Infant Mortality and American Indians/Alaska Natives

In 2023, the infant mortality rate for American Indians/Alaska Natives was 64% greater than the rate for the total population.1
For American Indian/Alaska Natives, in 2023, all leading causes of infant mortality (low birthweight, congenital malformations, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome [SIDS], accidents [unintentional injuries], and maternal complications of pregnancy) occurred more frequently than for the total population. Both SIDS and congenital malformations occurred at a rate in American Indian/Alaska Native infants that was 2.4 times higher than the total population.2
In 2023,3
- American Indian/Alaska Native mothers had rates of late or no prenatal care that exceeded the rate of total mothers by 80%.
- American Indian/Alaska Native mothers reported smoking during pregnancy 3.2 times more frequently than mothers of the total population.

Visit MedlinePlus for more health information about SIDS and Common Infant and Newborn Problems in multiple languages.

For resources about infant and maternal health among American Indians/Alaska Natives, visit the Indian Health Service. To find culturally appropriate resources for American Indian and Alaska Native women who are pregnant or postpartum, explore CDC’s HEAR HER Campaign.

Looking for curated searches on infant health and mortality within minority and tribal populations, including American Indians/Alaska Natives populations, in the United States and its territories? Check out the OMH Knowledge Center Topic Guides.

Occurrence

Infant mortality, rate per 1,000 live births, 2023
AI/AN*	Total Population	Ratio (AI/AN* / Total)
9.2	5.6	1.64

Source: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics. (2025). Infant mortality in the United States, 2023 (National Vital Statistics Report, Vol. 74, No. 7, Table 2). U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Infant mortality by age of mother, rate per 1,000 live births, 2023
Age of Mother	AI/AN*	Total Population	Ratio (AI/AN* / Total)
15-19 years	12.0	10.4	1.14
20–24 years	11.0	7.2	1.52
25–29 years	7.9	5.2	1.51
30–34 years	8.5	4.6	1.86
35–39 years	6.8	4.9	1.38
40-54 years	Not Reported	6.8	Not Reported

Leading Causes of Death

Infant mortality rate for the top 5 leading causes of death for American Indians/Alaska Natives, rate per 100,000 live births, 2023
Cause of Death	AI/AN*	Total Population	Ratio (AI/AN* / Total)
Low Birthweight	93.6	81.4	1.15
Congenital Malformations	134.3	112.1	1.20
Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)	97.7	40.2	2.43
Accidents (unintentional injuries)	85.5	35.8	2.39
Maternal complications of pregnancy	52.9	31.9	1.66

Risk Factors for Complications

Mother received late or no prenatal care, percentage, 2023
AI/AN*	Total Population	Ratio (AI/AN* / Total)
12.6	7.0	1.80

Source:U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics. (2025). Births: Final data for 2023 (National Vital Statistics Report, Vol. 74, No. 1, Table 13). U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Mother smoked during pregnancy, percentage, 2023
AI/AN*	Total Population	Ratio (AI/AN* / Total)
9.6	3.0	3.20

*Population is non-Hispanic in the data source.

1 CDC, 2024. Infant Mortality in the United States, 2023: Data from the Period Linked Birth/Infant Death File. National Vital Statistics Reports Volume 74, Number 7. Table 2. (Back to top)

2 CDC, 2025. Infant Mortality in the United States, 2023: Data from the Period Linked Birth/Infant Death File. National Vital Statistics Reports, vol. 74, no. 7. Table 4. (Back to top)

3 CDC, 2025. Births: Final Data for 2023. National Vital Statistics Reports, vol. 74, no. 1. Tables 13. (Back to top)

Date Last Reviewed: January 2026