09/09/2026
In 2022,the U.S. experienced a 3% increase in IMR, marking
the first year-to-year rise in two decades a concerning trend
that underscores the need for continued focus on maternal
and infant health outcomes.
Though progress has been slow, the US infant mortality rate dropped from 5.54 death per 1,000 live births in the 12 month period ending in late 2024
to 5.36 deaths per1,000 live births in 2025, which
researchers confirm is a statistically significant decrease.
We have to remember though that celebration of continued improvement can mask the reality that over 20,000 infants died before reaching their first birthday.