---
title: "Infant Mortality Rate (IMR): Definition | Model Diplomat"
description: "The infant mortality rate (IMR) measures deaths of children under one per 1,000 live births, crucial for assessing healthcare quality in countries like India."
url: "https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/glossary/infant-mortality-rate"
---

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Model Diplomat Research Team · Last reviewed June 22, 2026

TL;DR

- The infant mortality rate is the number of deaths of children under one year of age per 1,000 live births in a given year.
- How does the infant mortality rate differ from the under-five mortality rate?
- Why is the IMR considered a proxy for overall development?
- What are the neonatal and post-neonatal components of the IMR?
- Which source provides the official IMR for India?

[Civil Service & Diplomatic Exams](https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/civil-services/glossary)Updated June 22, 2026

The infant mortality rate is the number of deaths of children under one year of age per 1,000 live births in a given year.

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In its SRS Bulletin released in 2022, India's Registrar General reported a national infant mortality rate of 28 per 1,000 live births for 2020, down from 30 the previous year, with Kerala among the lowest states.

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