Among southern states, Andhra Pradesh's sharp rise in registered infant deaths contrasts with Karnataka's 45% decline and Tamil Nadu's stable figures, which hovered between 9,000 and 13,000 annually.
Published Jun 30, 2025 | 7:00 AM ⚊ Updated Jun 30, 2025 | 7:00 AM
Representative image (iStock)
Synopsis: Between 2013 and 2022, Andhra Pradesh saw a 291% rise in registered infant deaths—from 2,130 to 8,346—even as its infant mortality rate declined significantly. The seeming paradox underscores improved death registration rather than worsening health outcomes. Official data from civil and sample registration systems reveals the evolving complexity of infant health trends in Andhra Pradesh and across southern India
Andhra Pradesh witnessed a staggering 291 percent increase in registered infant deaths between 2013 and 2022, rising from 2,130 to 8,346 deaths annually, even as the state achieved one of India’s most impressive reductions in infant mortality rate (IMR) during the same period, according to official government data.
This paradoxical trend highlights a critical distinction between infant death registration and actual mortality outcomes.
The data, analysd from the Vital Statistics of India Based on the Civil Registration System and the Sample Registration System Statistical Report, presents a complex picture of infant health across southern India and the broader national landscape.
This paradoxical trend becomes even more striking when viewed through a historical lens: the undivided Andhra Pradesh recorded 7,418 infant deaths in 2008, the current Andhra Pradesh alone registered 8,346 deaths in 2013.
Before its bifurcation in 2014, Andhra Pradesh was a massive state that consistently ranked among India’s highest in absolute infant death numbers. The undivided state recorded 10,254 infant deaths in 2009, making it the one of the worst performers nationally that year.
The pre-bifurcation data reveals fascinating patterns: undivided Andhra Pradesh’s infant death registrations fluctuated dramatically between 2006 and 2013, ranging from a high of 10,254 in 2009 to a low of 2,130 in 2013.
When Telangana was carved out in 2014, it began with 3,410 registered infant deaths, while the residual Andhra Pradesh started with just 2,130 deaths. Combined, the two states recorded 5,540 deaths in their first year as separate entities—barely half of what the undivided state had recorded in 2009.
Telangana’s trajectory shows steady growth in registered deaths, reaching 8,848 in 2018 before declining to 4,040 by 2022—an 18.5 percent increase from its 2014 baseline. Meanwhile, Andhra Pradesh’s numbers surged dramatically, particularly between 2014 and 2017, when deaths jumped from 2,897 to 9,115, before settling at 8,346 in 2022.
The combined death count for both states in 2022 (12,386) now exceeds the undivided state’s 2009 peak (10,254).
The significant increase in registered deaths in Andhra Pradesh, coupled with improved IMR, suggests that the state’s death registration system became substantially more effective at capturing infant deaths that were previously unrecorded.
Among southern states, Andhra Pradesh’s dramatic increase in registered deaths stands in stark contrast to its neighbors. Karnataka showed steady improvement, reducing registered infant deaths from 15,221 in 2013 to 8,352 in 2022—a 45 percent decrease. Tamil Nadu maintained relatively stable numbers, fluctuating between 9,000-13,000 deaths annually throughout the decade.
Kerala, historically the best performer among southern states, recorded the lowest absolute numbers, with deaths declining from 3,873 in 2013 to 2,291 in 2022. Telangana, formed as a separate state in 2014, showed an 18.5 percent increase from 3,410 to 4,040 deaths, though this included administrative adjustments following the state’s creation.
The highest single-year death count among southern states occurred in Karnataka in 2014 (17,286 deaths), while Kerala consistently recorded the lowest numbers, with its 2021 figure of 2,121 deaths representing the region’s best performance during the study period.
Despite the concerning rise in registered deaths, Andhra Pradesh achieved remarkable success in reducing its infant mortality rate—from 43.2 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2010-12 to 21.0 in 2020-22, representing a 51.4 percent improvement that ranked fourth-best nationally.
Karnataka demonstrated even stronger IMR performance, achieving a 50.4 percent reduction from 34.9 to 17.3 deaths per 1,000 births, while Tamil Nadu improved by 47.8 percent (22.4 to 11.7) and Kerala, starting from the lowest baseline, still managed a 48.4 percent improvement (12.4 to 6.4).
India’s overall infant mortality landscape shows better trends, with the national IMR declining by 39.1 percent from 44.5 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2010-12 to 27.1 in 2020-22. This improvement spans both rural areas (37.7 percent reduction) and urban centers (37.9 percent reduction), with the urban-rural gap narrowing from 19.5 points to 12.2 points.
The national registered infant death count fluctuated significantly over the decade, peaking at 189,008 deaths in 2014 before declining to 136,648 in 2021, though rising slightly to 142,771 in 2022.
Maharashtra consistently reported the highest absolute numbers nationally, with deaths ranging from 13,807 to 22,470 annually. However, several large states demonstrated dramatic improvements: West Bengal achieved a 68.3 percent reduction in registered deaths (14,012 to 4,436), while Uttar Pradesh recorded a 67 percent decrease (18,760 to 6,193).
Despite overall national progress, significant regional disparities remain. States like Madhya Pradesh (59.3 to 41.4 IMR) and Chhattisgarh (48.6 to 38.0 IMR) continue to struggle with higher mortality rates, while southern states generally perform better than the national average.
Urban areas consistently show lower IMR across all states, though the gap varies significantly. Kerala’s urban areas recorded just 8.1 deaths per 1,000 births in 2020-22, while rural areas in states like Madhya Pradesh still face rates of 44.8 deaths per 1,000 births.
The data suggests that while India has made substantial progress in reducing infant mortality, targeted interventions remain necessary in high-burden states and rural areas to achieve more equitable health outcomes.
(Edited by Ananya Rao)
