INTERNATIONAL INFANT MORTALITY

Although the infant mortality rate in the United States has declined significantly in recent decades, it was still ranked below many other industrialized nations in 2003 with a rate of 6.9 deaths per 1,000 live births. This represents a slight decline from the rate of 7.0 in 2002, and is equal to the rate from 2001; however, it is considerably below the rate of 26.0 per 1,000 reported in 1960. Differences in infant mortality rates among industrialized nations may reflect disparities in the health status of women before and during pregnancy, as well as the quality and accessibility of primary care for pregnant women and infants. However, some of these differences may be due, in part, to the international variation in the definition, reporting, and measurement of infant mortality.

According to data reported by individual countries, six countries or territories had infant mortality rates that were half the rate of the United States or less. Hong Kong had the lowest rate (2.3 per 1,000), followed by Singapore (2.5 per 1,000). Overall, the United States was ranked 28th.

> Horizontal Bar Chart: International Infant Mortality Rates: 2003