Singapore's infant mortality has fallen drastically from a high of 131 per thousand births in 1931 to 56 in 1954 and a low of 7.4 in 1987. Postneonatal mortality used to account for many of the infant deaths but since the 1960s, neonatal mortality has become increasingly important. It now accounts for about three quarters of all infant deaths. This study of neonatal deaths in 1987 showed that sex, birth order, maternal age and social class in terms of possible contributory factors has not changed much over a thirteen year period. The important causes of neonatal deaths being congenital anomalies and perinatal conditions such as severe prematurity, severe birth asphyxia and respiratory distress syndrome.