U.S. Sanctions Linked to Surge in Cuban Infant Mortality

CEPR’s 2025 report finds Cuba’s infant mortality rate rose 148 % from 4–5 to 9.9 deaths per 1,000 live births between 2018 and 2025, implying about 1,800 excess infant deaths, which the authors link to the tightened U.S. embargo.

Common Dreams

President Donald Trump reversed Obama’s Cuba outreach, re-activated the Helms-Burton Act, re-designated Cuba a State Sponsor of Terrorism, imposed a fuel blockade halting Venezuelan oil, and sharply limited tourism, medical-goods exports, remittances, and foreign medical-mission partnerships.

Common Dreams

Power cuts disrupt incubators and ventilators; nearly 100,000 Cubans—11,000 children—await surgery and childhood-cancer survival has fallen. Cuba estimates the blockade costs over $1 trillion.

Common Dreams

Senators Tim Kaine, Adam Schiff and Ruben Gallego introduced a war-powers resolution requiring congressional approval before any U.S. military action against Cuba, ahead of a vote. The UN General Assembly has condemned the embargo 33 times, and reports say the Pentagon is “quietly ramping up” war preparations.

Common Dreams

CEPR scholars Main, Sammut, Weisbrot and Long argue the “maximum pressure” embargo deliberately harms civilians to force regime change, labeling the state-terrorism designation absurd. Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva demanded an immediate end to the blockade.

Common Dreams

CEPR reports a 2025 infant mortality rate of 9.9 per 1,000. The UN Inter-Agency Group cites 7.4 per 1,000, while BMJ Pediatrics Open also lists 9.9 per 1,000. CEPR notes data for the final months of 2025 remain unavailable.

Common Dreams

• “The blockade has had a particularly dire effect on Cuba’s healthcare infrastructure, with frequent power outages interrupting the use of critical equipment for the treatment of patients, including incubators for premature babies, and ventilators to help sick newborns breathe,” — Joe Sammut, CEPR senior research fellow

Common Dreams

• “The Trump policy of ‘maximum pressure’ on Cuba has killed a lot of babies—and, although we don’t yet have data for the last few months, it’s highly likely that more babies are dying now, and at an even higher rate than last year as a result of the current US fuel blockade targeting Cuba,” — Alexander Main, CEPR director of international policy

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• “The sanctions on Cuba starkly illustrate how these economic sanctions work: They target the civilian population, often with the goal of provoking regime change,” — Mark Weisbrot, CEPR co-director

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• “Stop this damned blockade on Cuba and let the Cuban people live their lives,” — Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, President of Brazil

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The war-powers resolution could be voted on soon, potentially limiting unilateral U.S. force. Global leaders and activists continue urging embargo removal, citing the humanitarian toll. The vote’s outcome will shape Cuba-U.S. relations amid mounting health and security pressures.

Common Dreams