Infant Mortality Rate in New York City Reaches Historic Low 1/30/2015

Rate of 4.6 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2013 is the lowest in New York City history, and nearly 30 percent lower than the U.S. rate

Despite these declines, New York City continues to experience deep racial/ethnic disparities in infant mortality

New York City’s infant mortality rate (IMR) fell to an all-time low in 2013, the Health Department reported today in its annual review of infant death statistics (PDF). The infant mortality rate reflects death in infants before reaching their first birthday. The 2013 infant mortality rate - 4.6 deaths per 1,000 live births - represents a 24.6 percent decline from 6.1 in 2004, and a modest decline from 4.7 in 2012. In 2012, the most recent data available, the national infant mortality rate was 6.0 per 1,000 live births. New York City’s infant mortality rate in 2013 was 27.7 percent lower than the 2012 national rate.

Read the press release

2013 Summary of Vital Statistics: Infant Mortality Report (PDF)

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