Infant Mortality Rate By State

Infant Mortality rate
Infant Mortality rateℹ️
1.MississippiMississippi9.39
2.ArkansasArkansas8.59
3.AlabamaAlabama7.56
4.AlaskaAlaska7.37
5.South CarolinaSouth Carolina7.26
6.LouisianaLouisiana7.24
7.OklahomaOklahoma7.13
8.OhioOhio7.06
9.West VirginiaWest Virginia6.80
10.IndianaIndiana6.75
11.North CarolinaNorth Carolina6.72
12.GeorgiaGeorgia6.25
13.MichiganMichigan6.22
14.TennesseeTennessee6.18
15.KentuckyKentucky6.15
16.South DakotaSouth Dakota6.07
17.MarylandMaryland5.99
18.VirginiaVirginia5.96
19.FloridaFlorida5.90
20.MissouriMissouri5.85
21.NevadaNevada5.76
22.IllinoisIllinois5.62
23.NebraskaNebraska5.49
24.ArizonaArizona5.47
25.WyomingWyoming5.45
26.PennsylvaniaPennsylvania5.37
27.WisconsinWisconsin5.36
28.KansasKansas5.30
29.TexasTexas5.29
30.IdahoIdaho5.13
31.MaineMaine5.00
32.ColoradoColorado4.99
33.MontanaMontana4.90
34.MinnesotaMinnesota4.83
35.DelawareDelaware4.77
36.New MexicoNew Mexico4.77
37.HawaiiHawaii4.67
38.ConnecticutConnecticut4.65
39.VermontVermont4.60
40.UtahUtah4.58
41.WashingtonWashington4.36
42.Rhode IslandRhode Island4.30
43.New YorkNew York4.16
44.CaliforniaCalifornia4.07
45.IowaIowa3.99
46.New HampshireNew Hampshire3.96
47.OregonOregon3.79
48.New JerseyNew Jersey3.57
49.MassachusettsMassachusetts3.23
50.North DakotaNorth Dakota2.77

Introduction

Infant mortality, constituting deaths of infants before their first birthday, sparks global concern given its profound implications for public health. A crucial indicator of a region's healthcare quality, socio-economic status, and accessibility to medical services, the Infant mortality rate (IMR) is expressed as the number of deaths of infants under one year of age per 1,000 live births.

  • Mississippi has the highest Infant Mortality Rate in the United States at 9.39 deaths per 1,000 live births, followed by Arkansas and Alabama at 8.59 and 7.56 respectively. Conversely, North Dakota boasts the lowest IMR at just 2.77.
  • An alarming regional trend is apparent in the data- Southern states, including Mississippi, Arkansas, Alabama, South Carolina, and Louisiana, disproportionately dominate the top of the list.
  • In the case of the Northeast, the states show a contrasting trend with lower infant mortality rates on average. Notably, states such as Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, and Rhode Island have infant mortality rates below five deaths per 1,000 live births.
  • Midlands states present a mixed picture with varying rates, for instance, South Dakota with an IMR of 6.07 contrasts sharply with its northern counterpart, North Dakota, which has the lowest IMR in the United States.

States with the Highest Infant Mortality Rates

Leading this list is Mississippi, with an alarming infant mortality rate of 9.39 per 1,000 live births. Following Mississippi is Arkansas, which has an infant mortality rate of 8.59. Meanwhile, Alabama takes the third spot with an infant mortality rate of 7.56. Both these states, like Mississippi, are located in the South, reinforcing a disturbing regional trend of higher infant mortality rates. The fourth state with the highest infant mortality rate is Alaska—with 7.37 deaths per 1,000 births— breaking the Southern states' stronghold. It's important to note that Alaska's unique geographical and logistically challenging scenario might be contributing to this high mortality rate. Rounding out the top five is South Carolina, another Southern state, with an infant mortality rate of 7.26. The high infant mortality rates continue with Louisiana (7.24), Oklahoma (7.13), Ohio (7.06), West Virginia (6.80), and Indiana (6.75). States with the highest infant mortality rates:

  1. Mississippi - 9.39
  2. Arkansas - 8.59
  3. Alabama - 7.56
  4. Alaska - 7.37
  5. South Carolina - 7.26
  6. Louisiana - 7.24
  7. Oklahoma - 7.13
  8. Ohio - 7.06
  9. West Virginia - 6.80
  10. Indiana - 6.75

