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
How Often Do They Occur?
How Often Do They Occur?
How Many Babies Are Affected?
How Many Babies Are Affected?
1 in every 4,647 births
1 in every 4,647 births
847
847
1 in every 10,502 births
1 in every 10,502 births
375
375
1 in every 2,758 births
1 in every 2,758 births
1,427
1,427
Eye Defects
Specific Defects
Specific Defects
How Often Do They Occur?
How Often Do They Occur?
How Many Babies Are Affected?
How Many Babies Are Affected?
1 in every 5,243 births
1 in every 5,243 births
751
751
Heart Defects
Specific Defect
Specific Defect
How Often Do They Occur?
How Often Do They Occur?
How Many Babies Are Affected?
How Many Babies Are Affected?
1 in every 1,859 births
1 in every 1,859 births
2,118
2,118
1 in every 1,795 births
1 in every 1,795 births
2,194
2,194
1 in every 15,696 births
1 in every 15,696 births
251
251
Double outlet right ventricle
Double outlet right ventricle
1 in every 5,997 births
1 in every 5,997 births
656
656
Ebstein anomaly
Ebstein anomaly
1 in every 13,047 births
1 in every 13,047 births
302
302
1 in every 3,841 births
1 in every 3,841 births
1,025
1,025
Interrupted aortic arch
Interrupted aortic arch
1 in every 16,066 births
1 in every 16,066 births
245
245
1 in every 1,052 births
1 in every 1,052 births
3,742
3,742
1 in every 7,104 births
1 in every 7,104 births
554
554
Single ventricle
Single ventricle
1 in every 13,351 births
1 in every 13,351 births
295
295
1 in every 2,171 births
1 in every 2,171 births
1,813
1,813
1 in every 7,809 births
1 in every 7,809 births
504
504
Transposition of the great arteries
Transposition of the great arteries
1 in every 2,695 births
1 in every 2,695 births
1,461
1,461
1 in every 3,413 births
1 in every 3,413 births
1,153
1,153
1 in every 5,938 births
1 in every 5,938 births
663
663
1 in every 9,751 births
1 in every 9,751 births
404
404
Mouth/Face Defects
Specific Defects
Specific Defects
How Often Do They Occur?
How Often Do They Occur?
How Many Babies Are Affected?
How Many Babies Are Affected?
1 in every 1,563 births
1 in every 1,563 births
2,518
2,518
1 in every 2,807 births
1 in every 2,807 births
1,402
1,402
1 in every 1,687 births
1 in every 1,687 births
2,333
2,333
Stomach/Intestine Defects
Specific Defects
Specific Defects
How Often Do They Occur?
How Often Do They Occur?
How Many Babies Are Affected?
How Many Babies Are Affected?
1 in every 4,144 births
1 in every 4,144 births
950
950
Rectal and large intestinal atresia/stenosis
Rectal and large intestinal atresia/stenosis
1 in every 2,242 births
1 in every 2,242 births
1,756
1,756
Muscle/Bone Defects
Specific Defects
Specific Defects
How Often Do They Occur?
How Often Do They Occur?
How Many Babies Are Affected?
How Many Babies Are Affected?
Clubfoot
Clubfoot
1 in every 593 births
1 in every 593 births
6,643
6,643
1 in every 3,591 births
1 in every 3,591 births
1,096
1,096
1 in every 1,953 births
1 in every 1,953 births
2,015
2,015
1 in every 1,943 births
1 in every 1,943 births
2,026
2,026
1 in every 4,175 births
1 in every 4,175 births
943
943
Chromosome (Gene) Defects
Specific Defects
Specific Defects
How Often Do They Occur?
How Often Do They Occur?
How Many Babies Are Affected?
How Many Babies Are Affected?
Trisomy 13 (Patau syndrome)
Trisomy 13 (Patau syndrome)
1 in every 7,409 births
1 in every 7,409 births
531
531
Trisomy 18 (Edwards syndrome)
Trisomy 18 (Edwards syndrome)
1 in every 3,315 births
1 in every 3,315 births
1,187
1,187
1 in every 707 births
1 in every 707 births
5,568
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]
