Infant mortality in the U.S. reached a new low in 2025, according to preliminary data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The rate fell to just under 5.4 deaths per 1,000 live births, a slight but meaningful decline from 5.5 in 2024 and 5.6 in previous years. This reduction represents hundreds fewer infant deaths annually.
This is an encouraging data point, and we hope that this trend will continue,
said Dr. Michael Warren, chief medical and health officer for the March of Dimes.
Infant mortality measures the number of babies who die before their first birthday. Rates are calculated to account for annual variations in births. In 2025, U.S. infant deaths numbered approximately 19,350, indicating a decrease from about 20,050 in 2024 and 20,160 in 2023. Although these are provisional figures, the final count is expected to remain low.
A steady decline over the decades has been due to medical advancements and public health initiatives. However, the U.S. rate continues to lag compared to other high-income countries. Previous studies highlighted the U.S. infant mortality rate in 2022 was nearly double that of nations such as Italy, Japan, Spain, and Sweden. Rising RSV and flu infections in 2022 led to an unprecedented increase in the rate.
In response, U.S. health officials in 2023 introduced preventative measures. These included a lab-made antibody shot for infants and an RSV vaccine for pregnant women between 32 and 36 weeks. Experts suggest these efforts contributed significantly to improvements in 2024.
A reduction in sudden infant death syndrome is linked to increased education on safe sleeping practices for infants, Warren explained.
The CDC released an in-depth analysis of 2024 infant mortality data, highlighting several key insights:
- Deaths declined among both young infants (under 28 days) and older infants, continuing in 2025.
- Racial disparities persisted with Black infants experiencing more than twice the mortality rate of their Hispanic, white, and Asian American counterparts.
- Mortality rates for infants born full-term, at 39 to 40 weeks, showed a decrease; other gestational age groups did not see significant changes.
- Mississippi recorded the highest rate at 9.65 deaths per 1,000 births, while New Hampshire had the lowest at just under 3 per 1,000.
These differences are reflective of a variety of reasons related to access to care, community factors, and policies that improve health and outcomes,
Warren stated.
The Associated Press Health and Science Department received support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, though the AP is solely responsible for the content.
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