Maternal mortality rates can vary significantly around the world. For example, in 2022, Estonia had a maternal mortality rate of zero per 100,000 live births, while Mexico reported a rate of 38 deaths per 100,000 live births. However, the regions with the highest number of maternal deaths are Sub-Saharan Africa and Southern Asia, with differences between countries and regions often reflecting inequalities in health care services and access. Most causes of maternal mortality are preventable and treatable with the most common causes including severe bleeding, infections, complications during delivery, high blood pressure during pregnancy, and unsafe abortion. Maternal mortality in the United States In 2022, there were a total of 817 maternal deaths in the United States. Women aged 25 to 39 years accounted for 578 of these deaths, however, rates of maternal mortality are much higher among women aged 40 years and older. In 2022, the rate of maternal mortality among women aged 40 years and older in the U.S. was 87 per 100,000 live births, compared to a rate of 21 among women aged 25 to 39 years. The rate of maternal mortality in the U.S. has risen in recent years among all age groups. Differences in maternal mortality in the U.S. by race/ethnicity Sadly, there are great disparities in maternal mortality in the United States among different races and ethnicities. In 2022, the rate of maternal mortality among non-Hispanic white women was about 19 per 100,000 live births, while non-Hispanic Black women died from maternal causes at a rate of almost 50 per 100,000 live births. Rates of maternal mortality have risen for white and Hispanic women in recent years, but Black women have by far seen the largest increase in maternal mortality. In 2022, around 253 Black women died from maternal causes in the United States.

The number of maternal deaths and maternal mortality rates for selected causes, 2000 to most recent year.

In 2023, about 0.1 out of 100,000 Canadians died from pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium. In 2000, the death rate stood at zero. This statistic displays the age-standardized death rates in Canada, from 2000 to 2023, for pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium.

This data presents national-level provisional maternal mortality rates based on a current flow of mortality and natality data in the National Vital Statistics System. Provisional rates which are an early estimate of the number of maternal deaths per 100,000 live births, are shown as of the date specified and may not include all deaths and births that occurred during a given time period (see Technical Notes). A maternal death is the death of a woman while pregnant or within 42 days of termination of pregnancy irrespective of the duration and the site of the pregnancy, from any cause related to or aggravated by the pregnancy or its management, but not from accidental or incidental causes. In this data visualization, maternal deaths are those deaths with an underlying cause of death assigned to International Statistical Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision (ICD-10) code numbers A34, O00–O95, and O98–O99. The provisional data include reported 12 month-ending provisional maternal mortality rates overall, by age, and by race and Hispanic origin. Provisional maternal mortality rates presented in this data visualization are for “12-month ending periods,” defined as the number of maternal deaths per 100,000 live births occurring in the 12-month period ending in the month indicated. For example, the 12-month ending period in June 2020 would include deaths and births occurring from July 1, 2019, through June 30, 2020. Evaluation of trends over time should compare estimates from year to year (June 2020 and June 2021), rather than month to month, to avoid overlapping time periods. In the visualization and in the accompanying data file, rates based on death counts less than 20 are suppressed in accordance with current NCHS standards of reliability for rates. Death counts between 1-9 in the data file are suppressed in accordance with National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) confidentiality standards. Provisional data presented on this page will be updated on a quarterly basis as additional records are received. Previously released estimates are revised to include data and record updates received since the previous release. As a result, the reliability of estimates for a 12-month period ending with a specific month will improve with each quarterly release and estimates for previous time periods may change as new data and updates are received.

In 2023, non-Hispanic Black women had the highest rates of maternal mortality among select races/ethnicities in the United States, with 50.3 deaths per 100,000 live births. The total maternal mortality rate in the U.S. at that time was 18.6 per 100,000 live births, a decrease from a rate of almost 33 in 2021. This statistic presents the maternal mortality rates in the United States from 2018 to 2023, by race and ethnicity.

Maternal mortality is widely considered an indicator of overall population health and the status of women in the population. DOHMH uses multiple methods including death certificates, vital records linkage, medical examiner records, and hospital discharge data to identify all pregnancy-associated deaths (deaths that occur during pregnancy or within a year of the end of pregnancy) of New York state residents in NYC each year. DOHMH convenes the Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Review Committee (M3RC), a multidisciplinary and diverse group of 40 members that conducts an in-depth, expert review of each pregnancy-associated death of New York state residents occurring in NYC from both clinical and social determinants of health perspectives. The data in this table come from vital records and the M3RC review process. Data are not cross-classified on all variables: cause of death data are available by the relation to pregnancy (pregnancy-related, pregnancy-associated but not related, unable to determine), race/ethnicity and borough of residence data are each separately available for the total number of pregnancy-associated deaths and pregnancy-related deaths only.

