Stillbirth Facts

We’re working to reach the expectant parents most at risk of experiencing stillbirth.

Our ultimate goal is to make meaningful, sustainable, and systemic change that leads to a world where the impacts of age, ability, access to healthcare, ethnicity, geography, race, or socioeconomic status are no longer predictors of stillbirth.

Around 20,000 babies are born still in the U.S. each year. This is approximately the same number of infants who die during the first year of life.

Disparities in stillbirth outcomes persist, and data shows that a disproportionate number of babies are born still to Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander, Black, and American Indian or Alaska Native families. Pregnant women in some age groups, geographic locations and those expecting multiples also face an increased risk of stillbirth.

According to the CDC:

• 1 in 183 of all births in the U.S. ends in stillbirth (most recent 3-year average, 2022-2024).
• Births to Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander women have a 1 in 98 chance of ending in stillbirth.
• Births to Black women have a 1 in 101 chance of ending in stillbirth.
• Births to American Indian and Alaska Native women have a 1 in 146 chance of ending in stillbirth.
• Births to Hispanic women have a 1 in 210 chance of ending in stillbirth.
• Births to White women have a 1 in 220 chance of ending in stillbirth.
• Births to Asian women have a 1 in 242 chance of ending in stillbirth.
• Births to women aged 45+ have a 1 in 75 chance of ending in stillbirth.
• Births to women ages 40-44 have a 1 in 120 chance of ending in stillbirth.
• Births to women ages 15-19 have a 1 in 145 chance of ending in stillbirth.
• The risk of stillbirth for women who smoke in pregnancy is 1 in 101.
• The risk of stillbirth for male babies is 3% higher than for female babies.
• The risk of stillbirth is two times higher for twin births than for singleton births.
• Stillbirth rates for triplet or higher-order deliveries are four times higher than for singletons.
• Stillbirth is more common in the South than in other regions of the United States. [Source]

Research from the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ACOG) shows there are several contributing factors to the racial health disparities in stillbirth. Researchers point to the following as causes for the differences:

• Epigenetics explains how early experiences, both positive and negative, can have lifelong impacts. This type of scientific research shows how environmental influences can affect the expression of genes. [Source]
• Expectant parents of color are more predisposed to conditions like gestational diabetes and preeclampsia.
• Lack of access to healthcare can impact early concerns or diagnosis of conditions and treatment.
• Rural Americans are at greater risk for poor outcomes. According to a 2024 March of Dimes report, over 35% of U.S. counties lack birthing facilities or obstetric clinicians, affecting over 2.3 million women of reproductive age. [Source]
• Socioeconomic barriers.
• Education is NOT a determining factor. [Source]