Health in Santa Cruz, Argentina: official figures
The infant mortality rate in Santa Cruz was 11.5 deaths before the first birthday per 1,000 live births in 2023, 2nd highest of Argentina's 24 jurisdictions (Argentina: 8.0); 36 babies under one died that year.
Is infant mortality falling in Santa Cruz?
Infant mortality in Santa Cruz was 17.2 per 1,000 live births in 2000, 9.5 in 2013, 9.8 in 2022 and 11.5 in 2023 (Argentina: 16.6 in 2000, 8.0 in 2023).
Source: Direccion de Estadisticas e Informacion en Salud (DEIS), Ministerio de Salud de la Nacion · saved copyWhat is the neonatal mortality rate in Santa Cruz?
Of every 1,000 babies born alive in Santa Cruz in 2023, 8.0 died in their first 27 days (neonatal mortality) and 3.5 between 28 days and one year (Argentina: 5.5 and 2.5).
Source: Direccion de Estadisticas e Informacion en Salud (DEIS), Ministerio de Salud de la Nacion · saved copyHow many children under five die in Santa Cruz?
42 children under five who lived in Santa Cruz died in 2023, an under-five mortality rate of 13.4 per 1,000 live births, 2nd highest of Argentina's 24 jurisdictions (Argentina: 9.8).
Source: Direccion de Estadisticas e Informacion en Salud (DEIS), Ministerio de Salud de la Nacion · saved copyWhat is the maternal mortality rate in Santa Cruz?
1 maternal death of women living in Santa Cruz was registered in 2023, a maternal mortality ratio of 3.2 per 10,000 live births (Argentina: 3.2, 147 deaths); ratios based on five deaths or fewer vary widely from year to year.
Source: Direccion de Estadisticas e Informacion en Salud (DEIS), Ministerio de Salud de la Nacion · saved copyHow many people die each year in Santa Cruz?
1,711 deaths of residents of Santa Cruz were registered in 2023, a crude death rate of 4.4 per 1,000 people, 2nd lowest of Argentina's 24 jurisdictions (Argentina: 7.6); the crude rate reflects the age of the population as well as health.
Source: Direccion de Estadisticas e Informacion en Salud (DEIS), Ministerio de Salud de la Nacion · saved copyHow many babies are born underweight in Santa Cruz?
6.98% of babies born to mothers living in Santa Cruz in 2023 weighed under 2,500 grams at birth, 5th lowest of Argentina's 24 jurisdictions (Argentina: 7.81%), and 9.78% were born before 37 weeks (Argentina: 9.47%).
Source: Direccion de Estadisticas e Informacion en Salud (DEIS), Ministerio de Salud de la Nacion · saved copyHow many teenage mothers are there in Santa Cruz?
8.03% of live births in Santa Cruz in 2023 were to mothers under 20, 11th lowest of Argentina's 24 jurisdictions (Argentina: 8.88%).
Source: Direccion de Estadisticas e Informacion en Salud (DEIS), Ministerio de Salud de la Nacion · saved copyHow many people in Santa Cruz have no health insurance?
17.0% of people in private homes in Santa Cruz had no obra social (union or employer health fund), private prepaid plan or state health plan at the 2022 census, 3rd lowest of Argentina's 24 jurisdictions (Argentina: 35.8%); they rely on public hospitals and clinics.
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadistica y Censos (INDEC) · saved copyWhat kind of health coverage do people have in Santa Cruz?
At the 2022 census 74.2% of people in Santa Cruz were covered by an obra social or prepaid plan (including PAMI, the pensioners' fund) and 8.9% by a state health programme (Argentina: 60.9% and 3.3%).
