Patterns of Child Injury Fatalities in New York City, 2014–2023: The Child Fatality Review Advisory Team’s 2025 Report

Anna Caffarelli, MHS
Stephanie Mazzaferro, MPH
Lawrence Fung, MPH
Caitlyn Smith, MPH

Injuries are a leading cause of death among children nationwide and in New York City (NYC). NYC’s local Law 115 of 2005 and its 2012 extension requires the Child Fatality Review Advisory Team to produce an annual report on child injury fatalities in NYC. The 2025 report examines patterns, trends, and disparities in child injury fatalities from 2014 to 2023 to inform prevention strategies and address inequities in child safety.

This 2025 Child Fatality Review Advisory Team Report describes injury deaths among children aged 1 to 12 years in NYC from 2014 to 2023. Data were obtained from the NYC Health Department’s Bureau of Vital Statistics. Injury deaths were categorized by intent (unintentional, homicide, suicide, undetermined), age, sex, race/ethnicity, borough, and neighborhood poverty level. Rates were calculated using interpolated intercensal population estimates. Descriptive statistics and rate comparisons were used to identify patterns and disparities. The data set included child injury deaths in all five boroughs of NYC.

From 2014 to 2023, 332 children ages 1 to 12 in NYC died from injuries, with unintentional injuries accounting for 57% of deaths, homicides 29%, suicides 4%, and undetermined intent 10%. The annual injury death rate in NYC was 3.5 per 100,000 in 2023, significantly lower than the national rate of 7.0 per 100,000. Disparities were observed: younger children (ages 1–4), boys, Black children, those living in the Bronx, and those living in high-poverty neighborhoods experienced higher fatality rates. Most injuries occurred at home (71%), with homicides and unintentional injuries being the leading causes. Among injuries occurring outside the home, motor vehicle traffic incidents, particularly pedestrian fatalities, were predominant.

While NYC has achieved lower child injury fatality rates compared to national averages, significant racial, economic, and geographic disparities persist. These findings underscore the need for targeted prevention efforts, including promoting home safety, addressing structural inequities, and implementing community-based interventions in neighborhoods where child injury death rates are highest. By addressing these disparities, NYC can further reduce preventable child deaths and serve as a model for urban injury prevention.

1. Identify trends and disparities in injury-related child fatalities in NYC from 2014 to 2023.
2. Understand the demographic and geographic factors contributing to disparities in child injury deaths.
3. Explore evidence-based strategies to prevent child injury fatalities and address systemic inequities.