Assam Achieves Remarkable Reduction in Infant Mortality Rate

Significant Decline in Infant Mortality Rate

GUWAHATI, May 28: Assam has made notable strides in lowering its Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) in recent years.

According to newly released data from the central government, the IMR in Assam has decreased to 29 in 2024, a significant drop from 41 in 2018.

In rural regions, the IMR was recorded at 31 in 2024, while urban areas saw a much lower rate of 14.

The IMR in Assam has shown a consistent decline from 41 in 2018 to 40 in 2019, followed by reductions to 36 in 2020, 34 in 2021, 32 in 2022, 30 in 2023, and finally 29 in 2024, the latest year for which data is available.

Across India, IMR figures varied significantly, with rates ranging from just two in Manipur to 36 in Chhattisgarh. Generally, rural areas reported higher IMR compared to urban settings.

Assam exhibited the largest disparity in IMR between rural (31) and urban (14) populations among all states.

On a national scale, the average IMR in India fell by 37.4%, from 40.6% during the 2012-14 period to 25.4% in 2022-24. The rural IMR decreased by 36%, while urban areas saw a reduction of 35.1%.

In Assam, the average IMR plummeted by 42.4% from 52.8% in 2012-14 to 30.4% in 2022-24. The rural IMR dropped by 42%, while urban areas experienced a more significant decline of 51.8%.

In 2024, the overall Neo-Natal Mortality Rate in Assam was 20, with urban areas at 21 and rural areas at 12.

Neo-Natal deaths accounted for 69.4% of infant deaths in the reviewed year.

India's overall Neo-Natal Mortality Rate was 18 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2024, with rural areas experiencing a higher rate of 20 compared to 12 in urban settings. The percentage of Neo-Natal deaths among infant deaths was 72.8%, indicating that a large number of infant fatalities occurred within the first 28 days of life.

Additionally, Assam reported an Early Neo-Natal Mortality Rate of 14 in 2024.

The state also recorded a Peri-Natal Mortality Rate of 19 and a Still Birth rate of five.

In 2024, the Under-Five Mortality Rate in Assam was 34, with rural areas at 36 and urban areas at 16.

The Crude Death Rate (CDR) in Assam was 6.1, slightly lower than the national average of 6.4. The CDR in rural Assam was 6.2, while urban areas reported a rate of 5.6.

Assam's average CDR saw a decline of 17.1% from 2012-14 to 2022-24, marking the highest reduction among larger states and Union Territories in the country.

Nationally, the CDR decreased by 5.8% during the same period.

The demographic distribution in Assam indicated a higher proportion of the population in the working-age group. In 2024, 25.3% of the state's population was aged 0-14 years, while those aged 15-59 years comprised 67.1%. The remaining 7.6% were aged 60 years and above.

At the national level, the percentage of the population aged 15-59 years was 66.4%.