This dataset is no longer updated as of April 2023.

Basic Metadata

Note: The Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) Rate is infant deaths (under one year of age) due to SIDS per 1,000 live births, by geography. Data set includes linked births to deaths. Numerator represents infant's race/ethnicity. Denominator represents mother's race/ethnicity.

**Blank Cells: Rates not calculated for fewer than 5 events. Rates not calculated in cases where zip code is unknown.

*API: Asian/Pacific Islander.

*AIAN: American Indian/Alaska Native.

Sources: State of California, Department of Public Health, Death Statistical Master Files (before 2014), California Comprehensive Death Files (2014 and later), and Birth Statistical Master Files.

Prepared by: County of San Diego, Health & Human Services Agency, Public Health Services, Community Health Statistics Unit, 2019.

Codes: ICD‐10 Mortality code R95.

Data Guide, Dictionary, and Codebook:

https://www.sandiegocounty.gov/content/dam/sdc/hhsa/programs/phs/CHS/Community%20Profiles/Public%20Health%20Services%20CodebookData%20GuideMetadata_10.2.19.xlsx

Interpretation: "There were 5 SIDS deaths per 1,000 live births in Geography X".

Splitgraph serves as an HTTP API that lets you run SQL queries directly on this data to power Web applications. For example:

See the Splitgraph documentation for more information.

The leading causes of infant death in the United States are congenital malformations, low birth weight, and sudden infant death syndrome. In 2023, congenital malformations accounted for around 20 percent of all infant deaths in the United States. Infant mortality in the United States Infant mortality refers to the death of a child under the age of one. In the United States, there were around 20,577 infant deaths in 2022. However, the infant mortality rate in the United States has decreased steadily over the past few decades. In 1990, the infant mortality rate was 9.4 per 1,000 live births, but had dropped to around 5.4 per 1,000 live births by 2022. Rates of infant mortality do vary depending on the state and region. For example, the infant mortality rate in Mississippi in 2022 was 9.11 per 1,000 live births, compared to a rate of just 3.32 per 1,000 live births in Massachusetts. What is sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)? Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) is the third leading cause of infant death in the United States with a rate of around 40 deaths per 100,000 live births. SIDS is the unexplained death of an infant. In such cases, the baby usually seems to be healthy but suddenly dies, often during sleep. The cause of SIDS is unknown, but may be connected to problems in the brain controlling breathing and waking from sleep. In 2022, there were an estimated 1,531 deaths from SIDS in the United States. Mississippi and Arkansas are the states with the highest rates of sudden unexpected infant death, while Massachusetts and California have the lowest rates.

Number of infant deaths and infant mortality rates, by age group (neonatal and post-neonatal), 1991 to most recent year.

In 2022, the infant mortality rate in the United States was 5.4 out of every 1,000 live births. This is a significant decrease from 1960, when infant mortality was at around 26 deaths out of every 1,000 live births. What is infant mortality? The infant mortality rate is the number of deaths of babies under the age of one per 1,000 live births. There are many causes for infant mortality, which include birth defects, low birth weight, pregnancy complications, and sudden infant death syndrome. In order to decrease the high rates of infant mortality, there needs to be an increase in education and medicine so babies and mothers can receive the proper treatment needed. Maternal mortality is also related to infant mortality. If mothers can attend more prenatal visits and have more access to healthcare facilities, maternal mortality can decrease, and babies have a better chance of surviving in their first year. Worldwide infant mortality rates Infant mortality rates vary worldwide; however, some areas are more affected than others. Afghanistan suffered from the highest infant mortality rate in 2024, and the following 19 countries all came from Africa, with the exception of Pakistan. On the other hand, Slovenia had the lowest infant mortality rate that year. High infant mortality rates can be attributed to lack of sanitation, technological advancements, and proper natal care. In the United States, Massachusetts had the lowest infant mortality rate, while Mississippi had the highest in 2022. Overall, the number of neonatal and post neonatal deaths in the United States has been steadily decreasing since 1995.

Rank, number of deaths, percentage of deaths, and mortality rates for the leading causes of infant death (under one year of age), by sex, 2000 to most recent year.

In 2023, the state of Mississippi had the highest infant mortality rate in the United States, with around 8.94 deaths per 1,000 live births. Infant mortality is the death of an infant before the age of one. The countries with the lowest infant mortality rates worldwide are Slovenia, Singapore, and Iceland. The countries with the highest infant mortality rates include Afghanistan, Somalia, and the Central African Republic. Infant mortality in the United States The infant mortality rate in the United States has decreased over the past few decades, reaching a low of 5.4 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2022. The most common causes of infant death in the United States are congenital malformations, low birth weight, and sudden infant death syndrome. In 2023, congenital malformations accounted for around 111 infant deaths per 100,000 live births.

The infant mortality rate in the United Kingdom, for children under the age of one (twelve months), was 31.7 deaths per thousand births in 1950. Approximately 3.2 percent of children born in 1950 did not survive past their first birthday. Over the course of the next 70 years, this number has dropped significantly. It amounted to just four deaths per thousand births in the period between 2015 and 2020, the lowest figure recorded.