- Among Hispanic/Latino subgroups, the infant mortality rates in 2023 ranged from 3.77 per 1,000 live births for Cuban Americans to 6.43 per 1,000 live births for Puerto Ricans.1
- Puerto Rican infants died from causes related to maternal complications of pregnancy at a rate that was 61% higher compared to infants of the total population in 2023.2
- In 2023,3
- Hispanic mothers were 1.4 times more likely to receive late or no prenatal care than mothers of the total population.
- Central and South American mothers were twice as likely to receive late or no prenatal care as mothers of the total population.
- Overall, Hispanic/Latino mothers smoked less during pregnancy compared to the total population; ranging from 20% less for Puerto Rican mothers to 90% less for Central and South American mothers.
Visit MedlinePlus for Spanish-language information about Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) and Common Infant and Newborn Problems.
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Occurrence
| Infant mortality, rate per 1,000 live births, 2023 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Maternal race and Hispanic Origin | Infant Mortality Rate | Ratio (Hispanic / Total) |
| Total Population | 5.6 | 1.00 |
| Total Hispanic | 5.0 | 0.90 |
| Mexican | 5.1 | 0.91 |
| Puerto Rican | 6.4 | 1.15 |
| Cuban | 3.8 | 0.67 |
| Central and South American | 4.6 | 0.82 |
| Infant mortality by age of mother, rate per 1,000 live births, 2023 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Age of Mother | Total Hispanic | Total Population | Ratio (Hispanic / Total) |
| 15-19 years | 7.2 | 10.4 | 0.68 |
| 20-24 years | 5.5 | 7.2 | 0.76 |
| 25-29 years | 4.4 | 5.2 | 0.85 |
| 30-34 years | 4.5 | 4.6 | 0.97 |
| 35-39 years | 5.1 | 4.9 | 1.03 |
| 40-54 years | 6.4 | 6.8 | 0.94 |
Leading Causes of Death
| Infant mortality rate for the top 5 leading causes of death for Hispanic subgroups, rate per 100,000 live births, 2023 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cause of Death | Population | Rate per 100,000 | Total Population Rate | Ratio (Population / Total) |
| Low Birthweight | Hispanic | 79.9 | 81.4 | 0.98 |
| Mexican American | 75.0 | 81.4 | 0.92 | |
| Puerto Rican | 110.3 | 81.4 | 1.36 | |
| Central & South American | 82.0 | 81.4 | 1.01 | |
| Congenital Malformations | Hispanic | 119.6 | 112.1 | 1.07 |
| Mexican American | 126.7 | 112.1 | 1.13 | |
| Puerto Rican | 101.2 | 112.1 | 0.90 | |
| Central & South American | 128.5 | 112.1 | 1.15 | |
| Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) | Hispanic | 23.6 | 40.2 | 0.59 |
| Mexican American | 22.4 | 40.2 | 0.56 | |
| Puerto Rican | 42.3 | 40.2 | 1.05 | |
| Central & South American | 17.7 | 40.2 | 0.44 | |
| Accidents (Unintentional Injuries) | Hispanic | 22.0 | 35.8 | 0.61 |
| Mexican American | 24.2 | 35.8 | 0.68 | |
| Puerto Rican | 39.3 | 35.8 | 1.10 | |
| Central & South American | 14.4 | 35.8 | 0.40 | |
| Maternal Complications of Pregnancy | Hispanic | 32.8 | 31.9 | 1.03 |
| Mexican American | 32.9 | 31.9 | 1.03 | |
| Puerto Rican | 51.4 | 31.9 | 1.61 | |
| Central & South American | 25.4 | 31.9 | 0.80 | |
Risk Factors for Complications
| Mother received late or no prenatal care, percentage, 2023 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Population | Percent | Ratio (Hispanic / Total) |
| Total Population | 7.0 | 1.00 |
| Total Hispanic | 9.7 | 1.39 |
| Mexican | 8.7 | 1.24 |
| Puerto Rican | 6.3 | 0.90 |
| Cuban | 8.4 | 1.20 |
| Central and South American | 14.2 | 2.03 |
| Mother smoked during pregnancy, percentage, 2023 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Population | Percent | Ratio (Hispanic / Total) |
| Total Population | 3.0 | 1.00 |
| Total Hispanic | 0.8 | 0.30 |
| Mexican | 0.7 | 0.20 |
| Puerto Rican | 2.5 | 0.80 |
| Cuban | 0.9 | 0.30 |
| Central and South American | 0.2 | 0.10 |
1 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 2025. 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, 2024. Infant Mortality in the United States, 2022: Data from the Period Linked Birth/Infant Death File. National Vital Statistics Reports, vol. 73, no. 5. Table 4. (Back to top)
3 CDC, 2025. Births: Final Data for 2023. National Vital Statistics Reports, vol. 74, no. 1. Tables 13 and 14. (Back to top)
Date Last Reviewed: January 2026