Among all countries that are part of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), Turkey, followed by Korea, had the highest rate of Caesarean section births (or C-sections) in 2020. At that time, the rate of C-sections in Turkey was 584 per 1,000 live births. Among global regions, Latin America and the Caribbean had the highest percentage of births that were delivered by C-section, while West and Central Africa had the lowest rates of Cesarean section births.

Cesarean section costs

Cesarean sections are a form of birth where the baby is taken out through a surgical incision in the abdomen rather than a natural vaginal birth. The cost of a Cesarean section delivery varies globally. The United States has some of the highest costs globally for Cesarean section deliveries, while South Africa has some of the lowest costs. In the United States, C-sections are significantly more expensive than a delivery by vaginal birth.

High C-sections rates in the U.S.

While not the highest, the U.S. has a high C-section rate among OECD countries and very few of the hospitals are meeting national targets for the number of Cesarean sections performed. Over the past 20 years the C-section rate in the U.S. has gradually been increasing with more stable trends in the past few years. It has been reported that many of the C-sections performed in the U.S. are elective and not necessary. Often the risks of C-sections are greater than the benefits, when performed as an elective procedure.

This statistic depicts the percentage of births that were delivered via cesarean section worldwide in 2000 and 2015, by region. According to the data, Latin America and the Caribbean had the highest rate of cesarean sections in 2015 with 44.3 percent of births being delivered by c-section.

Cesarean rates worldwide continue to increase and are projected to reach 28.5 percent by 2030 from 21.1 percent in 2018. In 2018, the highest rate of c-section was in the Latin America and the Caribbean region at nearly 43 percent. Yet the largest growth is projected for the region of Eastern Asia, where more than half of all childbirth occurs by c-section. As of 2021, this is already the case in four OECD countries.

In 2019, the cost of a C-section delivery in a hospital in the United States was 11,326 U.S. dollars. In comparison, a C-section in a hospital in Germany cost 3,704 U.S. dollars. This statistic displays the median prices for a C-section delivery in hospitals in select countries worldwide in 2019.

Among all U.S. states, Nebraska had the highest hospital-based Cesarean section delivery rate as of 2017, with 34 percent of births being delivered via Cesarean section. Cesarean section rates were calculated for first-time, low-risk mothers. Nebraska’s Cesarean section rate is significantly higher than the U.S. target. According to recent data, over half of U.S. hospitals have C-section delivery rates higher than the national U.S. targets.

Risks of Cesarean section

A Cesarean section (or C-section) is a surgical procedure for delivering babies in which a baby is delivered by being removed through the abdomen as opposed to being delivered vaginally. Most deaths due to childbirth in the U.S. are preventable. However, women that deliver via C-section are more prone to specific health risks including, infection, excessive bleeding, and damage to the bladder, kidneys and other internal organs. While cost may not directly affect health, the risk of financial troubles based on medical expenditures is also an issue with C-section deliveries. The U.S. has some of the highest costs globally for C-section deliveries.

High U.S. Cesarean section rates

Among all OECD countries the United States raked among the top five for highest rates of cesarean section deliveries. The number of C-sections performed in the U.S. has dramatically increased since 1997. Among mothers in the U.S., older women have higher rates of C-section delivery.

Caesarean section rates in 150 countries categorised according to United Nations geographical grouping in 2014a.

Trends in selected fetal and newborn outcomes by Robson group.

In 2022, around 59 percent of all delivering mothers in the United States were overweight or obese. This statistic shows the rate of selected medical or health characteristics experienced by mothers during pregnancy/births in the United States in 2022.

Mississippi leads the nation in cesarean section rates, with 38.5 percent of all live births delivered via C-section in 2022. This figure significantly surpasses the national average of 32.1 percent. The high prevalence of C-sections raises important questions about maternal health care and medical decision-making in different states. Age and ethnicity influence C-section rates Demographic factors play a crucial role in the likelihood of cesarean deliveries. Maternal age significantly impacts C-section rates, with mothers aged 40 to 54 experiencing a 47.7 percent rate compared to just 18.9 percent for those under 20. Additionally, ethnic disparities persist, with non-Hispanic Black women consistently having higher C-section rates than other groups. The gap between non-Hispanic Black and non-Hispanic White women has widened from 2 percent in 2007 to over 5 percent in 2022. Financial implications of C-sections The cost of cesarean deliveries varies widely depending on insurance status and location. In 2023, the national median cost for an insured, in-network C-section was 16,943 U.S. dollars. However, for uninsured patients or those using out-of-network services, the median charge more than doubled to 37,653 U.S. dollars. New Jersey topped the charts for both insured and uninsured C-section costs, with median values of 26,900 U.S. dollars and 52,500 U.S. dollars respectively.