United States US: Maternal Mortality Ratio: Modeled Estimate: per 100,000 Live Births data was reported at 14.000 Ratio in 2015. This stayed constant from the previous number of 14.000 Ratio for 2014. United States US: Maternal Mortality Ratio: Modeled Estimate: per 100,000 Live Births data is updated yearly, averaging 13.000 Ratio from Dec 1990 (Median) to 2015, with 26 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 15.000 Ratio in 2009 and a record low of 11.000 Ratio in 1998. United States US: Maternal Mortality Ratio: Modeled Estimate: per 100,000 Live Births data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s USA – Table US.World Bank: Health Statistics. Maternal mortality ratio is the number of women who die from pregnancy-related causes while pregnant or within 42 days of pregnancy termination per 100,000 live births. The data are estimated with a regression model using information on the proportion of maternal deaths among non-AIDS deaths in women ages 15-49, fertility, birth attendants, and GDP.; ; WHO, UNICEF, UNFPA, World Bank Group, and the United Nations Population Division. Trends in Maternal Mortality: 1990 to 2015. Geneva, World Health Organization, 2015; Weighted average; This indicator represents the risk associated with each pregnancy and is also a Sustainable Development Goal Indicator for monitoring maternal health.

The average for 2020 based on 182 countries was 138 deaths per 100,000 births. The highest value was in Chad: 1063 deaths per 100,000 births and the lowest value was in Belarus: 1 deaths per 100,000 births. The indicator is available from 2000 to 2020. Below is a chart for all countries where data are available.

Colombia maternal mortality rate for 2020 was 75.00, a 15.38% increase from 2019.

<ul style='margin-top:20px;'>

<li>Colombia maternal mortality rate for 2019 was <strong>65.00</strong>, a <strong>3.17% increase</strong> from 2018.</li>
<li>Colombia maternal mortality rate for 2018 was <strong>63.00</strong>, a <strong>11.27% decline</strong> from 2017.</li>
<li>Colombia maternal mortality rate for 2017 was <strong>71.00</strong>, a <strong>1.43% increase</strong> from 2016.</li>
</ul>Maternal mortality ratio is the number of women who die from pregnancy-related causes while pregnant or within 42 days of pregnancy termination per 100,000 live births. The data are estimated with a regression model using information on the proportion of maternal deaths among non-AIDS deaths in women ages 15-49, fertility, birth attendants, and GDP.

Statistics on maternal mortality are produced based on the database of causes of death. "Maternal deaths" are selected from the database via a complex procedure, which takes into account the definition given by the WHO and is described in detail in the metadata. The tenth revision of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10) defines maternal death as "the death of a woman while pregnant or within 42 days of termination of pregnancy, irrespective of the duration and the site of the pregnancy, from any cause related to or aggravated by the pregnancy or its management, but not from accidental or incidental causes." "Maternal deaths should be subdivided into two groups. Direct obstetric deaths: those resulting from obstetric complications of the pregnant state (pregnancy, labour and puerperium), from interventions, omissions, incorrect treatment, or from a chain of events resulting from any of the above. Indirect obstetric deaths: those resulting from previous existing disease or disease that developed during pregnancy and which was not due to direct obstetric causes, but which was aggravated by physiologic effects of pregnancy." Furthermore, the ICD-10 also defines late maternal death as "the death of a woman from direct or indirect obstetric causes more than 42 days but less than one year after termination of pregnancy." The "maternal mortality rate" is the ratio between the number of recorded direct and indirect maternal deaths over one year and the number of live birth in the same year, expressed per 100,000 live births. Late maternal deaths are not taken into account in the calculation of this ratio. Given the small and markedly variable number of cases recorded each year in Belgium, it has been decided to calculate this ratio based on the cumulated maternal deaths and live births of five consecutive years, with the ratio calculated being recorded in the middle year. When identifying these maternal deaths, the ad hoc working group, bringing together the Belgian statistical office and all data producing federated entities, did not exclude the risk of an underestimation of these deaths, based on the only statistical bulletin used as main source. It therefore asks for continued efforts to further improve the follow-up of maternal deaths, and supports the recent initiative of the College of physicians for Mother and Newborn to consider the creation of a maternal mortality register.

