Overview

• India’s infant mortality rate fell to 25 per 1,000 live births in 2023, the lowest recorded by the Sample Registration System.
• Kerala reported an IMR of 5 per 1,000, lower than the United States’ 5.6, and achieved rural–urban parity in infant survival.
• Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh posted the highest IMR at 37, with national rural IMR at 28 versus 19 in urban areas.
• Telangana reduced IMR from 35 in 2014 to 18 in 2023, including rural 20 and urban 15, marking a faster decline than the national trend.
• The SRS 2021–23 bulletin shows Kerala’s maternal mortality ratio at 30 per 100,000, tied with Andhra Pradesh for the lowest, which officials link to 2021 COVID maternal deaths and a shrinking number of live births, noting known differences between SRS estimates and state line-list counts.