According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), infant mortality in the United States fell to fewer than 5.4 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2025, a record low. Infant mortality measures how many babies die before their first birthday.

This small decrease compared to previous years, although statistically significant, translates into the prevention of hundreds of child deaths annually. “It's difficult to determine what is driving recent events, but “this is encouraging data and we expect this trend to continue,” said Dr. Michael Warren, March of Dimes chief medical and health officer.

Despite reaching a new all-time low, the US infant mortality rate remains less favorable than that of other high-income nations.

Experts attribute this discrepancy to factors such as poverty and insufficient access to prenatal care. Infant mortality rates in the U.S. remain nearly double those of countries like Italy and Japan. It also has a higher infant mortality rate than Spain and Sweden.

Impacts of new health measures

In 2023, health authorities began to implement two new measures: a lab-made antibody for newborns and a vaccine against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) for pregnant women, recalled the Associated Press (AP).

These initiatives could have contributed to the improvement seen in recent years, according to experts.

Child deaths in the United States fell to about 19,350 last year, according to provisional CDC data, a number that could rise slightly once additional analysis is completed. The final count is expected to be lower than about 20,050 deaths in 2024 and about 20,160 in 2023, according to the agency.

The rate in the US has gradually decreased over the decades – three decades ago it stood at 7.5 per 1,000 inhabitants – thanks to medical advances and public health initiatives, AP notes.

Persistent inequalities

Infant mortality still has significant racial disparities, with mortality rates for babies of black mothers more than twice those of other ethnicities.

Differences in access to health services and public health policies are factors attributable to this inequality.

Analysis by state

Mississippi reported the highest infant mortality rate, with 9.65 deaths per 1,000 births, while New Hampshire had the lowest, with less than 3 per 1,000.

“These differences reflect a variety of reasons related to access to health care, community factors, and policies that improve health and outcomes,” Warren said.

As the final 2025 data is processed, it is anticipated that the figures will reveal more information about these variations and ongoing trends in child health.

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