The National Institute for Statistics and the Census reported a rise in the infant mortality rate due to an increase in the number of deaths and an increase in the number of births.

The rate for 2005 rose to 9.78 deaths for every 1000 births, while the rate in 2004 was 9.25. Of all deaths, neonatal births (the first 30 days of life) represented 72.57%, giving a death rate of 7.10 per thousand. In 2004, the rate was 6.73 giving an increase of .37.

The executive president of the CCSS, Alberto Sáenz, stated that the deaths would be investigated one-by-one to determine the reasons for the rise.  The total births in 2005 decreased by 207 (71,548 total) while the infant deaths rose by 32 to 700.