Goa has recorded the second-lowest infant mortality rate (IMR) among Indian states, with just 7 infant deaths per 1,000 live births, according to the SRS. Incidentally, Goa’s IMR for male as well female children is the same and stands at 7. Also the state’s IMR is way below the national average of 24. Among all states in the country, only Manipur, with an IMR of 2, reported a lower figure, though the bulletin notes that Manipur’s estimates are based on a limited sample size. Goa is tied with Sikkim at 7, while Kerala follows at 8, placing Goa among the country’s top performers in infant survival. The latest data pertains to the year 2024 for larger states, while IMRs for smaller States and Union Territories are based on three-year period 2022-24. Meanwhile, the national data showed India’s IMR at 24, with rural areas recording a higher rate of 27 compared to 17 in urban areas, underlining the continuing rural-urban healthcare gap. States such as Chhattisgarh (36), Madhya Pradesh (35) and Uttar Pradesh (35) reported some of the highest infant mortality rates in the country. Among Union Territories, Ladakh and Lakshadweep recorded the lowest infant mortality rate at 3, followed by Chandigarh at 6.
