According to a 2005 study, the lowest infant mortality rates were found in nations that are considered Nordic and East Asian. Singapore had the lowest infant mortality rate, at 2.1 per 1,000 births. Sweden, Hong Kong, Japan and Finland rounded out the nations with the five lowest mortality rates.
More facts about infant mortality rates:
- The same study listed the United States as the nation with the 30th-lowest infant mortality rate: 6.9 per 1,000 births. By comparison, England and Wales had a rate of 5.0 per 1,000 births. The infant mortality rate for Canada was better than the U.S. rate, at 5.4 per 1,000 births.
- A 2009 study conducted by the Institute of Health Metrics and Evaluation indicated that more than 120 nations have seen a decrease in infant mortality rates since 1990.
- A few nations, including Antigua, Swaziland, Lesotho and Equatorial Guinea, posted increases in infant mortality rates from 1990 to 2010. A 2012 estimate listed Afghanistan with the highest infant mortality rate, at 121.63 per 1,000 births.
By Malcolm Tatum
, Writer
Malcolm Tatum, a former teleconferencing industry professional, followed his passion for trivia, research, and writing to become a full-time freelance writer. He has contributed articles to a variety of print and online publications, including WiseGeek, and his work has also been featured in poetry collections, devotional anthologies, and newspapers. When not writing, Malcolm enjoys collecting vinyl records, following minor league baseball, and cycling.