Population - Infants Age <1Population - Infants Age <1 in United StatesUnited States
Population - Infants Age <1
United States
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United States Value:
1.1%
Percentage of population under age 1
Population - Infants Age <1 in depth:
Population - Infants Age <1 by State
Percentage of population under age 1
Population - Infants Age <1 Trends
Percentage of population under age 1
Trend: Population - Infants Age <1 in United States, 2023 Health Of Women And Children Report
Percentage of population under age 1
United States
Source:
CDC WONDER, Single-Race Population Estimates
View All Populations
About Population - Infants Age <1
US Value: 1.1%
Top State(s): Utah: 1.4%
Bottom State(s): Vermont: 0.8%
Definition: Percentage of population under age 1
Data Source and Years: CDC WONDER, Single-Race Population Estimates, 2022
Suggested Citation: America's Health Rankings analysis of CDC WONDER, Single-Race Population Estimates, United Health Foundation, AmericasHealthRankings.org, accessed 2023.
The demographics of a state influence the health needs and outcomes of its population. Understanding the demographic breakdown by age and race/ethnicity can help state health officials determine priorities for health promotion and disease prevention. The age distribution of the United States is shifting and older adults will soon outnumber children. Birth rates decreased an average of 1% per year between 2014 and 2019 and 2% between 2007 and 2013. Birth rates have declined further since, due to pandemic-related economic uncertainty and other related anxieties, and the birth rate in 2021 remains lower than 2019.
For infants, a healthy start to life begins with healthy parents. Improving women’s health, in particular, may help prevent certain infant health issues such as premature birth. Targetable interventions include:
- Preventing and managing chronic conditions.
- Reducing smoking and secondhand smoke exposure among women.
- Improving health care for women, particularly women who have had a prior infant born prematurely and women using assisted reproductive technologies.
- Promoting family planning and youth health services that can help prevent unintended and teen pregnancies.
Racial and ethnic disparities exist in many areas of infant health, with stark differences between the premature birth and infant mortality rates of Black women and white women. Addressing the root causes of these disparities is critical to improving the health of all infants.
Healthy People 2030 has an overarching goal to improve the health and safety of infants, with specific objectives including:
- Reducing preterm births.
- Reducing the infant mortality rate.
- Increasing the proportion of infants who are placed on their backs to sleep.
- Reducing the proportion of children who do not get any recommended vaccines by age 2.
Osterman, Michelle J. K., Brady E. Hamilton, Joyce A. Martin, Anne K. Driscoll, and Claudia P. Valenzuela. “Births: Final Data for 2021.” National Vital Statistics Reports 72, no. 1 (January 31, 2023). https://doi.org/10.15620/cdc:122047.
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America’s Health Rankings builds on the work of the United Health Foundation to draw attention to public health and better understand the health of various populations. Our platform provides relevant information that policymakers, public health officials, advocates and leaders can use to effect change in their communities.
We have developed detailed analyses on the health of key populations in the country, including women and children, seniors and those who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces, in addition to a deep dive into health disparities across the country.