Childhood Mortality

Community & Family (Cross Age)

Infant Mortality Rate Infant Deaths per 1,000 Live Births

Note

*: Statistically unstable
HHSA Regions: Health and Human Services Agency regions

Infant mortality is defined as death under one year of age; Infant mortality rates are number of infant deaths per 1,000 live births.
Data are from “birth cohort” files, which contain data for the births in a given year. This file takes about three years for the State to prepare due to the need to link the births to the corresponding infant death that occurred in the same year or the following calendar year. Infant mortality subgroup statistics obtained from this file are generally more accurate than those obtained from the separate death and birth files.
Reporting of deaths and births that occur in other states/territories is known to be incomplete.
California county of residence was determined by geocoding starting in 2020.
Interpret with caution rates calculated for fewer than 20 events since they are considered statistically unreliable.

Data not available:

Numbers are censored and rates are not calculated when the number of events is fewer than 11.

Infant Mortality:
Under the Maternal Race/Ethnicity, for Two or More Races in 2020-2021 and for Native American/Alaskan, Pacific Islander, Other, and Unknown were excluded from the charts due to rates being unavailable for all years.
California infant mortality rate in 2022 is not available.

Child Mortality: Under Race/Ethnicity, Non-Hispanic Black, Non-Hispanic Asian/Pacific Islander, Non-Hispanic Other for all age group from 2020 to 2023
Ages 1-4: overall in 2020 and 2022, for Gender and Race/Ethnicity from 2020 to2023
Ages 5-14: for Gender and Race/Ethnicity from 2020-2023 except Male and Hispanic
Ages 15-19: Female from 2022 to 2023 and Non-Hispanic While in 2022

Race-Ethnicity categories:

Hispanic, While, African American/Black, Asian, Two or More Races

Race/Ethnicity (with “Two or More Races” Category)” places individuals who report more than one race into the “Two or More Races” category. The exception is people who report Hispanic ethnicity, who are placed into the Hispanic category regardless of (single or multiple) race.
“Race/Ethnicity (first listed race)” places individuals who report more than one race into the first category they list. The exception is people who report Hispanic ethnicity, who are placed into the Hispanic category regardless of (single or multiple) race.
The large proportion of births with unknown race/ethnicity affects the accuracy of statistics by race/ethnicity.

Source:

Infant Mortality:
State of California, Department of Public Health, Center for Health Statistics and Informatics, Birth Cohort Statistical Master Files.
CA State Data: California Department of Public Health, Center for Family Health, Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health Division, Infant Mortality Dashboard, Last Modified June 2024. Accessed at https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CFH/DMCAH/surveillance/Pages/default.aspx.
Prepared by: County of San Diego, Health and Human Services Agency, Public Health Services, Maternal, Child and Family Health Services (www.sdmcfhs.org), 6/10/2025.

Child Mortality:
California Department of Public Health, Center for Health Statistics, Office of Health Information and Research, Vital Records Business Intelligence System, 2020-2023. Starting in data year 2023, San Diego County resident deaths that occurred out of state are now included. For data years 2020-2022, the COVID-19 pandemic was associated with increases in all-cause mortality. COVID-19 deaths have affected the patterns of mortality including those of the mortality health disparity trends. Counts <11 were censored, and rates were censored for counts greater than or equal to 11, but less than 20, due to statistical instability. 2019 data for San Diego County is not shown due to a lack of 2019 California Department of Finance Population Estimates. California Department of Finance. Demographic Research Unit. Report P-3: Population Projections, California, 2020-2070 (Baseline 2023 Population Projections; Vintage 2025 Release). Sacramento: California. April 2025.
CA State Data: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics. National Vital Statistics System, Mortality 2019-2023 on CDC WONDER Online Database, released in 2024. Data are from the Multiple Cause of Death Files, 2019-2023, as compiled from data provided by the 57 vital statistics jurisdictions through the Vital Statistics Cooperative Program. Accessed at http://wonder.cdc.gov/ucd-icd10-expanded.html in June 2025.
Prepared by: County of San Diego, Health and Human Services Agency, Public Health Services, Community Health Statistics Unit, July 2025.

What is the indicator?

This indicator – the mortality rates for infants (deaths before age one, per 1,000 live births) and for children and youth ages 1–4, 5–14, and 15–19 (deaths per 100,000 population). These data are derived from death certificates and reported through local, state, and federal vital statistics systems.

Why is this important?

Child and infant mortality are critical indicators of community health, well-being, and equity. These outcomes often reflect disparities in healthcare access, prenatal care, living conditions, and broader socioeconomic factors. Infant deaths are primarily linked to conditions such as prematurity and birth defects, while older children and adolescents face greater risks from external causes including injuries, suicide, and violence. Though overall mortality rates have declined, significant racial, ethnic, and economic disparities persist. High mortality rates not only signal gaps in services and support but also cause deep emotional and social impacts on families and communities. Reducing child and infant mortality is essential for promoting healthier, more equitable communities.

What strategies can make a difference?

These evidence-based and best practices are used across the country to reduce childhood mortality:

Ensure access to health and social services for women and families to address root causes of infant and child mortality, including preterm birth, low birthweight, and lack of preventive care.
Educate and support parents and caregivers on key safety practices—such as safe sleep, shaken baby syndrome prevention, drowning risks, distracted driving, and gun safety—beginning at birth and continuing through adolescence.
Implement and scale family-focused interventions, such as home visiting programs, Strengthening Families, and Triple P, to reduce risks of child abuse, neglect, and other preventable harms.
Distribute and promote use of safety equipment by providing free or low-cost items like car seats, cribs, helmets, and gun locks to prevent unintentional injuries.
Strengthen community-based prevention systems, including fatality review teams, suicide prevention efforts, public awareness campaigns, and routine immunization promotion to reduce preventable deaths across all age groups.