The infant mortality rate in Alabama declined in 2024 to 7.1 deaths per 1,000 births, down from 7.8 in 2023, the Alabama Department of Public Health said.

The new rate reflects 414 infant deaths within the first year of their life. The national rate was 5.5.

“Many factors contribute to infant mortality, including race, poverty, education, housing, nutrition, and access to care,” State Health Officer Dr. Scott Harris said in a written statement. “Racial disparities remain in birth outcomes; the Black infant mortality rate is more than twice the rate for white infants. Maternal health conditions such as diabetes and hypertension are linked to higher preterm births.”

The state’s lowest infant mortality rate was 6.7 in 2022.

The rate of infant deaths among black babies decreased in 2024 to

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