Infant Mortality and Black/African Americans

  • In 2023, the infant mortality rate for non-Hispanic Black or African Americans was greater than the total population in every maternal age group and over twice the rate for mothers in their 30s.1
  • In 2023, Non-Hispanic Black or African American infants died 2.5 times more frequently from causes related to low birthweight, 2.35 times more frequently from sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), and 2.23 times as often from accidents compared to all other U.S. populations.2
  • In 2023, Non-Hispanic Black or African American mothers3
    • Had rates of late or no prenatal care that exceeded the rate of mothers of the total population by 49%.
    • Smoked during pregnancy 10% less than mothers of the total population.

Visit MedlinePlus for information about Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) and Common Infant and Newborn Problems in multiple languages.

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Occurrence

Infant mortality, rate per 1,000 live births, 2023
Black*Total PopulationRatio (Black* / Total)
10.95.61.95
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 MotherBlack*Total PopulationRatio (Black* / Total)
15-19 years15.910.41.52
20–24 years12.87.21.77
25–29 years10.25.21.94
30–34 years9.74.62.11
35–39 years9.64.91.94
40–54 years11.76.81.73
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.

Leading Causes of Death

Infant mortality rate for the top 5 leading causes of death for Black or African Americans, rate per 100,000 live births, 2023
Cause of DeathBlack*Total PopulationRatio (Black* / Total)
Low Birthweight201.081.42.47
Congenital Malformations146.5112.11.31
Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)94.440.22.35
Accidents (unintentional injuries)80.035.82.23
Maternal complications of pregnancy62.331.91.95
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 4). U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Risk Factors for Complications

Mother received late or no prenatal care, percentage, 2023
Black*Total PopulationRatio (Black* / Total)
10.47.01.49
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
Black*Total PopulationRatio (Black* / Total)
2.73.00.90
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.

*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, 2024. 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. Table 13. (Back to top)


Date Last Reviewed: January 2026