Infant Mortality and Hispanics/Latinos

Infant mortality refers to the death of a baby between 1 day and 1 year old. Deaths that happen before a baby is 28 days old are also called neonatal deaths. Babies can die for many reasons, such as birth defects, infections, or accidents. It is important to understand the difference between causes and contributors to infant mortality. A cause is what directly leads to a baby’s death. A contributor is something that increases the risk of death but does not directly cause it. While many leading causes of infant death cannot be fully prevented, parents and caregivers can lower a baby’s risk by making healthy choices and getting care before and during pregnancy.

Occurrence

Infant mortality, rate per 1,000 live births, 2024
Maternal race and Hispanic Origin	Infant Mortality Rate	Ratio (Hispanic / Total)
Total Population	5.5	1.00
Total Hispanic	4.9	0.89
Mexican	4.9	0.89
Puerto Rican	6.2	1.13
Cuban	4.2	0.76
Central and South American	4.5	0.82

Infant mortality by age of mother, rate per 1,000 live births, 2024
Age of Mother	Total Hispanic	Total Population	Ratio (Hispanic / Total)
15-19 years	7.3	9.8	0.74
20-24 years	5.1	6.9	0.73
25-29 years	4.5	5.2	0.85
30-34 years	4.4	4.7	0.95
35-39 years	4.6	4.9	0.94
40-54 years	7.2	7.0	1.04

Leading Causes of Death

Infant mortality rate for the top 5 leading causes of death for Hispanic subgroups, rate per 100,000 live births, 2024
Cause of Death	Population	Rate per 100,000	Total Population Rate	Ratio (Population / Total)
Low Birthweight	Hispanic	72.0	81.2	0.89
	Mexican American	70.4	81.2	0.87
	Puerto Rican	114.5	81.2	1.41
	Central & South American	63.0	81.2	0.78
Congenital Malformations	Hispanic	123.5	112.7	1.10
	Mexican American	124.5	112.7	1.10
	Puerto Rican	105.3	112.7	0.93
	Central & South American	130.8	112.7	1.16
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)	Hispanic	25.6	37.2	0.69
	Mexican American	22.8	37.2	0.61
	Puerto Rican	54.9	37.2	1.48
	Central & South American	19.4	37.2	0.52
Accidents (Unintentional Injuries)	Hispanic	18.9	34.0	0.56
	Mexican American	20.5	34.0	0.60
	Puerto Rican	35.1	34.0	1.03
	Central & South American	10.4	34.0	0.31
Maternal Complications of Pregnancy	Hispanic	33.6	33.0	1.02
	Mexican American	34.3	33.0	1.04
	Puerto Rican	47.3	33.0	1.43
	Central & South American	26.3	33.0	0.80

Risk Factors for Complications

Mother received late or no prenatal care, percentage, 2024
Population	Percent	Ratio (Hispanic / Total)
Total Population	7.3	1.00
Total Hispanic	10.0	1.37
Mexican	9.2	1.37
Puerto Rican	6.6	0.90
Cuban	9.9	1.36
Central and South American	14.1	1.93

Mother smoked during pregnancy, percentage, 2024
Population	Percent	Ratio (Hispanic / Total)
Total Population	2.4	1.00
Total Hispanic	0.6	0.25
Mexican	0.6	0.25
Puerto Rican	2.3	0.96
Cuban	0.8	0.33
Central and South American	0.2	0.08