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Maine
Statistics on children, youth and families in Maine from the Annie E. Casey Foundation and the Maine Children's Alliance
Infant mortality, detailed
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Why This Indicator Matters
Infant mortality is an important marker of the overall health of a society. Structural factors affecting the health of entire populations have an impact on the mortality rate of infants. According to the 2025 March of Dimes National Report Card, the latest national data shows that the infant mortality rate in 2023 was 5.6 per 1,000 live births. The most common causes underlying infant death in the United States were birth defects (19.8%), sudden unexpected infant death (SUID) (17.9%), preterm birth and low birth weight (16.1%), and maternal complications (5.7%).
Maine had a second highest one-year infant mortality rate than all of the other New England states in 2024. 2024 Infant Mortality Rates by State In 2024, New Hampshire was number 1 in the nation with the lowest infant mortality rate. Over all, Maine was 8th in the nation in 2024 with a rate of 4.5 per 1,000.
In terms of trends, infant mortality in Maine was lowest for the five-year period ending in 2000 and ending in 2003 at 5.0. In 2025 this rate was 5.3 per 1,000 live births, the fifth lowest rate since our records start in 1997. In terms of a 5 year look back, the infant mortality rate in 2020 was 5.6.
For the most recent 5-year period, 2021-2025, the counties with the highest infant mortality rates were Androscoggin (6.4), Waldo (6.2), and Aroostook (6.1). The counties with the lowest rates per 1,000 births, based on 5-year averages for 2021-2025 were York (3.6), Cumberland (5.1), and Kennebec (5.5). 6 counties had their data suppressed.
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Maine had a second highest one-year infant mortality rate than all of the other New England states in 2024. 2024 Infant Mortality Rates by State In 2024, New Hampshire was number 1 in the nation with the lowest infant mortality rate. Over all, Maine was 8th in the nation in 2024 with a rate of 4.5 per 1,000.
In terms of trends, infant mortality in Maine was lowest for the five-year period ending in 2000 and ending in 2003 at 5.0. In 2025 this rate was 5.3 per 1,000 live births, the fifth lowest rate since our records start in 1997. In terms of a 5 year look back, the infant mortality rate in 2020 was 5.6.
For the most recent 5-year period, 2021-2025, the counties with the highest infant mortality rates were Androscoggin (6.4), Waldo (6.2), and Aroostook (6.1). The counties with the lowest rates per 1,000 births, based on 5-year averages for 2021-2025 were York (3.6), Cumberland (5.1), and Kennebec (5.5). 6 counties had their data suppressed.
Definition and Source
PROVIDER
Definition
The rate of deaths of infants under 1 year of age in comparison to live births occurring during the same time period. The rate is per 1,000 live births. The data are reported by place of residence, not the place of death. Data is reported as five-year rates, where the year shown refers to the last year, i.e. 2025 refers to 2021-2025.
Data Source
Maine Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Data, Research and Vital Statistics
2025 Data Uploaded 9/1/2026
2025 Data Uploaded 9/1/2026
Notes
Data represent five-year averages, with the last year of the five-year spread indicated here: 2025 represents the annual average of the data from 2021-2025.
"s" represents Suppressed and shows when the number of infant deaths over the 5 year period is fewer than 6. Zero will show if the number is zero.
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"s" represents Suppressed and shows when the number of infant deaths over the 5 year period is fewer than 6. Zero will show if the number is zero.
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Last Updated
September 2026