Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) Calculator
What is the Infant Mortality Rate (IMR)?
The Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) is a critical health indicator used worldwide to measure the probability of a child dying before reaching their first birthday. It is expressed as the number of infant deaths per 1,000 live births in a given year and geographical area.
Public health experts and governments use this metric to assess the quality of healthcare systems, the nutritional status of populations, and the overall socio-economic conditions of a region.
The Infant Mortality Rate Formula
To calculate the rate manually, you can use the following standard demographic formula:
How to Calculate IMR Step-by-Step
- Collect Data: Identify the total number of children who died before their first birthday within a specific calendar year.
- Identify Live Births: Obtain the total number of live births recorded during that same calendar year.
- Division: Divide the number of infant deaths by the total number of live births.
- Scaling: Multiply the resulting decimal by 1,000 to get the rate per thousand.
Practical Example
Suppose a specific city recorded 150 deaths of infants under the age of one in the year 2023. During that same year, there were 25,000 live births recorded in that city.
Using the formula:
- IMR = (150 ÷ 25,000) × 1,000
- IMR = 0.006 × 1,000
- IMR = 6.0
This means for every 1,000 children born alive, 6 died before reaching their first birthday.
Why Does IMR Matter?
A high IMR often indicates unmet health needs, such as poor maternal health, inadequate prenatal care, low levels of sanitation, or limited access to clean water and immunizations. Conversely, a low IMR is typically associated with advanced medical technology, better education for mothers, and robust social safety nets.