In the EU in 2018, around 14,600 children died before reaching one year of age. This is equivalent to an average infant mortality rate of 3.4 deaths per 1,000 live births, according to the latest figures published by the Statistical Office of the European Union (Eurostat).
During the 10 years from 2008 to 2018, the infant mortality rate in the EU fell from 4.2 deaths per 1,000 live births to 3.4 deaths per 1,000 live births. Extending the analysis to the last 20 years, the infant mortality rate was almost halved (6.6 deaths per 1,000 in 1998).
In 2018, the highest infant mortality rates in the European Union (EU) were registered in Romania (6 deaths per 1,000 live births), Bulgaria (5.8 deaths) and Malta (5.6 deaths), and the lowest in Estonia (1.6 deaths), Slovenia (1.7 deaths) and Sweden (2 deaths).
Finland ranked as the fourth lowest, with 2.1 deaths per 1,000 live births. However, Finland has worsened its performance from a year ago. In 2017 it was the second country with the lowest infant mortality (just 2 deaths per 1,000 live births).
The EU includes now 27 EU Member States. The United Kingdom (3.9 deaths per 1,000 live births) left the EU on 31 January 2020.
