Introduction
The infant mortality rate is the measure of how many infants and children died within a year in a particular location. It is measured by determining the number of deaths among a sample size of 1000. The causes of infant mortality are varied, often resulting from complications during pregnancy (miscarriages, premature births, etc.), fatal birth defects, health problems, and injuries. The infant mortality rate is also an important indicator of the continued health and well-being of a given society.
The infant mortality rate in 2020 was 5.4 deaths per 1000 births in the U.S. as a whole. The federal government is aware of the danger a high infant mortality rate poses, to which end the NEWBORN Grant Act was introduced in Congress. The act aims to bolster healthcare services in areas with high infant mortality by injecting more money through government funding.
| # | State | Infant Mortality Rate (2020) | Percentage Change (vs. 2019) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mississippi | 8.12 per 1k | -6.77% |
| 2 | Louisiana | 7.59 per 1k | -4.77% |
| 3 | Arkansas | 7.38 per 1k | 5.43% |
| 4 | West Virginia | 7.33 per 1k | 19.77% |
| 5 | South Dakota | 7.3 per 1k | 4.43% |
| 6 | Alabama | 6.99 per 1k | -9.34% |
| 7 | Michigan | 6.8 per 1k | 6.58% |
| 8 | North Carolina | 6.77 per 1k | -0.15% |
| 9 | Indiana | 6.75 per 1k | 3.21% |
| 10 | Ohio | 6.7 per 1k | -2.76% |
| 11 | South Carolina | 6.64 per 1k | -3.63% |
| 12 | Kansas | 6.6 per 1k | 21.77% |
| 13 | Kentucky | 6.43 per 1k | 31.22% |
| 14 | Tennessee | 6.38 per 1k | -8.33% |
| 15 | Maine | 6.33 per 1k | 16.57% |
| 16 | Georgia | 6.28 per 1k | -10.54% |
| 17 | Wisconsin | 5.94 per 1k | 1.37% |
| 18 | Oklahoma | 5.9 per 1k | -15.71% |
| 19 | Missouri | 5.89 per 1k | -4.07% |
| 20 | Florida | 5.8 per 1k | -4.92% |
| 21 | Virginia | 5.76 per 1k | -0.86% |
| 22 | Maryland | 5.73 per 1k | -1.88% |
| 23 | Nebraska | 5.68 per 1k | 15.21% |
| 24 | Pennsylvania | 5.58 per 1k | -5.9% |
| 25 | Illinois | 5.5 per 1k | -3% |
| 26 | North Dakota | 5.47 per 1k | -26.68% |
| 27 | Utah | 5.43 per 1k | 3.04% |
| 28 | New Mexico | 5.3 per 1k | -6.36% |
| 29 | Texas | 5.29 per 1k | -3.47% |
| 30 | Wyoming | 5.22 per 1k | -27.09% |
| 31 | Arizona | 5.19 per 1k | -4.42% |
| 32 | Delaware | 5.1 per 1k | -20.81% |
| 33 | Alaska | 5.07 per 1k | 1.6% |
| 34 | Idaho | 5.06 per 1k | 17.4% |
| 35 | Montana | 5 per 1k | 4.6% |
| 36 | Hawaii | 4.88 per 1k | -4.69% |
| 37 | Colorado | 4.8 per 1k | -1.03% |
| 38 | Nevada | 4.64 per 1k | -18.17% |
| 39 | Washington | 4.51 per 1k | 5.87% |
| 40 | Iowa | 4.43 per 1k | -11.75% |
| 41 | New Hampshire | 4.41 per 1k | 37.38% |
| 42 | Connecticut | 4.33 per 1k | -1.14% |
| 43 | Oregon | 4.22 per 1k | -12.99% |
| 44 | Minnesota | 4.13 per 1k | -8.83% |
| 45 | New York | 4.08 per 1k | -5.77% |
| 46 | New Jersey | 4 per 1k | -5.21% |
| 47 | Rhode Island | 3.96 per 1k | -32.88% |
