Decline in Infant Mortality in the U.S.: 2025 Marks New Record

According to preliminary data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the U.S. infant mortality rate hit a historic low in 2025. The rate stood at slightly below 5.4 infant deaths per 1,000 live births, compared to 5.5 in 2024 and 5.6 in the two years prior. This decrease, albeit small, is statistically significant and represents hundreds of fewer infant deaths annually.

The CDC’s provisional data indicates 19,350 infant deaths occurred in 2025, showing a decline from the previous years with approximately 20,050 in 2024 and 20,160 in 2023. While the final count may adjust with further analysis, the downward trend is evident.

This encouraging trend reflects the impact of medical advancements and public health efforts over the decades, with rates gradually declining from 7.5 per 1,000 three decades ago.

Despite this progress, the U.S. rate remains high compared to other wealthy countries, attributed to issues such as poverty, insufficient prenatal care, and other factors. In 2022, a significant rise in these rates was linked to increased RSV and flu infections.

In response, new preventive measures were introduced by health officials in 2023. These included lab-made antibody injections for infants to bolster their immune response to viruses, and recommending RSV vaccines for pregnant women between the 32nd and 36th weeks of gestation. These initiatives contributed to improvements observed in 2024.

A decrease in sudden infant death syndrome might be tied to enhanced education on safe sleep practices for infants, according to Dr. Michael Warren of March of Dimes.

The CDC’s 2025 provisional data highlights continued declines in mortality for both newborns and older infants. Racial disparities persist, with infants born to Black women experiencing more than double the mortality rate compared to those of Hispanic, white, and Asian American women.

Among gestational age groups, infants born full-term (39-40 weeks) showed a decline in mortality rates, while no significant changes were observed for other gestational ages.

State-level data revealed stark differences in mortality rates, with Mississippi having the highest rate at 9.65 deaths per 1,000 births and New Hampshire the lowest at under 3 per 1,000. These disparities reflect varying access to healthcare, community influences, and health policies.

The Associated Press Health and Science Department is supported by entities such as the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. However, the content responsibility remains solely with the AP.