Infant Mortality Rates,* by Maternal Race/Ethnicity: 1985–2005

While the infant mortality rates among all races dropped significantly from 1985 to 2000, there was a very slight increase from 2000 to 2005. In 2005, infants to non-Hispanic Black mothers were more likely to die in their first year of birth than infants of other races; the infant mortality rate among this group was 14.3 deaths per 1,000 live births, compared to 5.7 and 5.8 deaths per 1,000 among infants of non-Hispanic White and Hispanic mothers. The disparity between infants to non-Hispanic Black mothers and those of other races and ethnicities has not changed dramatically since 1985; in other words, the gap has not narrowed. In 2005, the rates of infant deaths per 1,000 live births were:

  • Non-Hispanic Black: 14.3
  • All races: 6.9
  • Hispanic: 5.8
  • Non-Hispanic Black: 5.7

*Under 1 year of age.↑

Source: Kung HC, Hoyert DL, Xu JQ, Murphy SL. Deaths: Final Data for 2005. National vital statistics reports; vol 56 no 10. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics. 2008.; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics, National Vital Statistics System. Unpublished Data.

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