| 48 | Massachusetts | 3.94 per 1k | 5.63% |
| 49 | California | 3.92 per 1k | -7.33% |
Infant Mortality Rate by State
Alabama
Infant Mortality Rate
6.99 per 1k
↓ 9.34%
Vs 2019
Ranked in the US
#6
Infant Deaths at Birth
404
Ranked in the US
#35
75.2
Ranked in the US
#48
36.2 per 100k
Ranked in the US
#3
Alaska
Infant Mortality Rate
5.07 per 1k
↑ 1.6%
Vs 2019
Ranked in the US
#33
Infant Deaths at Birth
49
Ranked in the US
#4
77.7
Ranked in the US
#34
Arizona
Infant Mortality Rate
5.19 per 1k
↓ 4.42%
Vs 2019
Ranked in the US
#31
Infant Deaths at Birth
405
Ranked in the US
#36
78.8
Ranked in the US
#22
28.3 per 100k
Ranked in the US
#9
Arkansas
Infant Mortality Rate
7.38 per 1k
↑ 5.43%
Vs 2019
Ranked in the US
#3
Infant Deaths at Birth
264
Ranked in the US
#23
75.7
Ranked in the US
#43
40.4 per 100k
Ranked in the US
#1
California
Infant Mortality Rate
3.92 per 1k
↓ 7.33%
Vs 2019
Ranked in the US
#49
Infant Deaths at Birth
1,651
Ranked in the US
#49
80.9
Ranked in the US
#1
10.2 per 100k
Ranked in the US
#30
Colorado
Infant Mortality Rate
4.8 per 1k
↓ 1.03%
Vs 2019
Ranked in the US
#37
Infant Deaths at Birth
294
Ranked in the US
#27
Ranked in the US
#8
14.4 per 100k
Ranked in the US
#28
Connecticut
Infant Mortality Rate
4.33 per 1k
↓ 1.14%
Vs 2019
Ranked in the US
#42
Infant Deaths at Birth
144
Ranked in the US
#16
80.3
Ranked in the US
#6
Delaware
Infant Mortality Rate
5.1 per 1k
↓ 20.81%
Vs 2019
Ranked in the US
#32
Infant Deaths at Birth
58
Ranked in the US
#8
78.1
Ranked in the US
#31
Florida
Infant Mortality Rate
5.8 per 1k
↓ 4.92%
Vs 2019
Ranked in the US
#20
Infant Deaths at Birth
1,214
Ranked in the US
#48
Ranked in the US
#19
21.7 per 100k
Ranked in the US
#17
Georgia
Infant Mortality Rate
6.28 per 1k
↓ 10.54%
Vs 2019
Ranked in the US
#16
Infant Deaths at Birth
765
Ranked in the US
#44
77.4
Ranked in the US
#37
28.8 per 100k
Ranked in the US
#8
Hawaii
Infant Mortality Rate
4.88 per 1k
↓ 4.69%
Vs 2019
Ranked in the US
#36
Infant Deaths at Birth
79
Ranked in the US
#10
80.9
Ranked in the US
#2
Idaho
Infant Mortality Rate
5.06 per 1k
↑ 17.4%
Vs 2019
Ranked in the US
#34
Infant Deaths at Birth
109
Ranked in the US
#12
79.5
Ranked in the US
#13
Illinois
Infant Mortality Rate
5.5 per 1k
↓ 3%
Vs 2019
Ranked in the US
#25
Infant Deaths at Birth
737
Ranked in the US
#43
Ranked in the US
#20
12.9 per 100k
Ranked in the US
#29
Indiana
Infant Mortality Rate
6.75 per 1k
↑ 3.21%
Vs 2019
Ranked in the US
#9
Infant Deaths at Birth
527
Ranked in the US
#39
Ranked in the US
#38
28.2 per 100k
Ranked in the US
#10
Iowa
Infant Mortality Rate
4.43 per 1k
↓ 11.75%
Vs 2019
Ranked in the US
#40
Infant Deaths at Birth
158
Ranked in the US
#18
Ranked in the US
#21
Kansas
Infant Mortality Rate
6.6 per 1k
↑ 21.77%
Vs 2019
Ranked in the US
#12
Infant Deaths at Birth
236
Ranked in the US
#20
78.2
Ranked in the US
#30
21.7 per 100k
Ranked in the US
#18
Kentucky
