The figures behind a lasting loss.
Statistics cannot describe an individual child or the depth of a family's love. They can, however, give writers, advocates, and support communities a clear view of how many families are touched by loss. Each figure below links to the public report or organization that published it.
Fetal loss in the United States
20,005
Fetal deaths were reported in 2023
This figure includes fetal deaths at 20 weeks of gestation or more, as reported nationally.
Source: National Center for Health Statistics, 20255.53
Fetal deaths per 1,000 births
The 2023 fetal mortality rate was measured per 1,000 live births and fetal deaths at 20 weeks or more.
Source: National Center for Health Statistics, 2025Infant loss in the United States
20,162
Infant deaths were reported in 2023
An infant death is the death of a child before their first birthday.
Source: National Center for Health Statistics, 20255.61
Infant deaths per 1,000 live births
The national infant mortality rate in 2023 was unchanged from the previous year.
Source: National Center for Health Statistics, 202565%
Of infant deaths involved preterm birth
Nearly two-thirds of infant deaths in 2023 occurred among babies born before 37 weeks of gestation.
Source: National Center for Health Statistics, 2025Loss reaches far beyond the moment it happens.
The effects of death in a family extend to siblings, friends, classmates, and whole communities. The National Alliance for Children's Grief uses its Childhood Bereavement Estimation Model to show the scale of that experience among young people.
1 in 11
Children will experience the death of a parent or sibling by age 18
Source: National Alliance for Children's Grief, accessed 202614.7 million
Young people are projected to be bereaved by age 25
Source: National Alliance for Children's Grief, accessed 2026How to read these statistics
The figures on this page describe different experiences and should not be added together. Fetal mortality data cover losses at 20 weeks of gestation or more. Infant mortality data cover deaths before a child's first birthday. Childhood bereavement estimates describe young people who experience the death of a parent or sibling.
Rates also show important differences across communities. For example, the 2023 infant mortality rate was 10.93 per 1,000 live births for infants of Black non-Hispanic women and 4.48 for infants of White non-Hispanic women. That disparity is reported here for context, not as an explanation of its causes.
Read the National Center for Health Statistics infant mortality reportSources and methodology
This page uses the most recent final national reports available for 2023 fetal and infant mortality, plus current childhood bereavement estimates published by the National Alliance for Children's Grief. Source links are included with every statistic so readers can review the original data and definitions.
- National Center for Health Statistics, Fetal Mortality: United States, 2023, published June 17, 2025.
- National Center for Health Statistics, Infant Mortality in the United States, 2023, published June 12, 2025.
- National Alliance for Children's Grief, Childhood Bereavement Estimation Model figures, accessed September 9, 2026.
Cite this page
Michelle Lyn. “Child Loss & Family Bereavement Statistics in the U.S.” I am Still Here, Mom. Updated September 9, 2026. https://iamstillheremom.com/child-loss-statistics