Infant mortality declined to a level never before recorded in the United States, according to new preliminary data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, although it remains higher than in some other countries.
Just 5.36 infants per 1,000 live births died, according to the data. That was down from 5.54 in 2024 and 5.63 in 2023.
Infants refers to children who have not yet reached their first birthday. The data is based on death and birth certificates.
Researchers said the decline is statistically meaningful and translates into hundreds of fewer infant deaths per year.
“This is an encouraging data point, and we hope that this trend will continue,” said Dr. Michael Warren, chief medical and health officer for the March of Dimes….