Infant mortality statistics from the 2010 period linked birth/infant death data set

This report presents 2010 period infant mortality statistics from the linked birth/infant death data set (linked file) by maternal and infant characteristics. The linked file differs from the mortality rate declined mortality file, which is based entirely on death certificate data.

Descriptive tabulations of data are presented and interpreted.

The U.S. infant mortality rate was 6.14 infant deaths per 1,000 live births in 2010, 4% lower than the rate of 6.39 in 2009. The number of infant deaths was 24,572 in 2010, a decline of 1,836 infant deaths from 2009. From 2009 to 2010, the infant mortality rate declined 8% for non-Hispanic black mothers to 11.46, and 3% for non-Hispanic white mothers to 5.18. Asian or Pacific Islander mothers had the lowest rate in 2010 (4.27). From 2009 to 2010, the neonatal mortality rate declined by 3% to 4.05 neonatal deaths per 1,000 live births, while the postneonatal mortality rate declined 5% to 2.10. In 2010, infants born at 37-38 weeks of gestation (early term) had infant mortality rates that were 62% higher than those born at 39-41 weeks of gestation. For multiple births, the infant mortality rate was 25.41, almost five times the rate of 5.45 for singleton births. The three leading causes of infant death-congenital malformations, low birthweight, and sudden infant death syndrome-accounted for 46% of all infant deaths. In 2010, 35.2% of infant deaths were preterm-related.