U.S. Stillbirth Rate Falls 2%, but Nearly 20,000 Losses Still Reported

Key Takeaways

The U.S. stillbirth rate fell 2% in 2024

But about 20,000 fetal deaths still occurred

Experts say early prenatal care and stronger maternal health systems are needed to continue progress

FRIDAY, Dec. 5, 2025 (HealthDay News) — The U.S. stillbirth rate dropped slightly last year, offering some hope after several years of uncertainty, according to new data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The report, released Dec. 3, found a 2% decline in stillbirths in 2024. Even with that improvement, nearly 20,000 pregnancies ended in fetal death. That's equal to about 5.4 stillbirths for every 1,000 pregnancies lasting 20 weeks or longer.

This is the lowest national rate seen in decades, although the CDC said that it does not necessarily break previous