India’s Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) the number of deaths of infants under one year per 1,000 live births declined from 30 in 2019 to 24 in 2024, reflecting an average annual reduction of around one point, according to the latest Sample Registration System (SRS) 2024 report. Chhattisgarh recorded the highest IMR at 36, followed by Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh at 35 each. Kerala reported the lowest IMR at 8, while Himachal Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Delhi each stood at 11.
The report showed that rural IMR declined slightly faster than urban IMR, with rural areas recording a 36% fall compared to 35% in urban regions. Despite the progress, infant deaths remain a concern, with one in every 42 infants across the country dying before completing one year of age. The figure stood at one in 37 in rural areas and one in 59 in urban areas.
A major factor behind the decline has been the rise in institutional deliveries. The percentage of live births where mothers received medical attention in government or private hospitals increased from below 83% in 2019 to over 95% in 2024. However, the report noted that institutional delivery alone may not guarantee lower infant mortality, citing Chhattisgarh where hospital deliveries rose from over 77% to 97% during 2019-24, but IMR reduction remained limited.
Chhattisgarh recorded the slowest improvement in IMR, declining from 45 to 37 an 18.3% reduction between 2012-14 and 2022-24. Jammu and Kashmir saw the highest improvement, with IMR dropping by 62.7% from 37 to 14 during the same period. Nationally, India’s IMR declined by 37.4%, faster than the 33.2% decline recorded between 2002-04 and 2012-14.
The report also highlighted significant rural-urban and gender disparities. Assam recorded the widest rural-urban gap, with rural IMR at 31 compared to 14 in urban areas. Bihar showed the highest gender gap among larger states, with female IMR at 25 compared to 21 for male infants. In contrast, Jammu and Kashmir reported higher male IMR at 16 compared to 12 for female infants.
The study further noted that most infant deaths occur within the first 28 days after birth. Neo-Natal Mortality Rate (NMR), which measures deaths during this period per 1,000 live births, accounted for nearly 73% of all infant deaths in 2024, up from 67.6% in 2014.
India’s overall NMR stood at 18 per 1,000 live births. Kerala recorded the lowest neonatal mortality rate among larger states and Union Territories at 6, while Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh reported the highest at 26, followed by Uttar Pradesh at 25.