Data & Statistics
In the United States
- About one in every 33 babies (about 3%) is born with a birth defect. [Read article]
- Birth defects are one of the leading causes of infant deaths, accounting for more than 20% of all infant deaths. [Read article]
- National estimates for 21 selected major birth defects, 2004–2006 [Read summary]
Birth Defects* |
Cases per Births |
Estimated Annual |
---|---|---|
Adjusted for maternal race/ethnicity** |
|
|
Central nervous system defects |
|
|
1 in 4,859 |
859 |
|
Spina bifida without anencephaly |
1 in 2,858 |
1,460 |
1 in 12,235 |
341 |
|
Eye defects |
|
|
Anophthalmia/microphthalmia |
1 in 5,349 |
780 |
Cardiovascular defects |
|
|
Common truncus |
1 in 13,876 |
301 |
1 in 3,333 |
1,252 |
|
1 in 2,518 |
1,657 |
|
1 in 2,122 |
1,966 |
|
1 in 4,344 |
960 |
|
Orofacial defects |
|
|
1 in 1,574 |
2,651 |
|
1 in 940 |
4,437 |
|
Gastrointestinal defects |
|
|
Esophageal atresia/tracheoesophageal fistula |
1 in 4,608 |
905 |
Rectal and large intestinal atresia/stenosis |
1 in 2,138 |
1,952 |
Musculoskeletal defects |
|
|
Reduction deformity, upper limbs |
1 in 2,869 |
1,454 |
Reduction deformity, lower limbs |
1 in 5,949 |
701 |
1 in 2,229 |
1,871 |
|
1 in 5,386 |
775 |
|
Diaphragmatic hernia |
1 in 3,836 |
1,088 |
|
|
|
Adjusted for maternal age** |
|
|
Chromosomal anomalies |
|
|
Trisomy 13 |
1 in 7,906 |
528 |
1 in 691 |
6,037 |
|
Trisomy 18 |
1 in 3,762 |
1,109 |
*The national estimates data come from 14 birth defects surveillance programs: Arkansas, Arizona, California [8-county Central Valley], Colorado, Georgia [5-county metropolitan Atlanta], Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Massachusetts, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Puerto Rico, Texas, and Utah. The number of live births represented by these 14 programs from 2004–2006 was 4,038,506.
** For this study, researchers took into account maternal age (for Trisomy 13, 21, and 18) and maternal race/ethnicity, which allows state and local programs to use these estimates as a point of reference for comparison with future prevalence estimates. Adjustments are based on the United States live birth population, 2004–2006.
- Folic acid is a B vitamin that, if taken before and during early pregnancy, can help prevent some major birth defects of the baby's brain and spine (anencephaly and spina bifida). In 1996, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) mandated that folic acid should be added to grain products, such as breads and cereals, to help reduce the risk of neural tube defects. This is known as folic acid fortification.
Estimated average annual number of spina bifida and anencephaly cases based on prevalence before and after folic acid fortification mandate, 1995–1996 and 1999–2000: [Read article]
Birth Defects |
1995–1996 |
1999–2000 |
---|---|---|
Annual Number of Cases |
Annual Number of Cases |
|
Neural Tube Defects |
|
|
Anencephaly |
1,640 |
1,380 |
Spina bifida |
2,490 |
1,640 |
Race/Ethnicity
Many birth defects vary by racial or ethnic group. Investigating these differences will help us to understand why some birth defects occur more or less often in certain groups and will lead to future efforts to reduce disparities. [Read summary]
Compared with infants of non-Hispanic white (NH white) mothers, |
|||
Infants of non-Hispanic black (NH black) or African-American mothers had |
Infants of Hispanic mothers had |
||
Higher birth prevalence of these birth defects: |
Lower birth prevalence of these birth defects |
Higher birth prevalence of these birth defects: |
Lower birth prevalence of these birth defects |
Tetralogy of Fallot Lower limb reduction defects Trisomy 18 |
Cleft palate Cleft lip with or without cleft palate Esophageal atresia or tracheoesophageal fistula Gastroschisis Down syndrome |
Anencephaly Spina bifida Encephalocele Gastroschisis Down syndrome |
Tetralogy of Fallot Hypoplastic left heart syndrome Cleft palate Esophageal atresia or tracheoesophageal fistula |
Contact Us:
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities
Division of Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities
1600 Clifton Road
MS E-87
Atlanta, GA 30333 - 800-CDC-INFO
(800-232-4636)
TTY: (888) 232-6348
New Hours of Operation
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