UNICEF's country profile for India, including under-five mortality rates, child health, education and sanitation data.

In 2023, the infant mortality rate in India was at about 24.5 deaths per 1,000 live births, a significant decrease from previous years. Infant mortality as an indicatorThe infant mortality rate is the number of deaths of children under one year of age per 1,000 live births. This rate is an important key indicator for a country’s health and standard of living; a low infant mortality rate indicates a high standard of healthcare. Causes of infant mortality include premature birth, sepsis or meningitis, sudden infant death syndrome, and pneumonia. Globally, the infant mortality rate has shrunk from 63 infant deaths per 1,000 live births to 27 since 1990 and is forecast to drop to 8 infant deaths per 1,000 live births by the year 2100. India’s rural problemWith 32 infant deaths per 1,000 live births, India is neither among the countries with the highest nor among those with the lowest infant mortality rate. Its decrease indicates an increase in medical care and hygiene, as well as a decrease in female infanticide. Increasing life expectancy at birth is another indicator that shows that the living conditions of the Indian population are improving. Still, India’s inhabitants predominantly live in rural areas, where standards of living as well as access to medical care and hygiene are traditionally lower and more complicated than in cities. Public health programs are thus put in place by the government to ensure further improvement.

The infant mortality rate in India, for children under the age of one year old, was over 204 deaths per thousand births in 1915. This means that for all babies born in 1915,more than one fifth did not survive past their first birthday. This rate fluctuated over the next four decades, but since the mid-1900s, India's infant mortality rate has fallen from 181 to 32 deaths per thousand births in 2020, meaning that over three percent of all babies born today do not make it to their first birthday.

This comprehensive dataset provides a deep dive into the infant mortality rates (IMR) in India, tracing its trajectory through various decades. It offers valuable insights into health indicators, socio-economic factors, and policy initiatives, showcasing how India has evolved in its approach to child health and safety. Researchers, policymakers, and enthusiasts can tap into this rich resource to gain a better understanding of the challenges and progress made in the realm of infant health in India.

It's worth noting that while the dataset is expansive, there are multiple null values for data points prior to the 1990s. This underscores the limitations in the available data from that period, and users are advised to exercise caution when making historical comparisons or drawing conclusions from these early years. Regardless, this dataset stands as a testament to the strides India has made and the distances yet to be covered in ensuring the well-being of its youngest citizens.

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In 2020, the state of Madhya Pradesh, with 47 infant deaths per 1,000 live births, recorded the highest rural infant mortality rate in India. Other regions with high mortality rates included Chhattisgarh and Uttar Pradesh. On the contrary, Delhi recorded the lowest figures for the category during the same period.

Forecast: Total Infant Mortality Rates in India 2024 - 2028 Discover more data with ReportLinker!

Vital Statistics: Infant Mortality Rate: per 1000 Live Births: Gujarat data was reported at 23.000 NA in 2020. This records a decrease from the previous number of 25.000 NA for 2019. Vital Statistics: Infant Mortality Rate: per 1000 Live Births: Gujarat data is updated yearly, averaging 48.000 NA from Dec 1997 (Median) to 2020, with 23 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 64.000 NA in 1998 and a record low of 23.000 NA in 2020. Vital Statistics: Infant Mortality Rate: per 1000 Live Births: Gujarat data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India. The data is categorized under India Premium Database’s Demographic – Table IN.GAH005: Vital Statistics: Infant Mortality Rate: by States.

Yearly (annual) dataset of the India Infant Mortality Rate, including historical data, latest releases, and long-term trends from 1960-12-31 to 2023-12-31. Available for free download in CSV format.

Historical dataset showing India infant mortality rate by year from 1950 to 2025.

Vital Statistics: Infant Mortality Rate: per 1000 Live Births: West Bengal data was reported at 19.000 NA in 2020. This records a decrease from the previous number of 20.000 NA for 2019. Vital Statistics: Infant Mortality Rate: per 1000 Live Births: West Bengal data is updated yearly, averaging 33.000 NA from Dec 1997 (Median) to 2020, with 23 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 53.000 NA in 1998 and a record low of 19.000 NA in 2020. Vital Statistics: Infant Mortality Rate: per 1000 Live Births: West Bengal data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India. The data is categorized under India Premium Database’s Demographic – Table IN.GAH005: Vital Statistics: Infant Mortality Rate: by States.

Vital Statistics: Infant Mortality Rate: per 1000 Live Births: Maharashtra: Urban data was reported at 11.000 NA in 2020. This records a decrease from the previous number of 12.000 NA for 2019. Vital Statistics: Infant Mortality Rate: per 1000 Live Births: Maharashtra: Urban data is updated yearly, averaging 22.000 NA from Dec 1997 (Median) to 2020, with 23 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 33.000 NA in 2000 and a record low of 11.000 NA in 2020. Vital Statistics: Infant Mortality Rate: per 1000 Live Births: Maharashtra: Urban data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India. The data is categorized under India Premium Database’s Demographic – Table IN.GAH005: Vital Statistics: Infant Mortality Rate: by States.

