European Union Infant Mortality Rate

The European Union’s infant mortality rate has fallen dramatically over the 35‑year span from 10.09 in 1990 to 3.13 in 2025, placing the bloc at rank 164 globally and representing the all‑time trough for the indicator. This reduction reflects sustained investments in prenatal care, neonatal intensive care units and public health campaigns that have narrowed the gap with peer economies such as Germany, which recorded an identical 3.10 in 2025, and the Russian Federation, whose rate stood at 3.16. The steep decline from the early‑1990s peak coincides with the EU’s enlargement and harmonisation of health standards across member states, while the recent plateau near 3.1 suggests that further gains will depend on addressing residual disparities in access to high‑quality maternity services and on mitigating demographic pressures. Continued policy focus on preventive health, coupled with targeted support for vulnerable populations, is likely to sustain the downward trajectory and bring the EU closer to the lowest rates observed among advanced economies.