Live births to women under 18 declined in the region. During the 14-year period from 1990 to 2003, live births dropped 34 percent. This sharp and steady decline was driven by a precipitous drop of 46 percent in Baltimore City. The City, which in 1990 accounted for more than 70 percent of all live births in the regional total, saw its share fall to less than 57 percent by 2003. Much of this reduction is attributed to the City’s loss of nearly 100,000 residents during this period.

In 2003, infant mortality rates within the region varied little from those recorded in 1990. The regional average, (9 per 1,000) was slightly higher than the state’s (8 per 1,000), as well as the nation’s (7 per 1,000). Baltimore City had the highest infant mortality rate in the region at 13 deaths per one thousand live births, a 13.3 percent decline from 1990.

In 2005, the overall crime rate for the region reached its lowest level since at least 1980. Despite recording the largest percentage decrease among the jurisdictions since 2000 (30.9%), Baltimore City continues to have the highest crime rate of all jurisdictions with 7,087 reported. Carroll County ranked lowest with 1,884 reported crimes per 100,000 population, followed by Harford County with 2,402. Baltimore and Carroll Counties recorded the second largest decreases since 2000, 19.1% and 19.4% respectively.

In 2003, diseases of the heart (241.6 per 100,000 population), malignant neoplasm (205.1 per 100,000 population), and cerebrovascular disease (58.9 per 100,000 population) were the three leading causes of death in the region. Baltimore City led all jurisdictions for seven of the top ten leading causes of death. Baltimore County was number one in deaths from chronic lower respiratory diseases and pneumonia and influenza. Carroll County led in deaths from Alzheimer’s. Howard County ranked lowest among all jurisdictions in eight of nine leading causes of death.

Comparing 2003 with 1998, diseases of the heart, malignant neoplasm, and cerebrovascular disease have maintained their positions as the top three causes of death in the region. Homicide has been replaced by Alzheimer’s as a top ten cause of death.