U.S. Infant Mortality Hits All-Time Low in 2025, CDC Data Shows Modest but Meaningful Decline

Preliminary CDC data indicate the U.S. infant mortality rate fell to a record low of 5.36 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2025, down from 5.54 in 2024 and 5.63 in 2023. The decline, described as statistically meaningful, equates to hundreds fewer infant deaths annually. Leading causes remain birth defects, preterm birth/low birth weight, SIDS, injuries, and pregnancy complications. While the U.S. rate is below the global average of 28 per 1,000, it still exceeds rates in peer nations like Australia and Belgium. Experts, including Dr. Michael Warren of the March of Dimes, note difficulty pinpointing exact drivers but highlight potential links to improved prenatal care, RSV prevention tools introduced in 2023 (nirsevimab antibody and maternal vaccine), and broader access to maternal-infant health services. State-level variation persists, with Mississippi historically highest and New Hampshire lowest. This trend aligns with long-term declines since the early 20th century, interrupted by minor upticks post-2020, underscoring incremental public health gains often overshadowed by coverage of persistent disparities.