The report also strongly links a country’s politics to its newborn death rate. “Women hold only 18 percent of seats in the United States Congress,” the report says. “Sixteen countries have more than double this percentage of seats occupied by women. In Finland and Sweden, for example, women hold 43 and 45 percent of parliamentary seats, respectively.”

Finland and Sweden have the lowest rates of newborn deaths in the world.

More children die at birth in India than anywhere else, followed by Nigeria, Pakistan and China,  the report finds.

But four products costing between 13 cents and $6 each could save one million newborns a year, the report says. They are: simple bag-and-mask devices to help babies breathe; the antiseptic chlorhexidine to prevent umbilical cord infections, antibiotics to treat infections; and steroid injections to delay preterm labor. “Save the Children estimates that within the first month of life, more than 1 million babies could be saved each year with universal access to these products,” the report reads.

“Other low-cost interventions such as kangaroo mother care and early and exclusive breastfeeding would save many more babies.” Kangaroo care is skin-to-skin contact that keeps babies warm and stimulated.

Education is also key, the group says. “The more time girls spend in school, the later they marry and begin childbearing. Educated girls also are more likely to grow up to be mothers who are healthy, well-nourished, economically empowered and resourceful when it comes to caring for themselves and their babies. “

Bangladesh is one success story – it has has reduced newborn mortality by 49 percent since 1990, the report says. “Increased family incomes, lower fertility rates and higher levels of female education likely account for a significant share of this success,” it says. Door-to-door health workers have also helped, it says.

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By Maggie Fox, Senior Writer, NBC News