| | Currently, the world's highest infant mortality rates exist in [[Angola]], [[Sierra Leone]], and [[Afghanistan]], while the lowest rate is in the nation of [[Singapore]]. The rate within the [[United States]] currently stands at or around 6.3 deaths per 1,000 births, placing it at 46th on the list, behind [[Guam]] but ahead of the [[Faroe Islands]]. The American mortality rate is inflated by three significant factors; firstly the US measures all infants that show any sings of life as live births, versus waiting 5 minutes or 1 hour before considering a birth live, secondly illegal immigrants have much higher rates of infant mortality and their inclusion in the numbers raises them significantly, thirdly religious opposition to [[abortion]] means that more high risk pregnancies are carried to term. Without these compounding factors the US would be near the top of the list. | | Currently, the world's highest infant mortality rates exist in [[Angola]], [[Sierra Leone]], and [[Afghanistan]], while the lowest rate is in the nation of [[Singapore]]. The rate within the [[United States]] currently stands at or around 6.3 deaths per 1,000 births, placing it at 46th on the list, behind [[Guam]] but ahead of the [[Faroe Islands]]. The American mortality rate is inflated by three significant factors; firstly the US measures all infants that show any sings of life as live births, versus waiting 5 minutes or 1 hour before considering a birth live, secondly illegal immigrants have much higher rates of infant mortality and their inclusion in the numbers raises them significantly, thirdly religious opposition to [[abortion]] means that more high risk pregnancies are carried to term. Without these compounding factors the US would be near the top of the list. |