Introduction. This study presents the characteristics of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) in 2005, its trends over the past 30 years, and its contribution to infant mortality. Methods. French data are drawn from the national statistics on causes of death, compiled annually by the Center for Epidemiology on Medical Causes of Death (CépiDc), and European data from Eurostat. The study focuses on SIDS as the primary cause of death among children under one year of age. The number of deaths, rate per 100,000 live births, mortality ratio, proportion of SID in overall mortality, and percentage changes are the indicators used. Results. In 2005, 247 deaths from SID were recorded in metropolitan France. The overall death rate is 31.9 per 100,000. Children older than 27 days of age are most affected, with a male excess mortality rate of 1.6. Regardless of sex, most regions in southern France have low death rates. Within Europe, France is among the countries with high death rates. SIDS accounts for one in 10 infant deaths. During the post-neonatal period, it is the leading cause of death among boys. The trend in SIDS over time has contrasted with that of infant mortality, particularly during the 1970s, before following the same trends starting in the 1990s. Conclusion. Despite a general downward trend, rates of death from SIDS remain high in France, with significant interregional disparities. Efforts to standardize prevention and care must be pursued and supported. (R.A.)