US Number of Fetal Deaths By Mother's Educational Level in 2022 (CDC)

According to the CDC data, in 2022, there were 40,113 recorded fetal deaths in the US. Mothers with a High school Diploma or GED had the highest number with 9,783 fetal deaths (24.39% of total), followed by mothers with a Bachelors Degree with 4,303 fetal deaths (10.73% of total), and mothers with Some College Credit with 4,033 fetal deaths (10.05% of total).

Under 20 Weeks Gestation Period: 18,354 fetal deaths occurred between the first week and 19th week of gestation. Mothers with a High school Diploma or GED experienced the highest number with 3,510 fetal deaths (19.12%), followed by mothers with a Bachelors Degree with 1,481 fetal deaths (8.07%), and mothers with Some College Credit with 863 fetal deaths (4.70%).

20 Weeks and Over Gestation Period: 20,288 fetal deaths occurred within the gestation period of 20 weeks and Over. Mothers with a High school Diploma or GED experienced the highest number with 6,145 fetal deaths (30.29%), followed by mothers with Some College Credit with 3,115 fetal deaths (15.35%), and mothers with a Bachelors Degree with 2,781 fetal deaths (13.71%).

The charts and tables below shows the percentages of fetal deaths by mother's educational level. The first chart and table shows total fetal deaths. The second chart and table shows fetal deaths that occurred under 20 weeks of gestation, and the third chart and table shows fetal deaths that occurred within 20 weeks of gestation and over.

The CDC defines “Fetal death” as: "death prior to the complete expulsion or extraction from its mother of a product of human conception, irrespective of the duration of pregnancy and which is not an induced termination of pregnancy. The death is indicated by the fact that after such expulsion or extraction, the fetus does not breathe or show any other evidence of life such as beating of the heart, pulsation of the umbilical cord, or definite movement of voluntary muscles."