Infant Mortality Rate
6.43 per 1k
↑ 31.22%
Vs 2019
Ranked in the US
#13
Infant Deaths at Birth
327
Ranked in the US
#28
75.5
Ranked in the US
#47
39.7 per 100k
Ranked in the US
#2
Louisiana
Infant Mortality Rate
7.59 per 1k
↓ 4.77%
Vs 2019
Ranked in the US
#2
Infant Deaths at Birth
430
Ranked in the US
#37
75.7
Ranked in the US
#44
31.8 per 100k
Ranked in the US
#5
Maine
Infant Mortality Rate
6.33 per 1k
↑ 16.57%
Vs 2019
Ranked in the US
#15
Infant Deaths at Birth
72
Ranked in the US
#9
78.3
Ranked in the US
#28
Maryland
Infant Mortality Rate
5.73 per 1k
↓ 1.88%
Vs 2019
Ranked in the US
#22
Infant Deaths at Birth
391
Ranked in the US
#32
78.5
Ranked in the US
#25
18.6 per 100k
Ranked in the US
#25
Massachusetts
Infant Mortality Rate
3.94 per 1k
↑ 5.63%
Vs 2019
Ranked in the US
#48
Infant Deaths at Birth
261
Ranked in the US
#22
80.4
Ranked in the US
#4
14.7 per 100k
Ranked in the US
#27
Michigan
Infant Mortality Rate
6.8 per 1k
↑ 6.58%
Vs 2019
Ranked in the US
#7
Infant Deaths at Birth
704
Ranked in the US
#41
Ranked in the US
#32
19.6 per 100k
Ranked in the US
#23
Minnesota
Infant Mortality Rate
4.13 per 1k
↓ 8.83%
Vs 2019
Ranked in the US
#44
Infant Deaths at Birth
264
Ranked in the US
#24
80.4
Ranked in the US
#5
Mississippi
Infant Mortality Rate
8.12 per 1k
↓ 6.77%
Vs 2019
Ranked in the US
#1
Infant Deaths at Birth
293
Ranked in the US
#26
74.4
Ranked in the US
#50
30.2 per 100k
Ranked in the US
#6
Missouri
Infant Mortality Rate
5.89 per 1k
↓ 4.07%
Vs 2019
Ranked in the US
#19
Infant Deaths at Birth
392
Ranked in the US
#33
76.9
Ranked in the US
#39
25.2 per 100k
Ranked in the US
#12
Montana
Infant Mortality Rate
5 per 1k
↑ 4.6%
Vs 2019
Ranked in the US
#35
Infant Deaths at Birth
57
Ranked in the US
#7
78.4
Ranked in the US
#26
Nebraska
Infant Mortality Rate
5.68 per 1k
↑ 15.21%
Vs 2019
Ranked in the US
#23
Infant Deaths at Birth
137
Ranked in the US
#15
79.2
Ranked in the US
#17
28.2 per 100k
Ranked in the US
#11
Nevada
Infant Mortality Rate
4.64 per 1k
↓ 18.17%
Vs 2019
Ranked in the US
#38
Infant Deaths at Birth
155
Ranked in the US
#17
Ranked in the US
#33
19.2 per 100k
Ranked in the US
#24
New Hampshire
Infant Mortality Rate
4.41 per 1k
↑ 37.38%
Vs 2019
Ranked in the US
#41
Infant Deaths at Birth
52
Ranked in the US
#5
79.4
Ranked in the US
#15
New Jersey
Infant Mortality Rate
4 per 1k
↓ 5.21%
Vs 2019
Ranked in the US
#46
Infant Deaths at Birth
393
Ranked in the US
#34
80.1
Ranked in the US
#7
24.1 per 100k
Ranked in the US
#14
New Mexico
Infant Mortality Rate
5.3 per 1k
↓ 6.36%
Vs 2019
Ranked in the US
#28
Infant Deaths at Birth
115
Ranked in the US
#13
76.9
Ranked in the US
#40
New York
Infant Mortality Rate
4.08 per 1k
↓ 5.77%
Vs 2019
Ranked in the US
#45
Infant Deaths at Birth
853
Ranked in the US
#46
80.7
Ranked in the US
#3
20.2 per 100k
Ranked in the US
#22
North Carolina
Infant Mortality Rate
6.77 per 1k
↓ 0.15%
Vs 2019
Ranked in the US
#8
