On an average day in the United States...

• 10,926 babies are born
• 1,045 babies are born preterm (less than 37 completed weeks gestation)
• 874 babies are born low birthweight (less than 2,500 grams, or 5 1/2 pounds)
• 329 babies are born with a birth defect*
• 174 babies are born very preterm (less than 32 completed weeks gestation)
• 153 babies are born very low birthweight (less than 1,500 grams, or 3 1/3 pounds)
• 64 babies die before reaching their first birthday

The March of Dimes Foundation Data Book for Policy Makers: Maternal, Infant, and Child Health in the United States 2016 provides, in an easy-to-use resource guide, national and state data highlighting infant mortality, birth defects, preterm and low birthweight births, access to care for women and children, and health promotion strategies. The Data Book is aimed at public policy makers and others seeking quick facts. 

Click a state below to view individual Data Book State Pages. 

For more detail, and regular updates of many of the data presented in this book, visit PeriStats, the March of Dimes interactive data resource.

Source: National Center for Health Statistics, 2014 Final Natality Data and 2013 Period Linked Birth/Infant Death Data. Prepared by the March of Dimes Perinatal Data Center, 2016.

*Based on Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate of at least 120,000 babies born annually with major structural birth defects. Note: Numbers are approximations.

See Also: March of Dimes Foundation Data Book for Policy Makers and PeriStats.

• Research & data

Other Advocacy topics