Why It Matters
Indiana’s infant mortality rate is a key benchmark for maternal and child health policy in the state. Preliminary figures from the Indiana Department of Health indicate the state has held its lowest recorded rate since data collection began in 1900 — a milestone that carries implications for state health funding priorities and program continuity.
What Happened
Preliminary state health data shows Indiana recorded 6.3 infant deaths per 1,000 live births in 2025, essentially unchanged from the prior year. Through April 2025, the state logged 500 infant deaths, compared with 509 in all of 2024 — a modest but meaningful decline.
State Health Commissioner Dr. Lindsay Weaver acknowledged the continued challenge while noting the sustained progress. “The loss of every baby is a tragedy,” Weaver said. “We are encouraged to see Indiana has maintained its current historic low infant mortality rate and the lives of nine more babies were saved.”
As recently as 2016, Indiana’s rate stood at 7.4 per 1,000 live births, making the current figure a substantial improvement over the past decade.
By the Numbers
- 6.3 — Indiana’s infant mortality rate per 1,000 live births in 2025
- 500 — infant deaths recorded in Indiana through April 2025
- 5.36 — the U.S. infant mortality rate per 1,000 live births in 2025, per CDC data, down more than 3% year over year
- 16th highest — Indiana’s ranking among states for infant mortality in 2024
- 7.4 — Indiana’s rate per 1,000 live births as recently as 2016
Zoom Out
Indiana’s record low still trails national performance. The U.S. rate of 5.36 per 1,000 live births reflects a broader downward trend, though disparities persist — infant mortality among Black and Native American populations nationally remains well above average, according to federal health data.
The state’s ranking — 16th highest in the country — underscores that despite local progress, Indiana faces a steeper challenge than most states. Maternal health factors including obesity, smoking, substance use, and stress during pregnancy are identified contributors to infant death, alongside birth defects, preterm birth, and sudden infant death syndrome.
What’s Next
The Indiana Department of Health pointed to several ongoing initiatives aimed at sustaining the trend, including breastfeeding support programs, safe sleep education, and a hospital certification system that ranks facilities by their obstetric and neonatal capabilities. The department also referenced Health First Indiana, a state funding mechanism for local health programs that was approved in 2023 but scaled back in 2025.
Weaver indicated the department intends to maintain its focus on maternal and infant health outcomes. Final 2025 figures have not yet been released; the current data reflects preliminary counts. Observers will watch whether the rate holds or improves further when complete annual numbers are published. For a closer look at how state health agencies direct their funding, a new state transparency dashboard now details how Indiana agencies allocate federal grants.