U.S. Stillbirth Rate Falls 2% in 2024, With Gains Concentrated in Few States

Overview

• CDC data show the national rate dropped from 5.53 to 5.41 stillbirths per 1,000 in 2024, totaling 19,756 fetal deaths.
• The decline was driven by fewer late fetal deaths occurring after 28 weeks of gestation.
• Colorado, Utah and Mississippi posted the largest decreases (down 14%, 16% and 21%), though Mississippi still leads states at 7.8 per 1,000 and New Jersey rose 19%.
• Rates remain highest for Black and Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander mothers at about 10 per 1,000, roughly double those for Asian, White or Hispanic mothers.
• Responses include NIH’s five‑year, $37 million Stillbirth Research Consortium and Mississippi’s public health emergency, as March of Dimes warns of declining first‑trimester prenatal care.