Forecast: Infant Mortality Rate in India 2022 - 2026 Discover more data with ReportLinker!

The child mortality rate in India, for children under the age of five, was 509 deaths per thousand births in 1880. This means that over half of all children born in 1880 did not survive past the age of five, and it remained this way until the twentieth century. From 1900 until today, the child mortality rate has fallen from over 53 percent in 1900, to under four percent in 2020. Since 1900, there were only two times where the child mortality rate increased in India, which were as a result of the Spanish Flu pandemic in the 1910s, and in the 1950s as India adjusted to its newfound independence.

Forecast: Female Infant Mortality Rate in India 2022 - 2026 Discover more data with ReportLinker!

Forecast: Infant Mortality in India 2023 - 2027 Discover more data with ReportLinker!

Objective: Retrospective analysis of routinely collected data using verbal and social autopsy tools to identify the medical causes of death and contribution of non-biological factors towards infant mortality Setting: The study site was Health and Demographic Surveillance System (HDSS), Ballabgarh, North India Participants: All infant deaths during year 2008 to 2012 were included for verbal autopsy whereas infant deaths from July 2012 to December 2012 were included for social autopsy. Outcome measures: Cause of death ascertained by validated verbal autopsy tool and level of delay based on three delay model using INDEPTH social autopsy tool were the main outcome measures. Results: Infant mortality rate during study period was 46.5/100 live births. Neonatal deaths contributed to 54.3% of infant deaths and 39% occurred on first day of life. Birth asphyxia (31.5%) followed by Low Birth Weight (LBW)/prematurity (26.5%) were the most common causes of neonatal death. While infective cause (57.8) was the most common cause of post-neonatal death. Care-seeking was delayed among 50% of neonatal deaths and 41.2% of post-neonatal deaths. Delay at level 1 was most common, observed in 32.4% of neonatal deaths and 29.4% of post-neonatal deaths. Deaths due to LBW/prematurity were mostly followed by delay at level 1. Conclusion: High proportion of preventable infant mortality still exists in an area which is under continuous health and demographic surveillance. There is need to enhance home based preventive care to enable the mother to identify and respond to danger signs. Verbal autopsy and social autopsy could be routinely done to guide policy interventions aimed at reduction of infant mortality.

This layer shows State wise Birth rate, Death rate & Infant Mortality rate (2009 & 2019)Source of data: https://www.indiabudget.gov.in/economicsurvey/doc/stat/tab82.pdfNote: Andhra Pradesh includes Telangana for the year 2009 and Jammu & Kashmir includes Ladakh for the year 2019, Birth rate & death rate per 1000 population and IMR is infant deaths per 1000 live births.This web layer is offered by Esri India, for ArcGIS Online subscribers. If you have any questions or comments, please let us know via content@esri.in.

Vital Statistics: Infant Mortality Rate: per 1000 Live Births: Uttar Pradesh data was reported at 38.000 NA in 2020. This records a decrease from the previous number of 41.000 NA for 2019. Vital Statistics: Infant Mortality Rate: per 1000 Live Births: Uttar Pradesh data is updated yearly, averaging 63.000 NA from Dec 1997 (Median) to 2020, with 23 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 85.000 NA in 1998 and a record low of 38.000 NA in 2020. Vital Statistics: Infant Mortality Rate: per 1000 Live Births: Uttar Pradesh data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India. The data is categorized under India Premium Database’s Demographic – Table IN.GAH005: Vital Statistics: Infant Mortality Rate: by States.

Vital Statistics: Infant Mortality Rate: per 1000 Live Births: Lakshadweep data was reported at 9.000 NA in 2020. This records an increase from the previous number of 8.000 NA for 2019. Vital Statistics: Infant Mortality Rate: per 1000 Live Births: Lakshadweep data is updated yearly, averaging 24.000 NA from Dec 1998 (Median) to 2020, with 22 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 33.000 NA in 2001 and a record low of 8.000 NA in 2019. Vital Statistics: Infant Mortality Rate: per 1000 Live Births: Lakshadweep data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India. The data is categorized under India Premium Database’s Demographic – Table IN.GAH005: Vital Statistics: Infant Mortality Rate: by States.

In 2020, the infant mortality rate in the state of Uttar Pradesh in India was ** deaths per 1,000 live births. Infant mortality is measured by the number of deaths of children under one year of age per 1,000 live births.