Infant mortality (Our World) in United States
United States: Infant mortality (Our World) was 0.5482 in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
0.5482
Change on year
down 0.2%
World rank
145th
of 199 countries
All-time high
3.32
in 1949
All-time low
0.5482
in 2024
Years of data
76
1949–2024
Infant mortality in United States, 1949–2024
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2024, infant mortality in United States stood at 0.5482. That is the lowest value across all 76 years on record.
That represents a change of down 0.2% on the previous year and down 6.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, infant mortality in United States peaked at 3.32 in 1949 and was at its lowest, 0.5482, in 2024.
United States ranks 145th of 199 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Infant mortality (Our World) in United States, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1949 | 3.32 | — |
| 1950 | 3.23 | -2.6% |
| 1951 | 3.15 | -2.6% |
| 1952 | 3.07 | -2.7% |
| 1953 | 2.99 | -2.6% |
| 1954 | 2.91 | -2.5% |
| 1955 | 2.84 | -2.3% |
| 1956 | 2.79 | -2.0% |
| 1957 | 2.73 | -1.8% |
| 1958 | 2.69 | -1.7% |
| 1959 | 2.64 | -1.7% |
| 1960 | 2.59 | -1.8% |
| 1961 | 2.55 | -1.9% |
| 1962 | 2.5 | -2.0% |
| 1963 | 2.44 | -2.1% |
| 1964 | 2.39 | -2.2% |
| 1965 | 2.33 | -2.4% |
| 1966 | 2.27 | -2.6% |
| 1967 | 2.21 | -2.8% |
| 1968 | 2.14 | -3.1% |
| 1969 | 2.07 | -3.4% |
| 1970 | 1.99 | -3.7% |
| 1971 | 1.91 | -4.0% |
| 1972 | 1.83 | -4.2% |
| 1973 | 1.75 | -4.4% |
| 1974 | 1.67 | -4.6% |
| 1975 | 1.59 | -4.7% |
| 1976 | 1.52 | -4.8% |
| 1977 | 1.44 | -4.8% |
| 1978 | 1.38 | -4.7% |
| 1979 | 1.31 | -4.5% |
| 1980 | 1.26 | -4.3% |
| 1981 | 1.21 | -4.1% |
| 1982 | 1.16 | -3.8% |
| 1983 | 1.12 | -3.3% |
| 1984 | 1.09 | -2.9% |
| 1985 | 1.06 | -2.6% |
| 1986 | 1.04 | -2.3% |
| 1987 | 1.01 | -2.2% |
| 1988 | 0.9906 | -2.3% |
| 1989 | 0.9655 | -2.5% |
| 1990 | 0.9377 | -2.9% |
| 1991 | 0.9079 | -3.2% |
| 1992 | 0.877 | -3.4% |
| 1993 | 0.8465 | -3.5% |
| 1994 | 0.8176 | -3.4% |
| 1995 | 0.7917 | -3.2% |
| 1996 | 0.7691 | -2.9% |
| 1997 | 0.7501 | -2.5% |
| 1998 | 0.7348 | -2.0% |
| 1999 | 0.7222 | -1.7% |
| 2000 | 0.7118 | -1.4% |
| 2001 | 0.7032 | -1.2% |
| 2002 | 0.696 | -1.0% |
| 2003 | 0.6897 | -0.9% |
| 2004 | 0.6834 | -0.9% |
| 2005 | 0.6765 | -1.0% |
| 2006 | 0.6683 | -1.2% |
| 2007 | 0.6587 | -1.4% |
| 2008 | 0.6475 | -1.7% |
| 2009 | 0.6354 | -1.9% |
| 2010 | 0.6232 | -1.9% |
| 2011 | 0.6114 | -1.9% |
| 2012 | 0.6009 | -1.7% |
| 2013 | 0.5917 | -1.5% |
| 2014 | 0.5834 | -1.4% |
| 2015 | 0.5759 | -1.3% |
| 2016 | 0.5689 | -1.2% |
| 2017 | 0.5625 | -1.1% |
| 2018 | 0.5567 | -1.0% |
| 2019 | 0.5524 | -0.8% |
| 2020 | 0.5498 | -0.5% |
| 2021 | 0.5489 | -0.2% |
| 2022 | 0.5491 | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 0.5494 | +0.1% |
| 2024 | 0.5482 | -0.2% |
United States compared with similar countries
- United States's 0.5482 is above the median for high income countries, which is 0.3612, 1.5× the median. (65 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1940s | 3.32 | 3.32 | 3.32 | 1 |
| 1950s | 2.9 | 2.64 | 3.23 | 10 |
| 1960s | 2.35 | 2.07 | 2.59 | 10 |
| 1970s | 1.64 | 1.31 | 1.99 | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.09 | 0.9655 | 1.26 | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.8155 | 0.7222 | 0.9377 | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.677 | 0.6354 | 0.7118 | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.5827 | 0.5524 | 0.6232 | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.5491 | 0.5482 | 0.5498 | 5 |
Countries ranked near United States
More health data for United States
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.67 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate -0.1867 % change on previous year (2090)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 4,015 (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2023)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 0.056 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.0261 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 0.1919 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per capita 0.0274 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is infant mortality in United States?
- Infant mortality in United States was 0.5482 in 2024, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest infant mortality recorded in United States?
- The highest recorded value was 3.32 in 1949.
- What is the lowest infant mortality recorded in United States?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.5482 in 2024.
- How does United States rank for infant mortality?
- United States ranks 145th out of 199 countries with data for 2024.
- Is infant mortality rising or falling in United States?
- Over the last ten years it is down 6.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this United States data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Infant mortality. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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