Map of the counties where the most children under the age of one die. The death rate has risen to the highest level in the last decade
The infant mortality rate in Romania has risen to the highest level in the last decade. On average, 6.6 out of 1,000 children under the age of one died in our country in 2024, according to data centralized by the National Institute of Public Health, cited in a Save the Children report. It is one of the highest rates in Europe. The organization emphasizes that the phenomenon could be prevented “if access to medical services were prompt”.
Infant mortality refers to the death rate of children under one year of age.
The survival of these children, say the representatives of Salvați Copiii, depends, in most cases, on the level of the maternity hospital with high-performance medical equipment, the distance to the maternity hospital and the access of pregnant women and mothers to medical services.
And some of these deaths “can be prevented if access to medical services for pregnant women and newborns were prompt”, say representatives of Save the Children.
The Save the Children organization started, 16 years ago, a program to combat infant mortality, by equipping neonatal intensive care units and pediatric units in hospitals in the country.
This year, it has applications from 35 hospitals across the country.
Twice as many child deaths as the EU average
The infant mortality rate increased in 2024 to 6.6 per thousand, from 5.6 per thousand in 2023, according to the latest data centralized by INSP.
Such a high level has not been recorded since 2016, when the infant mortality rate was 6.8 per thousand.
In fact, Romania continues to record one of the highest infant mortality rates in the European Union, with 6.6 deaths per 1,000 children, compared to the EU average, which is half: 3.3 deaths per 1,000 children under one year of age.
The figures show big differences between different counties or regions of the country. For example, in Bucharest, the average is 3.3 deaths per 1,000 children under one year of age, while in Mureș County, in 2024, an infant mortality rate of 13 per thousand was recorded – almost four times higher than in the Capital.
The situation is also worrying in Ialomita and Suceava counties, according to Save the Children, where the infant mortality rate exceeds 10 deaths per thousand children under one year.
The main causes
Most infant deaths occur in premature infants or infants with complex medical conditions.
Their survival, say the representatives of Save the Children, depends, most of the time, on the level of equipment of the maternity hospital with high-performance medical equipment, the distance to the maternity hospital and the access of pregnant women and mothers to medical services.
An additional problem is given, according to Save the Children, by the causes of mortality: of the 952 deaths, 220 were caused by diseases of the respiratory system, 208 by chromosomal abnormalities and congenital malformations and 33 other infectious and parasitic diseases.
These are causes that, according to the Save the Children specialists, “can be prevented in many cases, if access to medical services for pregnant women and newborns were prompt”.
The Save the Children Romania organization marks the 16th year of the program to combat infant mortality, under the call of Gain time for premature newborns, by redirecting 3.5% of income tax.
Counties with the highest infant mortality rate
Counties with the highest death rate for children under one year old:
- Mureș – infant mortality rate of 13 per thousand;
- Ialomita – 12.7 per thousand;
- Suceava – 10.7 per thousand;
- Satu Mare – 9.9 per thousand;
- Botoșani – 9.8 per thousand.
Counties with the lowest death rate for children under one year old:
- Bucharest Municipality – 3.3 per thousand;
- Olt – 3.4 per thousand;
- Ilfov – 4 per thousand;
- Tulcea – 4.2 per thousand;
- Teleorman – 4.6 per thousand.
35 hospitals requested the support of Save the Children to be renovated and equipped with equipment in 2026
As part of the program to combat infant mortality started 16 years ago by Save the Children, the organization says that it has recently received requests for support from 35 medical units, which urgently need high-performance medical equipment in 2026, as well as modernization and renovation works.
Thus, doctors request the provision of medical units with resuscitation and resuscitation tables, incubators, pulse oximeters, phototherapy lamps, ventilators for respiratory support. The total costs amount to over 3,000,000 euros.
The Save the Children organization started, 16 years ago, a program to combat infant mortality, by equipping neonatal intensive care units and pediatric units in hospitals in the country.
“The program to combat infant mortality started by Save the Children Romania 16 years ago has become an essential support mechanism for maternity hospitals, neonatal intensive care units and pediatric wards throughout the country. Following the priorities defined by doctors, the Save the Children team is mobilizing resources to identify the fastest ways to equip medical units that are in urgent, vital need of medical equipment,” says Gabriela Alexandrescu, executive president of Save the Children.
For this reason, the Save the Children Romania organization is launching an appeal for the redirection of 3.5% of the income tax for the provision of medical equipment to maternity and newborn wards in Romania.
Since 2010, Save the Children has renovated, modernized and equipped with high-performance equipment 135 neonatology, neonatal intensive care, pediatrics and obstetrics-gynecology wards, from all the counties of the country, the total investment amounting to over 18 million euros.
