Data & Statistics

In the United States

• About one in every 33 babies (about 3%) is born with a birth defect. [Read article]
  
  
• Birth defects are one of the leading causes of infant deaths, accounting for more than 20% of all infant deaths. [Read article]
  
  
• National estimates for 21 selected major birth defects, 2004–2006 [Read summary]

 

 

• Folic acid is a B vitamin that, if taken before and during early pregnancy, can help prevent some major birth defects of the baby's brain and spine (anencephaly and spina bifida). In 1996, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) mandated that folic acid should be added to grain products, such as breads and cereals, to help reduce the risk of neural tube defects. This is known as folic acid fortification.
  
  Estimated average annual number of spina bifida and anencephaly cases based on prevalence before and after folic acid fortification mandate, 1995–1996 and 1999–2000: [Read article]
  
  

 

Race/Ethnicity

Many birth defects vary by racial or ethnic group. Investigating these differences will help us to understand why some birth defects occur more or less often in certain groups and will lead to future efforts to reduce disparities. [Read summary]

 

Compared with infants of non-Hispanic white (NH white) mothers,
Infants of non-Hispanic black (NH black) or African-American mothers had		Infants of Hispanic mothers had
Higher birth prevalence of these birth defects:	Lower birth prevalence of these birth defects	Higher birth prevalence of these birth defects:	Lower birth prevalence of these birth defects
Tetralogy of Fallot Lower limb reduction defects Trisomy 18	Cleft palate Cleft lip with or without cleft palate Esophageal atresia or tracheoesophageal fistula Gastroschisis Down syndrome	Anencephaly Spina bifida Encephalocele Gastroschisis Down syndrome	Tetralogy of Fallot Hypoplastic left heart syndrome Cleft palate Esophageal atresia or tracheoesophageal fistula