The 2023 data shows:
- 2,320 infant deaths (aged under one year) and 961 child deaths (aged 1 to 15 years) occurred in England and Wales; these figures are lower than in 2022 (2,349 and 1,019, respectively).
- There were 3.9 infant deaths per 1,000 live births (unchanged from 2022), and 9 child deaths per 100,000 population (down from 10 in 2022).
- The highest rates of infant mortality were among infants with a birthweight under 2,500 grammes (g), of Black ethnicity, or with a mother aged under 20 years.
- In England and Wales, the mortality rate for infants living in the 10% most deprived areas was over twice the mortality rate for infants living in the 10% least deprived areas.
RCPCH Officer for Health Improvement, Dr Helen Stewart, said:
Every death of an infant or child is a unique tragedy, and this latest ONS mortality data represents devastating losses for families and carers. What makes this data a particularly harrowing read is the disproportionate number of child and infant deaths occurring in deprived and minority communities.
Rates of child poverty in the UK are already too high and are predicted to get worse. Meanwhile, the mortality rate for infants living in the 10% most deprived areas in England and Wales was over twice the mortality rate for infants living in the 10% least deprived areas. We are also seeing infants from Black ethnic groups continuing to have the highest rate of infant mortality.
The data makes it clear that inequality, poverty and deprivation is causing unimaginable harm to our children. This is wholly shameful and avoidable. With the long-awaited child poverty strategy due next month, we need to see an ambitious plan of action supported by clear funding. A crucial first step would be to finally scrap the unfair and unworkable two child limit and pull over 350,000 children out of poverty.