Mortality rate, neonatal (per 1,000 live births) in United States
United States: Mortality rate, neonatal (per 1,000 live births) was 3.7 per 1,000 live births in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
3.7 per 1,000 live births
Change on year
up 2.8%
World rank
146th
of 197 countries
All-time high
15.9 per 1,000 live births
in 1968
All-time low
3.5 per 1,000 live births
in 2021
Years of data
57
1968–2024
Mortality rate, neonatal in United States, 1968–2024
Source: UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation, UN Children's Fund (UNICEF). Measured in per 1,000 live births.
Analysis
The most recent figure for mortality rate, neonatal in United States is 3.7 per 1,000 live births, measured in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 2.8% on the previous year and down 7.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, mortality rate, neonatal in United States peaked at 15.9 per 1,000 live births in 1968 and was at its lowest, 3.5 per 1,000 live births, in 2021.
United States ranks 146th of 197 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.
Mortality rate, neonatal (per 1,000 live births) in United States, year by year
| Year | per 1,000 live births | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1968 | 15.9 per 1,000 live births | — |
| 1969 | 15.5 per 1,000 live births | -2.5% |
| 1970 | 15 per 1,000 live births | -3.2% |
| 1971 | 14.4 per 1,000 live births | -4.0% |
| 1972 | 13.7 per 1,000 live births | -4.9% |
| 1973 | 12.9 per 1,000 live births | -5.8% |
| 1974 | 12.1 per 1,000 live births | -6.2% |
| 1975 | 11.5 per 1,000 live births | -5.0% |
| 1976 | 10.8 per 1,000 live births | -6.1% |
| 1977 | 10.2 per 1,000 live births | -5.6% |
| 1978 | 9.5 per 1,000 live births | -6.9% |
| 1979 | 8.8 per 1,000 live births | -7.4% |
| 1980 | 8.4 per 1,000 live births | -4.5% |
| 1981 | 8 per 1,000 live births | -4.8% |
| 1982 | 7.8 per 1,000 live births | -2.5% |
| 1983 | 7.5 per 1,000 live births | -3.8% |
| 1984 | 7.2 per 1,000 live births | -4.0% |
| 1985 | 6.9 per 1,000 live births | -4.2% |
| 1986 | 6.7 per 1,000 live births | -2.9% |
| 1987 | 6.5 per 1,000 live births | -3.0% |
| 1988 | 6.2 per 1,000 live births | -4.6% |
| 1989 | 6 per 1,000 live births | -3.2% |
| 1990 | 5.8 per 1,000 live births | -3.3% |
| 1991 | 5.6 per 1,000 live births | -3.4% |
| 1992 | 5.4 per 1,000 live births | -3.6% |
| 1993 | 5.2 per 1,000 live births | -3.7% |
| 1994 | 5.1 per 1,000 live births | -1.9% |
| 1995 | 5 per 1,000 live births | -2.0% |
| 1996 | 4.9 per 1,000 live births | -2.0% |
| 1997 | 4.8 per 1,000 live births | -2.0% |
| 1998 | 4.7 per 1,000 live births | -2.1% |
| 1999 | 4.6 per 1,000 live births | -2.1% |
| 2000 | 4.6 per 1,000 live births | +0.0% |
| 2001 | 4.7 per 1,000 live births | +2.2% |
| 2002 | 4.7 per 1,000 live births | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 4.6 per 1,000 live births | -2.1% |
| 2004 | 4.5 per 1,000 live births | -2.2% |
| 2005 | 4.5 per 1,000 live births | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 4.4 per 1,000 live births | -2.2% |
| 2007 | 4.3 per 1,000 live births | -2.3% |
| 2008 | 4.2 per 1,000 live births | -2.3% |
| 2009 | 4.1 per 1,000 live births | -2.4% |
| 2010 | 4.1 per 1,000 live births | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 4.1 per 1,000 live births | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 4.1 per 1,000 live births | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 4 per 1,000 live births | -2.4% |
| 2014 | 4 per 1,000 live births | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 3.9 per 1,000 live births | -2.5% |
| 2016 | 3.8 per 1,000 live births | -2.6% |
| 2017 | 3.8 per 1,000 live births | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 3.8 per 1,000 live births | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 3.7 per 1,000 live births | -2.6% |
| 2020 | 3.6 per 1,000 live births | -2.7% |
| 2021 | 3.5 per 1,000 live births | -2.8% |
| 2022 | 3.5 per 1,000 live births | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 3.6 per 1,000 live births | +2.9% |
| 2024 | 3.7 per 1,000 live births | +2.8% |
United States compared with similar countries
- United States's 3.7 per 1,000 live births is above the median for high income countries, which is 2.6 per 1,000 live births, 1.4× the median. (65 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 15.7 per 1,000 live births | 15.5 per 1,000 live births | 15.9 per 1,000 live births | 2 |
| 1970s | 11.89 per 1,000 live births | 8.8 per 1,000 live births | 15 per 1,000 live births | 10 |
| 1980s | 7.12 per 1,000 live births | 6 per 1,000 live births | 8.4 per 1,000 live births | 10 |
| 1990s | 5.11 per 1,000 live births | 4.6 per 1,000 live births | 5.8 per 1,000 live births | 10 |
| 2000s | 4.46 per 1,000 live births | 4.1 per 1,000 live births | 4.7 per 1,000 live births | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.93 per 1,000 live births | 3.7 per 1,000 live births | 4.1 per 1,000 live births | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.58 per 1,000 live births | 3.5 per 1,000 live births | 3.7 per 1,000 live births | 5 |
Countries ranked near United States
More health data for United States
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- 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 mortality rate, neonatal in United States?
- Mortality rate, neonatal in United States was 3.7 per 1,000 live births in 2024, according to UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation, UN Children's Fund (UNICEF).
- What is the highest mortality rate, neonatal recorded in United States?
- The highest recorded value was 15.9 per 1,000 live births in 1968.
- What is the lowest mortality rate, neonatal recorded in United States?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.5 per 1,000 live births in 2021.
- How does United States rank for mortality rate, neonatal?
- United States ranks 146th out of 197 countries with data for 2024.
- Is mortality rate, neonatal rising or falling in United States?
- Over the last ten years it is down 7.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this United States data come from?
- The figures come from UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation, UN Children's Fund (UNICEF), published as part of Mortality rate, neonatal (per 1,000 live births). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Neonatal mortality rate is the number of neonates dying before reaching 28 days of age, per 1,000 live births in a given year.