Fetal Mortality: United States, 2023

A total of 20,005 fetal deaths at 20 weeks of gestation or more were reported in the United States in 2023. The 2023 U.S. fetal mortality rate was 5.53 fetal deaths at 20 weeks of gestation or more per 1,000 live births and fetal deaths, not significantly different from the rate of 5.48 in 2022. The fetal mortality rate in 2023 for deaths occurring at 20-27 weeks of gestation was 2.89, a 4% increase from 2022 (2.79). For deaths occurring at 28 weeks of gestation or more, the rate in 2023 (2.66) was not significantly different from 2022 (2.71). In 2023, the fetal mortality rate was highest for Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander non-Hispanic (10.18) and Black non-Hispanic (9.95) women and lowest for Asian non-Hispanic women (4.14). Fetal mortality rates were highest for females younger than 15 and age 40 and older, for women who smoked during pregnancy, and for women with multiple gestation pregnancies. Five selected causes accounted for 89.9% of fetal deaths in the 38-state and District of Columbia reporting area.