March of Dimes

Maternity health care deserts, defined as regions lacking obstetric clinicians or birthing facilities, exist in nearly every U.S. state, including Minnesota. Twenty-four Minnesota counties are currently considered these deserts, affecting about 64,000 women and resulting in roughly 4,000 annual births. These issues are projected to worsen due to ongoing cuts to Medicaid, which covered a significant portion of U.S. births in 2023.

The U.S. infant mortality rate reached a record low in 2025, with 5.4 deaths per 1,000 live births, though it remains higher than in other high-income countries. The decline follows medical advances, public health efforts, and new measures like RSV vaccines for pregnant women and antibody shots for infants. However, disparities by race persist, and the U.S. rate lags behind nations such as Italy, Japan, and Sweden.

The U.S. infant mortality rate fell to an all-time low in 2025, with 5.4 deaths per 1,000 live births, though it remains higher than rates in several high-income nations. The decline is attributed to medical advances, public health efforts, and new measures like RSV prevention strategies, though racial disparities in infant mortality persist.

The U.S. infant mortality rate fell to an all-time low in 2025, with 5.4 deaths per 1,000 live births, though it remains higher than in other high-income nations. The decline follows medical advances, public health efforts, and new measures like RSV prevention strategies, but disparities persist by race and other factors.