US infant mortality rate rises for first time in more than 20 years

For the first time in more than two decades, the United States saw an increase in infant mortality rates in 2022.

According to a report released Wednesday by the National Center for Health Statistics, the overall infant mortality rate rose by 3% from 2021 to 2022. The mortality rate for neonatal infants climbed by 3%, while the post-neonatal mortality rate—for infants who survived past 28 days—rose by 4%.

Infant deaths due to maternal complications—like preeclampsia or preterm delivery—and bacterial sepsis also shot up by 8% and 14%, respectively.

“We live in a country with significant resources, so the infant mortality rate and the increase are shockingly high,” wrote Dr. Sandy Chung, the president of the American Academy of Pediatrics, in an email to CNN. “As pediatricians who help children grow into healthy adults, any death of any child is one too many.  The infant mortality rate in this country in unacceptable.”