.
Over the decades, the U.S. infant mortality rate has gradually decreased, from 7.5 per 1,000 three decades ago, due to medical advancements and public health initiatives. However, it remains higher than in other high-income countries, a situation attributed to poverty, insufficient prenatal care, and other issues. A study published last year indicated that in 2022, the U.S. infant mortality rate was nearly double that of several other high-income democratic nations, including Italy, Japan, Spain, and Sweden.
The U.S. experienced its first significant rise in infant mortality in about two decades in 2022, linked to an increase in RSV and flu infections. In 2023, U.S. health officials introduced two new preventative measures: a lab-made antibody shot for infants to combat the virus and an RSV vaccine for pregnant women between 32 and 36 weeks. A March of Dimes expert suggested these measures likely contributed to the 2024 improvement.
Additionally, a reduction in sudden infant death syndrome may be linked to increased education on safe sleeping practices for infants, according to Warren.
The CDC released the 2025 provisional data in late May, and on Tuesday, the agency provided a more detailed analysis of the 2024 infant mortality data, which includes insights not yet available for 2025. Highlights from the report include:
- There were declines in death rates for both very young infants, under 28 days old, and older infants. These decreases persisted last year, according to the 2025 provisional data.
- In 2024, infant mortality rates varied significantly by race. Infants born to Black women had more than twice the death rates compared to those born to Hispanic, white, and Asian American women.
- A reduction was noted in mortality rates for infants born at full term (39 to 40 weeks), while rates remained largely unchanged for other gestational age groups.
- Mississippi recorded the highest infant mortality rate at 9.65 deaths per 1,000 births, while New Hampshire had the lowest, at just under 3 per 1,000.
Warren explained, “These differences are reflective of a variety of reasons related to access to care, community factors, and policies that improve health and outcomes.”
— Mike Stobbe
