In a significant milestone, India has achieved landmark achievement in further reduction of child mortality rates. As per the Sample Registration System (SRS) Statistical Report 2023 released by Registrar General of India (RGI), the country has been witnessing a progressive reduction in IMR, U5MR and NMR since 2014 towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) targets by 2030. Under 5 Mortality Rate (U5MR) For India as a whole, the U5MR was 29 in 2023, which means that out of every 1,000 live births, 29 children died before reaching the age of five. In 2023, U5MR for the Country has shown a decline of 1 point from 2022 (29 in 2023 against 30 in 2022). There has been a decline of 1 point in female U5MR and no changes has been observed in male U5MR during the corresponding period. The U5MR is higher in rural areas (33) compared to urban areas (20). Among the bigger States/UTs, the USMR ranges from 8 in Kerala to 44 in Madhya Pradesh for the year 2023. Kerala (8) had the lowest U5MR, followed by Tamil Nadu (13) and Jammu & Kashmir (15). Madhya Pradesh (44) had the highest U5MR, followed by Uttar Pradesh (42) and Chhattisgarh (41). The U5MR is generally higher in rural areas than in urban areas across most States/UTs, except in Delhi and Kerala, where it is observed to be lower in rural areas. Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) The Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) has registered 1-point decline to 25 in 2023 from 26 in 2022 at the National level Among the bigger States/UTs, the maximum IMR has been observed in Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh (37) and the minimum in Kerala (5) IMR for the Country has come down to 25 in 2023 from 32 in 2018, a decline of 7 points over last 5 years and an annual average decline of about 1.4 points. The corresponding decline in rural IMR has been to the tune of 8 points (36 in 2018 to 28 in 2023) against a decline of 5 points in urban IMR (23 in 2018 to 18 in 2023). Both the genders have shown decline in the period 2018-23. Despite this decline, one in every 40 infants at the National level, one in every 36 infants in rural areas and one in every 56 infants in urban areas still die within one year of life. Neonatal Mortality Rate India's overall Neo-Natal Mortality Rate was 19 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2023, with a higher rate in rural areas (21 deaths per 1,000 live births) than in urban areas (13 deaths per 1,000 live births). The percentage of Neo-Natal deaths to infant deaths was 73.2% indicating that a significant proportion of infant deaths occurred within the first 28 days of life. Among the bigger States/UTs, Kerala had the lowest Neo-Natal Mortality Rate of 4 deaths per 1,000 live births, while Madhya Pradesh had the highest rate of 27 deaths per 1,000 live births. Andhra Pradesh had the highest percentage of Neo-Natal deaths to infant deaths at 83.7%. Delhi had the lowest percentage of Neo-Natal Deaths to Infant Deaths at 63.1%. For detailed report, click here.