America’s Child and Teen Mortality Rate Is Moving in Right Direction
In 2015, there were 25 child and teen deaths for every 100,000 children living in America. This rate, which represents close to 20,000 deaths annually, has shrunk by 22% since 2005.
A notable caveat to such good news is that many of the deaths shaping this statistic are preventable.
For instance: In 2015, 74% of children who passed away between the ages of 15 and 19 died because of an accident, homicide or suicide. Also in 2015: 29% of kids who passed away between the ages of 1 and 14 died because of an accident — with motor vehicle accidents listed as the primary cause.
At the state-level, the child and teen death rate varies. Connecticut has the lowest rate (15 deaths per 100,000 children) and Montana has the highest (43 deaths per 100,000 children).
A broad range of factors — including a child’s physical and mental well-being, their access to health care and their level of adult supervision — can impact the size of this statistic.
Parents and caregivers can also take a few simple steps to help keep kids safe. For instance: When families hit the road, adults can ensure that their young passengers are wearing seatbelts and that no one gets behind the wheel while under the influence of drugs, alcohol or technology.
View more death and other vital statistics data on the KIDS COUNT Data Center:
