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U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion

Reduce the rate of infant deaths — MICH‑02 Infographic

This objective is a Leading Health Indicator (LHI). Learn about LHIs.

Status: Improving

  Improving

Most Recent Data:
5.4 infant deaths per 1,000 live births (2021)

Target:
5.0 per 1,000

Desired Direction:
Decrease desired

Baseline:
5.8 infant deaths per 1,000 live births occurred within the first year of life in 2017

Infant mortality is the death of an infant before their first birthday. The infant mortality rate is an important marker of the overall health of a society. Addressing infant death disparities requires multisector collaboration. A collaborative approach can help address the social, behavioral, and health risk factors that contribute to infant mortality and affect birth outcomes.

In 2021, 5.4 infant deaths per 1,000 live births occurred within the first year of life.

Data Source:  Linked Birth/Infant Death Data Set, CDC/NCHS

Disparities in infant death rates by mother’s race and ethnicity: Highest/lowest rate ‡

In 2021, infants with non-Hispanic Black or African American mothers had the highest group rate of deaths (10.5 per 1,000 live births). Infants with non-Hispanic Asian mothers (reference group) had the lowest group rate (3.7 per 1,000 live births).

The rate of deaths for infants with non-Hispanic Black or African American mothers was more than 2.5 times the rate for infants with non-Hispanic Asian mothers (maximal rate ratio). The difference between the highest and lowest group rates was 6.9 infant deaths per 1,000 live births (maximal rate difference).

Learn about how we calculate disparities data.

Disparities in infant death rates by mother’s race and ethnicity: All groups ‡

In 2021, infants with non-Hispanic Asian mothers had the lowest group rate of deaths (3.7 per 1,000 live births).

  • The death rate for infants with non-Hispanic White mothers was 18.4 percent higher than the lowest group rate.
  • The death rate for infants with Hispanic or Latino mothers was 30.1 percent higher than the lowest group rate.
  • The death rate for infants with non-Hispanic multiracial mothers was 68.9 percent higher than the lowest group rate.
  • The death rate for infants with non-Hispanic American Indian or Alaska Native mothers was twice the lowest group rate.
  • The death rate for infants with non-Hispanic Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander mothers was more than twice the lowest group rate.
  • The death rate for infants with non-Hispanic Black or African American mothers was more than 2.5 times the lowest group rate.

Number of infants (per 1,000 live births) who died within the first year of life, 2021

3.7 Infants with non-Hispanic Asian mothers
4.4 Infants with non-Hispanic White mothers
4.8 Infants with Hispanic or Latino mothers
6.2 Infants with non-Hispanic multiracial mothers
7.5 Infants with non-Hispanic American Indian or Alaska Native mothers
7.7 Infants with non-Hispanic Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander mothers
10.5 Infants with non-Hispanic Black or African American mothers

Find data for additional demographic groups.