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadistica y Censos (INDEC) · saved copyMore figures
- The perinatal mortality rate in Santa Cruz, counting late fetal deaths and deaths in the first week of life, was 9.2 per 1,000 births in 2023 (Argentina: 10.1). Source: Direccion de Estadisticas e Informacion en Salud (DEIS), Ministerio de Salud de la Nacion · saved copy
- 28.67% of babies born to mothers living in Santa Cruz in 2023 had mothers with no health insurance or plan, 2nd lowest of Argentina's 24 jurisdictions (Argentina: 55.52%). Source: Direccion de Estadisticas e Informacion en Salud (DEIS), Ministerio de Salud de la Nacion · saved copy
How Santa Cruz compares with other provinces
Infant deaths per 1,000 live births (2023)
Santa Cruz ranks 2 of 24, highest first. By mother's province of residence. DEIS notes incomplete coverage of infant deaths in Santiago del Estero.
| Rank | Region | Infant deaths per 1,000 live births |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Corrientes | 11.6 |
| 2 | Santa Cruz | 11.5 |
| 3 | La Rioja | 10.3 |
| 4 | Formosa | 10.2 |
| 5 | Salta | 9.8 |
| 6 | Entre Rios | 9.5 |
| 7 | Chaco | 9.5 |
Deaths under age five per 1,000 live births (2023)
Santa Cruz ranks 2 of 24, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Deaths under age five per 1,000 live births |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Corrientes | 13.7 |
| 2 | Santa Cruz | 13.4 |
| 3 | Salta | 13.2 |
| 4 | La Rioja | 12.0 |
| 5 | Chaco | 11.9 |
| 6 | Formosa | 11.8 |
| 7 | Tierra del Fuego | 11.8 |
Neonatal deaths (under 28 days) per 1,000 live births (2023)
Santa Cruz ranks 2 of 24, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Neonatal deaths (under 28 days) per 1,000 live births |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Corrientes | 8.3 |
| 2 | Santa Cruz | 8.0 |
| 3 | Entre Rios | 7.5 |
| 4 | Formosa | 7.5 |
| 5 | San Juan | 7.1 |
| 6 | Salta | 6.7 |
| 7 | Tucuman | 6.4 |
People with no obra social, prepaid plan or state health plan (%) (2022)
Santa Cruz ranks 22 of 24, highest first. Population in private dwellings, 2022 census.
| Rank | Region | People with no obra social, prepaid plan or state health plan (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 18 | La Pampa | 32.1% |
| 19 | Neuquen | 31.5% |
| 20 | Santa Fe | 30.7% |
| 21 | Chubut | 27.8% |
| 22 | Santa Cruz | 17.0% |
| 23 | Buenos Aires City | 16.3% |
| 24 | Tierra del Fuego | 15.3% |
Babies born under 2,500 g (%) (2023)
Santa Cruz ranks 20 of 24, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Babies born under 2,500 g (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 17 | Santiago del Estero | 7.29% |
| 18 | Tierra del Fuego | 7.15% |
| 19 | Rio Negro | 7.09% |
| 20 | Santa Cruz | 6.98% |
| 21 | Neuquen | 6.94% |
| 22 | Jujuy | 6.84% |
| 23 | Chubut | 6.68% |
Births to mothers under 20 (%) (2023)
Santa Cruz ranks 14 of 24, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Births to mothers under 20 (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 11 | Buenos Aires Province | 8.48% |
| 12 | Catamarca | 8.33% |
| 13 | Cordoba | 8.22% |
| 14 | Santa Cruz | 8.03% |
| 15 | Mendoza | 7.73% |
| 16 | La Rioja | 7.39% |
| 17 | San Luis | 7.37% |
More on Santa Cruz: overview · economy and jobs · education and schools · poverty and living standards · government budget · Argentina
Sources
- Instituto Nacional de Estadistica y Censos (INDEC): Censo 2022, resultados definitivos: Cuadro 1, population in private dwellings by health coverage and jurisdiction, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 d0925617e98e…)
- Direccion de Estadisticas e Informacion en Salud (DEIS), Ministerio de Salud de la Nacion: Boletin No. 172: Defunciones de menores de cinco anos, indicadores seleccionados, Argentina 2023: Cuadros 1, 3 and 4.1 (infant and under-five mortality by province; infant mortality 2000-2023), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 12710e22f097…)
- Direccion de Estadisticas e Informacion en Salud (DEIS), Ministerio de Salud de la Nacion: Estadisticas vitales. Informacion basica, Argentina 2023 (Serie 5, No. 67): Cuadro 1 (births, deaths, infant, maternal and perinatal mortality by province) and Cuadro 20 (selected birth indicators), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 976438c611bd…)
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