In developed countries, the rate of caesarean births has increase 50% over the last decade and is estimated to continue increasing, on average 1 in 3 births are preformed caesarean delivery.). In recent years, concerns and questions have arisen on the potential long term consequences for infant health born from CD (4). Parallel with the rise of CD, there has been an escalation in doctor diagnosed allergic diseases. The frequencies of allergies are increasing in prevalence in countries around the world (specifically western countries) and has no specific identification of a source (5-6).One of the predominate theories explaining the correlation between CD and higher rates of asthma, obesity, allergens during childhood is the hygiene hypothesis, insinuating that the introduction and growth of microbial flora in the intestines during prenatal and postnatal development correlates to faster developing immune system which decrease probability of developing allergic diseases. Studies were found using multiple databases; Web of Science, Scopus and Plos one listed from 1976 to 2015. Most, 80%, of the studies were found on web of Science and Plos one while Scopus had many studies that were not specific enough for this review and were excluded. The terms used to specify the search terms on each database were caesarean section OR c-section OR mode of delivery OR pregnancy complications as the primary topic with subtopic including immune function OR chronic Immune disorder, allergy OR allergic OR food allergy OR food intolerance OR asthma OR atopy, and gut macrobiotic. The topics were combined in different ways to achieve a broad but specified number of studies. To be approved, the abstract, introduction and methods were read on the basis of if their research considered caesarean sections as the main factor and studied the potential outcome of caesarean sections or pregnancy complications resulting in a caesarean sections and if the infants from those caesarean sections developed any chronic disorders

Characteristics of obstetric population (including all births, singleton and multiple, from 28+0 to 44+6 gestational weeks), 2000–2010, years stratified.

Modes of delivery by migration status (numbers and proportion in %).

Marginal probability difference reflects the effect of one unit change in the independent variable (e.g. non-immigrants = 0, 1st generation migrants = 1) on the probability that the dependent variable is one (= emergency caesarean) [16]Odds of an emergency caesarean section, adjusted for socio-demographic and clinical characteristics (N = 6875).

This statistic displays the share of childbirths that were delivered by caesarean section in Europe in 2015, by country. In this year, almost 57 percent of births in Cyprus were delivered by caesarean section, the highest rate in Europe.

UNICEF's country profile for France, including under-five mortality rates, child health, education and sanitation data.

The data shows the statistics of different medical services on a cumulative yearly basis in other states up to the sub-district level of 2011-2012. It included 1) Ante Natal Care (ANC) - Antenatal care (ANC) is a means to identify high-risk pregnancies and educate women so that they might experience healthier delivery and outcomes. 2) Deliveries - The delivery of the baby by the pregnant women 3) Number of Caesarean (C-Section) deliveries - Caesarean delivery (C-section) is used to deliver a baby through surgical incisions made in the abdomen and uterus. 4) Pregnancy outcome & details of new-born - The records kept of the pregnancy outcome along with the details of new-born 5) Complicated Pregnancies - The different pregnancies that were not normal and had complications 6) Post Natal Care (PNC) - Postnatal care is defined as care given to the mother and her new-born baby immediately after the birth of the placenta and for the first six weeks of life 7) Reproductive Tract Infections/Sexually Transmitted Infections (RTI/STI) Cases - The records of reproductive tract infections along with the records of the sexually transmitted cases 8) Family Planning - The different methods used by families to keep track of family 9) CHILD IMMUNISATION - The records of child immunisation which are records of vaccination 10) Number of cases of Childhood Diseases (0-5 years) - The records of the number of cases of childhood diseases within the age of 5 years old 11) NVBDCP - The National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme (NVBDCP) is one of the most comprehensive and multi-faceted public health activities in the country and concerned with the prevention and control of vector-borne diseases, namely Malaria, Filariasis, Kala-azar, Dengue and Japanese Encephalitis (JE). 12) Adolescent Health - The record of the conditions of adolescent health 13 ) Directly Observed Treatment, Short-course (DOTS) - Directly observed treatment, short-course (DOTS, also known as TB-DOTS) is the name given to tuberculosis (TB) control strategy recommended by the World Health Organization 14) Patient Services - Patient Services means those which vary with the number of personnel; professional and para-professional skills of the personnel; specialised equipment, and reflect the intensity of the medical and psycho-social needs of the patients. 15) Laboratory Testing - A medical procedure that involves testing a sample of blood, urine, or other substance from the body. Laboratory tests can help determine a diagnosis, plan treatment, check if the treatment works, or monitor the disease over time. 16) Details of deaths reported with probable causes - The reports of deaths recorded with possible reasons are given in a detail 17) Vaccines - The reports of vaccines which are recorded 18) Syringes - It is the number of syringes that are used and recorded 19) Rashtriya Bal Swasthaya Karyakram (RBSK) - Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK) is an important initiative aiming at early identification and early intervention for children from birth to 18 years to cover 4 'D's viz. Defects at birth, Deficiencies, Diseases, Development delays, including disability. 20) Coverage under WIFS JUNIOR - The coverage of the Weekly Iron Folic Acid Supplementation Programme for children six to one 21) Maternal Death Reviews (MDR) - A maternal death review is cross-checking how the mother died. It provides a rare opportunity for a group of health staff and community members to learn from a tragic – and often preventable. 22) Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakaram (JSSK)- This initiative provides free and cashless services to pregnant women, including normal deliveries and caesarean operations. It entitles all pregnant women in public health institutions to free and no-expense delivery, including caesarean section.