Infant Deaths at Birth
800
Ranked in the US
#45
77.6
Ranked in the US
#36
20.6 per 100k
Ranked in the US
#20
North Dakota
Infant Mortality Rate
5.47 per 1k
↓ 26.68%
Vs 2019
Ranked in the US
#26
Infant Deaths at Birth
56
Ranked in the US
#6
78.8
Ranked in the US
#23
Ohio
Infant Mortality Rate
6.7 per 1k
↓ 2.76%
Vs 2019
Ranked in the US
#10
Infant Deaths at Birth
864
Ranked in the US
#47
76.9
Ranked in the US
#41
21.3 per 100k
Ranked in the US
#19
Oklahoma
Infant Mortality Rate
5.9 per 1k
↓ 15.71%
Vs 2019
Ranked in the US
#18
Infant Deaths at Birth
279
Ranked in the US
#25
75.7
Ranked in the US
#45
24.6 per 100k
Ranked in the US
#13
Oregon
Infant Mortality Rate
4.22 per 1k
↓ 12.99%
Vs 2019
Ranked in the US
#43
Infant Deaths at Birth
169
Ranked in the US
#19
79.6
Ranked in the US
#12
Pennsylvania
Infant Mortality Rate
5.58 per 1k
↓ 5.9%
Vs 2019
Ranked in the US
#24
Infant Deaths at Birth
726
Ranked in the US
#42
78.3
Ranked in the US
#29
15 per 100k
Ranked in the US
#26
Rhode Island
Infant Mortality Rate
3.96 per 1k
↓ 32.88%
Vs 2019
Ranked in the US
#47
Infant Deaths at Birth
42
Ranked in the US
#3
79.5
Ranked in the US
#14
South Carolina
Infant Mortality Rate
6.64 per 1k
↓ 3.63%
Vs 2019
Ranked in the US
#11
Infant Deaths at Birth
364
Ranked in the US
#30
76.8
Ranked in the US
#42
28.9 per 100k
Ranked in the US
#7
South Dakota
Infant Mortality Rate
7.3 per 1k
↑ 4.43%
Vs 2019
Ranked in the US
#5
Infant Deaths at Birth
81
Ranked in the US
#11
78.4
Ranked in the US
#27
Tennessee
Infant Mortality Rate
6.38 per 1k
↓ 8.33%
Vs 2019
Ranked in the US
#14
Infant Deaths at Birth
495
Ranked in the US
#38
75.6
Ranked in the US
#46
34.6 per 100k
Ranked in the US
#4
Texas
Infant Mortality Rate
5.29 per 1k
↓ 3.47%
Vs 2019
Ranked in the US
#29
Infant Deaths at Birth
1,968
Ranked in the US
#50
78.6
Ranked in the US
#24
22.9 per 100k
Ranked in the US
#15
Utah
Infant Mortality Rate
5.43 per 1k
↑ 3.04%
Vs 2019
Ranked in the US
#27
Infant Deaths at Birth
251
Ranked in the US
#21
79.7
Ranked in the US
#11
Virginia
Infant Mortality Rate
5.76 per 1k
↓ 0.86%
Vs 2019
Ranked in the US
#21
Infant Deaths at Birth
544
Ranked in the US
#40
79.1
Ranked in the US
#18
22.3 per 100k
Ranked in the US
#16
Washington
Infant Mortality Rate
4.51 per 1k
↑ 5.87%
Vs 2019
Ranked in the US
#39
Infant Deaths at Birth
373
Ranked in the US
#31
Ranked in the US
#9
20.5 per 100k
Ranked in the US
#21
West Virginia
Infant Mortality Rate
7.33 per 1k
↑ 19.77%
Vs 2019
Ranked in the US
#4
Infant Deaths at Birth
130
Ranked in the US
#14
74.5
Ranked in the US
#49
Wisconsin
Infant Mortality Rate
5.94 per 1k
↑ 1.37%
Vs 2019
Ranked in the US
#17
Infant Deaths at Birth
361
Ranked in the US
#29
79.3
Ranked in the US
#16
Wyoming
Infant Mortality Rate
5.22 per 1k
↓ 27.09%
Vs 2019
Ranked in the US
#30
Infant Deaths at Birth
31
Ranked in the US
#2
77.7
Ranked in the US
#35
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