States with the Lowest Infant Mortality Rates

North Dakota emerged as the leading state, with the lowest Infant Mortality Rate of only 2.77 deaths per 1,000 live births. Following closely is Massachusetts, reported with an IMR of 3.23, highlighting the state’s attention to maternal and infant health. New Jersey, with an IMR of 3.57, and Oregon with an IMR of 3.79, also present strong figures reinforcing their health systems. New Hampshire and Iowa present nearly identical statistics, with IMRs of 3.96 and 3.99 respectively, aligning them closely with top performers. California, a state with a vast and diverse populace, successfully maintains an IMR of 4.07, indicative of its large-scale healthcare initiatives. Lastly, New York, Rhode Island, and Washington showcase commendable infant mortality figures with rates of 4.16, 4.30, and 4.36 respectively. The Lowest Infant Mortality Rates by State:

  1. North Dakota - 2.77 per 1,000 live births
  2. Massachusetts - 3.23 per 1,000 live births
  3. New Jersey - 3.57 per 1,000 live births
  4. Oregon - 3.79 per 1,000 live births
  5. New Hampshire - 3.96 per 1,000 live births
  6. Iowa - 3.99 per 1,000 live births
  7. California - 4.07 per 1,000 live births
  8. New York - 4.16 per 1,000 live births
  9. Rhode Island - 4.30 per 1,000 live births
  10. Washington - 4.36 per 1,000 live births

