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Infant Death Rate Hits Historic Low in U.S., Yet Remains Higher Than in Similar Countries
CDC data show the decline may mean hundreds fewer infant deaths a year, though U.S. rates still exceed those in peer nations.
Infant mortality in the U.S. dropped to a record low in 2025, with provisional CDC data showing slightly fewer than 5.4 deaths per 1,000 live births, according to preliminary government data.
This rate marks a statistically meaningful decline from about 5.5 deaths per 1,000 in 2024, translating to hundreds of fewer infant deaths per year despite the modest numerical shift.
Medical advances, including RSV vaccines for pregnant women between 32 and 36 weeks of pregnancy, and increased education on safe infant sleep likely contributed to the improvement.
Despite overall progress, death rates for infants born to Black women remained more than twice as high as those for Hispanic and Asian American women, revealing persistent racial disparities.
Dr. Michael Warren, chief medical and health officer for the March of Dimes, said "this is an encouraging data point," though U.S. rates still exceed those in Italy, Japan, Spain, and Sweden.