INFANT DEATHS


In 2012, there were 1,031 infant deaths (deaths of children less than one year of age) registered in Australia (565 males and 466 females). This was a 9.6% decrease compared with the number registered in 2011 (1,140). Over the past 10 years the number of infant deaths has generally decreased, with some fluctuation, from 1,264 infant deaths in 2002 to 1,031 in 2012.


INFANT MORTALITY RATES

The infant mortality rate in 2012 was 3.3 infant deaths per 1,000 live births, a decrease on the rate in 2011 (3.8 infant deaths per 1,000 live births). Ten years ago in 2002, the infant mortality rate was 5.0 deaths per 1,000 live births (see graph 1.5).