By Region

Alabama

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Alabama

Metric

Value

Rank

Infant Mortality rate

7.56

#3

Alaska

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Alaska

Metric

Value

Rank

Infant Mortality rate

7.37

#4

Arizona

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Arizona

Metric

Value

Rank

Infant Mortality rate

5.47

#24

Arkansas

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Arkansas

Metric

Value

Rank

Infant Mortality rate

8.59

#2

California

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California

Metric

Value

Rank

Infant Mortality rate

4.07

#44

Colorado

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Colorado

Metric

Value

Rank

Infant Mortality rate

4.99

#32

Connecticut

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Connecticut

Metric

Value

Rank

Infant Mortality rate

4.65

#38

Delaware

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Delaware

Metric

Value

Rank

Infant Mortality rate

4.77

#35

Florida

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Florida

Metric

Value

Rank

Infant Mortality rate

5.90

#19

Georgia

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Georgia

Metric

Value

Rank

Infant Mortality rate

6.25

#12

Hawaii

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Hawaii

Metric

Value

Rank

Infant Mortality rate

4.67

#37

Idaho

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Idaho

Metric

Value

Rank

Infant Mortality rate

5.13

#30

Illinois

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Illinois

Metric

Value

Rank

Infant Mortality rate

5.62

#22

Indiana

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Indiana

Metric

Value

Rank

Infant Mortality rate

6.75

#10

Iowa

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Iowa

Metric

Value

Rank

Infant Mortality rate

3.99

#45

Kansas

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Kansas

Metric

Value

Rank

Infant Mortality rate

5.30

#28

Kentucky

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Kentucky

Metric

Value

Rank

Infant Mortality rate

6.15

#15

Louisiana

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Louisiana

Metric

Value

Rank

Infant Mortality rate

7.24

#6

Maine

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Maine

Metric

Value

Rank

Infant Mortality rate

5.00

#31

Maryland

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Maryland

Metric

Value

Rank

Infant Mortality rate

5.99

#17

Massachusetts

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Massachusetts

Metric

Value

Rank

Infant Mortality rate

3.23

#49

Michigan

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Michigan

Metric

Value

Rank

Infant Mortality rate

6.22

#13

Minnesota

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Minnesota

Metric

Value

Rank

Infant Mortality rate

4.83

#34

Mississippi

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Mississippi

Metric

Value

Rank

Infant Mortality rate

9.39

#1

Missouri

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Missouri

Metric

Value

Rank

Infant Mortality rate

5.85

#20

Montana

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Montana

Metric

Value

Rank

Infant Mortality rate

4.90

#33

Nebraska

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Nebraska

Metric

Value

Rank

Infant Mortality rate

5.49

#23

Nevada

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Nevada

Metric

Value

Rank

Infant Mortality rate

5.76

#21

New Hampshire

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New Hampshire

Metric

Value

Rank

Infant Mortality rate

3.96

#46

New Jersey

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New Jersey

Metric

Value

Rank

Infant Mortality rate

3.57

#48

New Mexico

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New Mexico

Metric

Value

Rank

Infant Mortality rate

4.77

#36

New York

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New York

Metric

Value

Rank

Infant Mortality rate

4.16

#43

North Carolina

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North Carolina

Metric

Value

Rank

Infant Mortality rate

6.72

#11

North Dakota

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North Dakota

Metric

Value

Rank

Infant Mortality rate

2.77

#50

Ohio

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Ohio

Metric

Value

Rank

Infant Mortality rate

7.06

#8

Oklahoma

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Oklahoma

Metric

Value

Rank

Infant Mortality rate

7.13

#7

Oregon

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Oregon

Metric

Value

Rank

Infant Mortality rate

3.79

#47

Pennsylvania

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Pennsylvania

Metric

Value

Rank

Infant Mortality rate

5.37

#26

Rhode Island

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Rhode Island

Metric

Value

Rank

Infant Mortality rate

4.30

#42

South Carolina

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South Carolina

Metric

Value

Rank

Infant Mortality rate

7.26

#5

South Dakota

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South Dakota

Metric

Value

Rank

Infant Mortality rate

6.07

#16

Tennessee

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Tennessee

Metric

Value

Rank

Infant Mortality rate

6.18

#14

Texas

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Texas

Metric

Value

Rank

Infant Mortality rate

5.29

#29

Utah

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Utah

Metric

Value

Rank

Infant Mortality rate

4.58

#40

Vermont

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Vermont

Metric

Value

Rank

Infant Mortality rate

4.60

#39

Virginia

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Virginia

Metric

Value

Rank

Infant Mortality rate

5.96

#18

Washington

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Washington

Metric

Value

Rank

Infant Mortality rate

4.36

#41

West Virginia

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West Virginia

Metric

Value

Rank

Infant Mortality rate

6.80

#9

Wisconsin

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Wisconsin

Metric

Value

Rank

Infant Mortality rate

5.36

#27

Wyoming

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Wyoming

Metric

Value

Rank

Infant Mortality rate

5.45

#25

Table

Region ↕Infant Mortality rate ↕
Alabama iconAlabama7.56
Alaska iconAlaska7.37
Arizona iconArizona5.47
Arkansas iconArkansas8.59
California iconCalifornia4.07
Colorado iconColorado4.99
Connecticut iconConnecticut4.65
Delaware iconDelaware4.77
Florida iconFlorida5.90
Georgia iconGeorgia6.25
Hawaii iconHawaii4.67
Idaho iconIdaho5.13
Illinois iconIllinois5.62
Indiana iconIndiana6.75
Iowa iconIowa3.99
Kansas iconKansas5.30
Kentucky iconKentucky6.15
Louisiana iconLouisiana7.24
Maine iconMaine5.00
Maryland iconMaryland5.99
Massachusetts iconMassachusetts3.23
Michigan iconMichigan6.22
Minnesota iconMinnesota4.83
Mississippi iconMississippi9.39
Missouri iconMissouri5.85
Montana iconMontana4.90
Nebraska iconNebraska5.49
Nevada iconNevada5.76
New Hampshire iconNew Hampshire3.96
New Jersey iconNew Jersey3.57
New Mexico iconNew Mexico4.77
New York iconNew York4.16
North Carolina iconNorth Carolina6.72
North Dakota iconNorth Dakota2.77
Ohio iconOhio7.06
Oklahoma iconOklahoma7.13
Oregon iconOregon3.79
Pennsylvania iconPennsylvania5.37
Rhode Island iconRhode Island4.30
South Carolina iconSouth Carolina7.26
South Dakota iconSouth Dakota6.07
Tennessee iconTennessee6.18
Texas iconTexas5.29
Utah iconUtah4.58
Vermont iconVermont4.60
Virginia iconVirginia5.96
Washington iconWashington4.36
West Virginia iconWest Virginia6.80
Wisconsin iconWisconsin5.36
Wyoming iconWyoming5.45
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