2024 NC Resident Child Deaths

Table 2: Leading Causes of Child Death by Age Group: Infants

Back to 2024 Child Deaths

Rank Cause # of Deaths Percent
1 Congenital anomalies (birth defects) 133 17.3%
2 Short gestation - low birthweight 103 13.4%
3 Maternal complications of pregnancy 42 5.5%
4 Respiratory distress 38 4.9%
5 Unintentional Injuries not related to Motor Vehicles 31 4.0%
6 Bacterial sepsis 22 2.9%
7 Complications of placenta, cord, and membranes 20 2.6%
8 Intrauterine hypoxia and birth asphyxia 19 2.5%
9 Necrotizing enterocolitis 17 2.2%
10 Diseases of the circulatory system 13 1.7%
  All other causes (Residual) 332 43.1%
  Total Deaths --- All Causes 770 100%

*Leading causes of death are generated from a list of 51 causes of death categories developed by the National Center for Health Statistics to promote comparability in analyses of mortality.

For deaths under one year of age, a list of 72 causes of death was used. See Appendices for the ICD-10 codes for these lists of causes.

Prepared by NC Department of Health and Human Services, Title V Office in Collaboration with the State Center for Health Statistics, 17 APR 2026.