The total average hospital bill for U.S. births varies depending on the kind of birth. In 2013, the average cost of an uncomplicated vaginal birth was around 32 thousand U.S. dollars. For a standard Cesarean section birth the cost was near 51 thousand U.S. dollars at that time. Cesarean sections are performed via the surgical removal of an infant from the mother.

Birth costs

The United States has one of the highest birthing costs in the world. The average hospital and physician costs for a normal vaginal delivery in the United States may cost twice as much as a normal vaginal birth in Australia. Cesarean sections costs are more expensive than vaginal births, but the cost difference is similar. The United States, followed by Switzerland, had the highest costs among select countries for C-section deliveries.

Birth rates and mother's age

The birth rate in the United States has decreased dramatically in recent history. Some evidence suggests that birth rates may be impacted by family income. According to recent data, lower incomes have higher birth rates in the United States. Birth rates were highest among women aged 20 to 34 years. However, there is an increasing tendency of mothers being older at the time of their first birth.

The global Postpartum Hemorrhage (PPH) Devices market is experiencing robust growth, driven by increasing cesarean birth rates, rising maternal mortality rates in developing countries, and growing awareness about PPH prevention and management. The market's expansion is further fueled by technological advancements in PPH devices, leading to the development of more effective and minimally invasive solutions. Key players like BD, Cook Medical, C. R. Bard, Teleflex, Utah Medical Products, and ZOEX are actively contributing to market growth through product innovation and strategic partnerships. While the market faces restraints such as high device costs and the need for skilled healthcare professionals, the overall positive trend is expected to continue. Segmentation by device type (e.g., uterine balloon tampons, Bakri balloons, surgical instruments) and application (e.g., hospitals, clinics) reveals varying growth rates, with minimally invasive devices and advanced surgical tools experiencing significant demand. Regional analysis indicates a higher market share for North America and Europe, driven by advanced healthcare infrastructure and high awareness levels. However, emerging economies in Asia Pacific and the Middle East & Africa are witnessing rapid market growth due to increasing healthcare expenditure and rising awareness of maternal health. The market is projected to maintain a strong CAGR over the forecast period (2025-2033), leading to substantial market expansion. The market's future hinges on several factors. Continued technological innovation leading to improved device efficacy and safety profiles will remain a crucial driver. Expanding access to quality maternal healthcare in low- and middle-income countries will also be critical. Furthermore, collaborative efforts between device manufacturers, healthcare providers, and policymakers to promote PPH awareness and improve training programs will positively influence market expansion. Stringent regulatory approvals and the need for skilled professionals to operate advanced devices could represent challenges, requiring the industry to adapt and proactively address these considerations to ensure sustainable growth. The market's trajectory will depend on addressing these aspects while capitalizing on the strong market fundamentals and increasing global focus on maternal health.

Unadjusted and adjusted odds ratios of neonatal mortality in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Multivariate analysis of the factors associated with caesarean delivery (n = 1350).