Thu Sep 04 07:34:15 UTC 2025: **Summary:**

A new report from the Registrar General of India shows significant improvements in India’s public health indicators. The Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) has reached a record low of 25 in 2023, a 37.5% drop since 2013 and an 80% drop since 1971. The report also highlights a decline in both birth and death rates across the country, with rural areas showing a greater decline. While positive trends are evident nationally, regional disparities persist, with Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Uttar Pradesh reporting the highest IMR and Bihar reporting the highest birth rate.

**News Article:**

**India’s Infant Mortality Rate Hits Record Low, Birth and Death Rates Decline**

*New Delhi, September 4, 2025* – India’s public health landscape is showing promising signs of improvement, with the Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) reaching a record low of 25 in 2023, according to the latest Sample Registration System (SRS) report released by the Registrar General of India. This marks a significant 37.5% decrease from 40 in 2013 and an even more impressive 80% decline from 129 in 1971.

IMR, a crucial indicator of health accessibility, reflects the number of deaths of children per 1,000 live births under one year of age.

The report also reveals a countrywide decline in birth rates, which are down 14% in the last decade, and death rates, which have more than halved since 1971. While rural areas still report higher birth rates, the rural-urban differential has narrowed.

However, disparities remain across states. Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Uttar Pradesh reported the highest IMR at 37, while Manipur boasts the lowest at 3. Bihar recorded the highest birth rate at 25.8.

“These figures are encouraging and demonstrate the progress India is making in improving the health and well-being of its citizens,” said a government spokesperson. “However, we acknowledge that challenges remain, and we are committed to addressing regional disparities and ensuring access to quality healthcare for all.”

The SRS report underscores the importance of continued investment in public health infrastructure and initiatives to further reduce IMR and improve overall health outcomes in India.

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