INDIANA – Provisional data from the Indiana Department of Health (IDOH) show the 2025 infant mortality rate (IMR) in Indiana is 6.3 deaths per 1,000 live births (500 deaths as of April 2026), essentially unchanged from the rate of 6.3 in 2024 (509 deaths) when the state saw the lowest rate of infant deaths since record-keeping began in 1900.
Infant mortality is defined as the death of a child before his or her first birthday and is measured by the number of infant deaths per 1,000 live births. Factors that contribute to infant mortality are often tied to the health of the mother. Delayed prenatal care and conditions such as obesity, substance use, maternal stress, and smoking during pregnancy can increase the risk of poor health outcomes.
“The loss of every baby is a tragedy,” said State Health Commissioner Lindsay Weaver, MD, FACEP. “We always want to see that number go down, but we are encouraged to see that Indiana has maintained its current historic low infant mortality rate, and the lives of nine more babies were saved. We will use this data to better understand the causes of these deaths and support efforts to further move the needle at the local level.”
IDOH is releasing a provisional 2025 IMR rate to increase transparency and efficiency by providing organizations and communities with timely data to inform healthcare decisions. The rate is preliminary and subject to change.
”Promoting maternal and infant health outcomes is a top priority of the Indiana Department of Health,” said Dr. Weaver. “We are committed to ensuring this critical work continues.”
IDOH has multiple initiatives focused on improving infant mortality, including:
- Reviewing data to ensure that moms and babies have the opportunity to receive care at the best facility to meet their risk factors before delivery
- Checking hospital discharge data to identify specific opportunities for improvement in maternal and neonatal care practices
- Working with several community-based programs through Health First Indiana
- Supporting services, including home visiting, breastfeeding programs, and infant safe sleep education
- Conducting comprehensive reviews of fetal and infant deaths to identify opportunities for interventions
- Partnering with birthing facilities to be prepared for potentially challenging health outcomes (through Levels of Care)
Find more information about programs and resources available to families on the IDOH website.
Visit the Indiana Department of Health at www.health.in.gov for important health and safety information or follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/StateHealthIN.
