Kerala achieves infant mortality levels comparable to developed nations: UNICEF Officials

Kerala has achieved the lowest infant mortality rate (IMR) in India at 5 deaths per 1,000 live births , putting it on par with advanced countries such as Sweden and Norway, according to a senior UNICEF official. The state’s remarkable performance highlights decades of sustained investment in healthcare, education, and social welfare.

“Kerala is one of the states in India that has addressed infant mortality. The rates and levels of infant mortality here are similar to Sweden, Norway and much more advanced countries,” said Dr Raol Bermejo , UNICEF representative in New York and Health Specialist leading the agency’s work on non-communicable diseases (NCDs).

Kerala’s achievement stands out compared with other Indian states. While the national IMR averages 25 per 1,000 live births , states like Uttar Pradesh and Bihar still report rates above 30. Even within urban India, cities like Mumbai and Delhi have IMRs higher than Kerala, underscoring the state’s comprehensive healthcare outreach that combines maternal care, nutrition programmes, and robust immunisation coverage.

Globally, Kerala’s IMR rivals that of developed cities and countries. For comparison, the United States records 5.6 deaths per 1,000 live births , while Sweden and Norway report 2.5 and 2.4 , respectively. Bermejo emphasized that the state’s success is now shifting attention from infectious diseases to childhood non-communicable diseases , which are increasingly important as survival rates improve.

“Children should not just survive they should thrive and participate meaningfully in society. Risk factors for adult NCDs often begin in childhood and adolescence, so prevention programmes must start early,” Bermejo said. He also stressed that health systems must evolve to support children already living with chronic conditions.

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan welcomed UNICEF’s recognition. “This achievement reflects decades of coordinated efforts in public health, nutrition, and education. We are proud that our children now enjoy survival rates comparable with the best in the world. Our next focus will be ensuring healthy growth and tackling emerging challenges such as NCDs among children ,” he said.