Maternal and infant deaths were long among India's hardest public-health challenges. In 2011-13 the maternal mortality ratio stood at 167 per lakh live births, and in 2014 39 of every 1,000 babies died before their first birthday. The response after 2014 went after each weak point in turn: children missed by vaccination, pregnant women without regular check-ups, and the quality of care in labour rooms.
Mother & Child Health
Mother & Child Health
Keeping mothers and newborns safe has been one of India's steadiest successes of the decade. Free check-ups in pregnancy, births in hospitals and a nationwide vaccination drive brought the maternal mortality ratio down from 130 to 87 deaths per lakh live births between 2014-16 and 2022-24, while infant mortality fell every year, from 39 per 1,000 live births in 2014 to 24 in 2024. Nine in ten births now take place in a health facility. The counter shows the infant mortality rate.
90.6%
Institutional deliveries (NFHS-6)
39 → 24
Infant deaths per 1,000 (2014 → 2024)
7.5 cr+
Pregnant women given free check-ups (PMSMA)
Infant deaths per 1,000 live births
| Year | Infant mortality rate |
|---|---|
| 2014 | 39 per 1,000 |
| 2015 | 37 per 1,000 |
| 2016 | 34 per 1,000 |
| 2017 | 33 per 1,000 |
| 2018 | 32 per 1,000 |
| 2019 | 30 per 1,000 |
| 2020 | 28 per 1,000 |
| 2021 | 27 per 1,000 |
| 2022 | 26 per 1,000 |
| 2023 | 25 per 1,000 |
| 2024 | 24 per 1,000 |
2014
0per 1,000
Infant mortality rate
20142024
Since 2014
Reduced
−15 per 1,000
2014
39 per 1,000
2024
24 per 1,000
Why it matters A mother who comes home safe and a baby who reaches its first birthday are the clearest signs of a health system that works. Each fall in these rates means families spared a loss, and healthier children grow into a healthier, more productive generation.
- Maternal mortality ratio: 130 (2014-16) → 87 (2022-24) per lakh live births.
- Infant mortality rate: 39 (2014) → 24 (2024) per 1,000 live births, lower every single year.
- Under-five mortality: 45 (2014) → 28 (2024) per 1,000 live births.
- Institutional deliveries reached 90.6% in NFHS-6 (2023-24), up from 88.6% in NFHS-5.
- Full immunisation of children aged 12-23 months rose from 83.8% to 87.1% between NFHS-5 and NFHS-6.
- India met the National Health Policy target of a maternal mortality ratio below 100.
History
Notable milestone
India's maternal mortality ratio fell below 100 in the 2018-20 bulletin, meeting the National Health Policy target, and kept falling to 87 by 2022-24, a 43-point drop from 2014-16. Infant mortality has come down every year since 2014, reaching 24 in 2024, and the neonatal mortality rate reached 18.
How it works
Mission Indradhanush (December 2014) sought out children who had missed their vaccines, and U-WIN (2024) now records every dose digitally. The Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan (2016) gives pregnant women a free check-up on the 9th of every month and has reached over 7.5 crore women. PM Matru Vandana Yojana (2017) pays a maternity benefit to 4.27 crore women so far, LaQshya (2017) upgrades labour rooms and maternity theatres, and SUMAN (2019) assures free, respectful care with no denial of service.
Outlook
The next goal is the Sustainable Development Goal of fewer than 70 maternal deaths per lakh live births by 2030, which several states have already reached. The foundations are in place: NFHS-6 shows 90.6% of births in health facilities, 95.9% of mothers receiving antenatal care, and rotavirus vaccine coverage more than doubled, to 85.4%.
By the numbers
130 → 87 maternal deaths per lakh live births (2014-16 → 2022-24). 39 → 24 infant deaths per 1,000 live births (2014 → 2024); under-five 45 → 28. 90.6% institutional deliveries and 87.1% full immunisation (NFHS-6). 7.5 crore+ pregnant women checked under PMSMA; 4.27 crore PMMVY beneficiaries paid. Sources: Registrar General of India (SRS), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, NFHS-6, PIB.
Data current to: SRS 2024
Source: Registrar General of India, Sample Registration System, via PIB — infant mortality rate per 1,000 live births, 2014–2024; maternal mortality ratio 2014-16 to 2022-24. · link