Analysis of the potential correlation between infant mortality rate and GDP per capita among 217 countries

Abstract

Abstract. This research explores the connection between GDP per capita and infant mortality rates (IMR) by examining data collected from 217 countries between 2000 and 2022. Regression analysis is utilized to examine the associations among different factors, encompassing healthcare, education, and unemployment, previously identified as influencing the infant mortality rate (IMR). The analysis reveals an inverse relationship between GDP per capita and IMR. Specifically, one dollar growth in GDP per capita corresponds to a 0.107 reduction in infant death, with all other variables held constant. The study also examined interaction terms, revealing a positive correlation between certain variable combinations and infant mortality. These findings indicate that policymakers should prioritize improving reproductive education and allocating more funding to healthcare in order to further decrease infant death. Nevertheless, the study has constraints, such as the absence of certain observations and the necessity for supplementary social and economic factors to acquire a more comprehensive understanding of the components impacting infant death.