Data & Statistics on Birth Defects

In the United States

  • Birth defects affect one in every 33 babies (about 3% of all babies) born in the United States each year. [Read article]
  • Birth defects are the leading cause of infant deaths, accounting for 20% of all infant deaths. [Read article]

 Brain/Spine Defects

Specific Defects

Specific Defects

Specific Defects

How Often Do They Occur?

How Often Do They Occur?

How Often Do They Occur?

How Many Babies Are Affected?

How Many Babies Are Affected?

How Many Babies Are Affected?

Specific Defects

1 in every 4,647 births

How Often Do They Occur?

1 in every 4,647 births

847

How Many Babies Are Affected?

847

Specific Defects

1 in every 10,502 births

How Often Do They Occur?

1 in every 10,502 births

375

How Many Babies Are Affected?

375

Specific Defects

1 in every 2,758 births

How Often Do They Occur?

1 in every 2,758 births

1,427

How Many Babies Are Affected?

1,427

Eye Defects

Specific Defects

Specific Defects

Specific Defects

How Often Do They Occur?

How Often Do They Occur?

How Often Do They Occur?

How Many Babies Are Affected?

How Many Babies Are Affected?

How Many Babies Are Affected?

1 in every 5,243 births

How Often Do They Occur?

1 in every 5,243 births

751

How Many Babies Are Affected?

751

Heart Defects

Specific Defect

Specific Defect

Specific Defect

How Often Do They Occur?

How Often Do They Occur?

How Often Do They Occur?

How Many Babies Are Affected?

How Many Babies Are Affected?

How Many Babies Are Affected?

1 in every 1,859 births

How Often Do They Occur?

1 in every 1,859 births

2,118

How Many Babies Are Affected?

2,118

1 in every 1,795 births

How Often Do They Occur?

1 in every 1,795 births

2,194

How Many Babies Are Affected?

2,194

1 in every 15,696 births

How Often Do They Occur?

1 in every 15,696 births

251

How Many Babies Are Affected?

251

Double outlet right ventricle

Specific Defect

Double outlet right ventricle

1 in every 5,997 births

How Often Do They Occur?

1 in every 5,997 births

656

How Many Babies Are Affected?

656

Ebstein anomaly

Specific Defect

Ebstein anomaly

1 in every 13,047 births

How Often Do They Occur?

1 in every 13,047 births

302

How Many Babies Are Affected?

302

1 in every 3,841 births

How Often Do They Occur?

1 in every 3,841 births

1,025

How Many Babies Are Affected?

1,025

Interrupted aortic arch

Specific Defect

Interrupted aortic arch

1 in every 16,066 births

How Often Do They Occur?

1 in every 16,066 births

245

How Many Babies Are Affected?

245

1 in every 1,052 births

How Often Do They Occur?

1 in every 1,052 births

3,742

How Many Babies Are Affected?

3,742

1 in every 7,104 births

How Often Do They Occur?

1 in every 7,104 births

554

How Many Babies Are Affected?

554

Single ventricle

Specific Defect

Single ventricle

1 in every 13,351 births

How Often Do They Occur?

1 in every 13,351 births

295

How Many Babies Are Affected?

295

1 in every 2,171 births

How Often Do They Occur?

1 in every 2,171 births

1,813

How Many Babies Are Affected?

1,813

1 in every 7,809 births

How Often Do They Occur?

1 in every 7,809 births

504

How Many Babies Are Affected?

504

Transposition of the great arteries

Specific Defect

Transposition of the great arteries

1 in every 2,695 births

How Often Do They Occur?

1 in every 2,695 births

1,461

How Many Babies Are Affected?

1,461

1 in every 3,413 births

How Often Do They Occur?

1 in every 3,413 births

1,153

How Many Babies Are Affected?

1,153

1 in every 5,938 births

How Often Do They Occur?

1 in every 5,938 births

663

How Many Babies Are Affected?

663

1 in every 9,751 births

How Often Do They Occur?

1 in every 9,751 births

404

How Many Babies Are Affected?

404

Mouth/Face Defects

Specific Defects

Specific Defects

Specific Defects

How Often Do They Occur?

How Often Do They Occur?

How Often Do They Occur?

How Many Babies Are Affected?

How Many Babies Are Affected?

How Many Babies Are Affected?

1 in every 1,563 births

How Often Do They Occur?

1 in every 1,563 births

2,518

How Many Babies Are Affected?

2,518

1 in every 2,807 births

How Often Do They Occur?

1 in every 2,807 births

1,402

How Many Babies Are Affected?

1,402

Specific Defects

1 in every 1,687 births

How Often Do They Occur?

1 in every 1,687 births

2,333

How Many Babies Are Affected?

2,333

Stomach/Intestine Defects

Specific Defects

Specific Defects

Specific Defects

How Often Do They Occur?

How Often Do They Occur?

How Often Do They Occur?

How Many Babies Are Affected?

How Many Babies Are Affected?

How Many Babies Are Affected?

1 in every 4,144 births

How Often Do They Occur?

1 in every 4,144 births

950

How Many Babies Are Affected?

950

Rectal and large intestinal atresia/stenosis

Specific Defects

Rectal and large intestinal atresia/stenosis

1 in every 2,242 births

How Often Do They Occur?

1 in every 2,242 births

1,756

How Many Babies Are Affected?

1,756

Muscle/Bone Defects

Specific Defects

Specific Defects

Specific Defects

How Often Do They Occur?

How Often Do They Occur?

How Often Do They Occur?

How Many Babies Are Affected?

How Many Babies Are Affected?

How Many Babies Are Affected?

Clubfoot

Specific Defects

Clubfoot

1 in every 593 births

How Often Do They Occur?

1 in every 593 births

6,643

How Many Babies Are Affected?

6,643

1 in every 3,591 births

How Often Do They Occur?

1 in every 3,591 births

1,096

How Many Babies Are Affected?

1,096

Specific Defects

1 in every 1,953 births

How Often Do They Occur?

1 in every 1,953 births

2,015

How Many Babies Are Affected?

2,015

Specific Defects

1 in every 1,943 births

How Often Do They Occur?

1 in every 1,943 births

2,026

How Many Babies Are Affected?

2,026

Specific Defects

1 in every 4,175 births

How Often Do They Occur?

1 in every 4,175 births

943

How Many Babies Are Affected?

943

Chromosome (Gene) Defects

Specific Defects

Specific Defects

Specific Defects

How Often Do They Occur?

How Often Do They Occur?

How Often Do They Occur?

How Many Babies Are Affected?

How Many Babies Are Affected?

How Many Babies Are Affected?

Trisomy 13 (Patau syndrome)

Specific Defects

Trisomy 13 (Patau syndrome)

1 in every 7,409 births

How Often Do They Occur?

1 in every 7,409 births

531

How Many Babies Are Affected?

531

Trisomy 18 (Edwards syndrome)

Specific Defects

Trisomy 18 (Edwards syndrome)

1 in every 3,315 births

How Often Do They Occur?

1 in every 3,315 births

1,187

How Many Babies Are Affected?

1,187

1 in every 707 births

How Often Do They Occur?

1 in every 707 births

5,568

How Many Babies Are Affected?

5,568


* Mai CT, Isenburg JL, Canfield MA, Meyer RE, Correa A, Alverson CJ, Lupo PJ, Riehle‐Colarusso T, Cho SJ, Aggarwal D, Kirby RS. National population‐based estimates for major birth defects, 2010–2014. Birth Defects Research. 2019; 111(18): 1420-1435. [Read article]