- 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.
Infant mortality rate
| Infant mortality, rate per 1,000 live births, 2023 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Non-Hispanic American Indian/Alaska Native | Total Population | Non-Hispanic American Indian/Alaska Native / Total Population Ratio |
| 9.20 | 5.61 | 1.64 |
| Infant mortality by age of mother, rate per 1,000 live births, 2023 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Age of Mother | Non-Hispanic American Indian/Alaska Native | Total Population | Non-Hispanic American Indian/Alaska Native / Total Population Ratio |
| 15-19 years | 11.95 | 10.44 | 1.14 |
| 20–24 years | 10.98 | 7.23 | 1.52 |
| 25–29 years | 7.89 | 5.24 | 1.51 |
| 30–34 years | 8.54 | 4.59 | 1.86 |
| 35–39 years | 6.80 | 4.94 | 1.38 |
| 40-54 years | Not Reported | 6.77 | Not Reported |
Leading causes of infant mortality
| 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 | Non-Hispanic American Indian/Alaska Native | Total Population | Non-Hispanic American Indian/Alaska Native / Total Population Ratio |
| 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 |
Medical and health characteristics of births
| Mother received late or no prenatal care, percentage, 2023 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Non-Hispanic American Indian/Alaska Native | Total Population | Non-Hispanic American Indian/Alaska Native / Total Population Ratio |
| 12.6 | 7.0 | 1.80 |
| Mother smoked during pregnancy, percentage, 2023 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Non-Hispanic American Indian/Alaska Native | Total Population | Non-Hispanic American Indian/Alaska Native / Total Population Ratio |
| 9.6 | 3.0 | 3.2 |
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: September 2025