Analytics, Demography, EU – Baltic States, Society

In Latvia, 45 newborns died the day they were born (two per thousand live newborns) in 2011, which is the fourth highest figure among the 34 industrially-developed countries.

Also in 2011, 120 infants in Latvia died within a month they were born (five per thousand live newborns), and 200 children (eight per thousand live newborns) in five years after birth.

Among the developed countries, the United States has the highest rate of newborns dying the day they are born – three per thousand live newborns (11,300 in total). Canada is in second place and Switzerland in third.

According to "Save the Children", premature birth is the most frequent reason for infants dying within the first day in the developed countries, whereas in underdeveloped countries, the main cause is complications at birth and various infectious diseases.

Sweden, Iceland, Czech Republic and Cyprus have the same rate.

In Lithuania, 30 newborns died the day they were born (one per thousand live newborns) in 2011 – the average rate for the industrially-developed countries.

The lowest rate of newborns dying the day they are born was recorded in Luxembourg in 2011.