Australia’s stillbirth rate has reached its highest reported level in more than two decades
New Australian Institute of Health and Welfare data shows 3,178 babies died during the perinatal period in 2023—about nine every day. The deaths included 2,491 stillbirths and 687 babies who died within 28 days of birth.
The national perinatal mortality rate rose from 10.3 deaths per 1,000 births in 2022 to 11.1 in 2023. The stillbirth rate increased to 8.7 per 1,000 births, its highest reported level since at least 2004