2007 KIDS COUNT Data Book Online >
Summary and Findings
Infant Mortality Rate
Since the first year of life is more precarious than later years of childhood, negative social conditions (such as poverty and an unhealthy physical environment) have a bigger impact on newborns. The number of children who die before their first birthday is reflected in the Infant Mortality Rate, defined as the number of deaths to persons less than 1 year old per 1,000 live births during the year.
After several decades of constantly falling infant mortality rates, improvement has stalled. The Infant Mortality Rate in 2004 is only slightly lower than it was in 2000. In fact, between 2001 and 2002, the Infant Mortality Rate increased for the first time in nearly 50 years. It is also important to note that the United States continues to have one of the highest infant mortality rates among industrialized countries. Clearly, we can do better.
- During 2004, 27,936 infants under age 1 died in the United States, more than 76 each day.
- In 2004, the U.S. Infant Mortality Rate was 6.8 deaths per 1,000 live births, 1 percent lower than in 2000, when it was 6.9.
- Between 2000 and 2004, the Infant Mortality Rate improved in 28 states, was unchanged in 5 others and the District of Columbia, and deteriorated in 17 states.
- Among the states, the Infant Mortality Rate in 2004 ranged from a low of 4.5 in Montana and Vermont to a high of 10.5 in Louisiana. However, some rates are based on a relatively small number of infant deaths and may not be a very good gauge of the underlying risk of death.
- The Infant Mortality Rate among blacks (13.8 deaths per 1,000 births) is more than twice the national average (6.8).