In 2023, there were around 259 maternal deaths among non-Hispanic white women in the United States. This statistic presents the number of maternal deaths in the United States from 2018 to 2023, by race and ethnicity.

Israel maternal mortality rate for 2020 was 3.00, a 0% increase from 2019.

<ul style='margin-top:20px;'>

<li>Israel maternal mortality rate for 2019 was <strong>3.00</strong>, a <strong>0% increase</strong> from 2018.</li>
<li>Israel maternal mortality rate for 2018 was <strong>3.00</strong>, a <strong>0% increase</strong> from 2017.</li>
<li>Israel maternal mortality rate for 2017 was <strong>3.00</strong>, a <strong>0% increase</strong> from 2016.</li>
</ul>Maternal mortality ratio is the number of women who die from pregnancy-related causes while pregnant or within 42 days of pregnancy termination per 100,000 live births. The data are estimated with a regression model using information on the proportion of maternal deaths among non-AIDS deaths in women ages 15-49, fertility, birth attendants, and GDP.

Poland maternal mortality rate for 2020 was 2.00, a 0% increase from 2019.

<ul style='margin-top:20px;'>

<li>Poland maternal mortality rate for 2019 was <strong>2.00</strong>, a <strong>0% increase</strong> from 2018.</li>
<li>Poland maternal mortality rate for 2018 was <strong>2.00</strong>, a <strong>0% increase</strong> from 2017.</li>
<li>Poland maternal mortality rate for 2017 was <strong>2.00</strong>, a <strong>0% increase</strong> from 2016.</li>
</ul>Maternal mortality ratio is the number of women who die from pregnancy-related causes while pregnant or within 42 days of pregnancy termination per 100,000 live births. The data are estimated with a regression model using information on the proportion of maternal deaths among non-AIDS deaths in women ages 15-49, fertility, birth attendants, and GDP.

In 2022, the maternal mortality rate in Russia amounted to 13 deaths per 100 thousand live births, thus marking a considerable decrease from the previous year when it was measured at 34.5 deaths per 100 thousand live births. In 2021, the figure almost reached the level of 2000, when 39.7 mothers died per 100 thousand live births.

Number of deaths caused by pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium, by age group and sex, 2000 to most recent year.

The average for 2020 based on 41 countries was 9 deaths per 100,000 births. The highest value was in Cyprus: 68 deaths per 100,000 births and the lowest value was in Belarus: 1 deaths per 100,000 births. The indicator is available from 2000 to 2020. Below is a chart for all countries where data are available.

Portugal maternal mortality rate for 2023 was 15.00, a 6.25% decline from 2022.

<ul style='margin-top:20px;'>

<li>Portugal maternal mortality rate for 2022 was <strong>16.00</strong>, a <strong>15.79% decline</strong> from 2021.</li>
<li>Portugal maternal mortality rate for 2021 was <strong>19.00</strong>, a <strong>35.71% increase</strong> from 2020.</li>
<li>Portugal maternal mortality rate for 2020 was <strong>14.00</strong>, a <strong>6.67% decline</strong> from 2019.</li>
</ul>Maternal mortality ratio is the number of women who die from pregnancy-related causes while pregnant or within 42 days of pregnancy termination per 100,000 live births. The data are estimated with a regression model using information on the proportion of maternal deaths among non-AIDS deaths in women ages 15-49, fertility, birth attendants, and GDP.

In 2022, the number of deaths resulting from complications of pregnancy, childbirth, and puerperium amounted to 11 cases in Spain, up from 10 deaths registered in 2020. This figure experienced fluctuations during the analyzed period, reaching its highest value in 2008 when maternal deaths added up to 24 cases in the European country. Women between 30 and 39 years account for the highest number of pregnancy-related deaths in Spain.

France maternal mortality rate for 2023 was 7.00, a 22.22% decline from 2022.

<ul style='margin-top:20px;'>

<li>France maternal mortality rate for 2022 was <strong>9.00</strong>, a <strong>0% increase</strong> from 2021.</li>
<li>France maternal mortality rate for 2021 was <strong>9.00</strong>, a <strong>0% increase</strong> from 2020.</li>
<li>France maternal mortality rate for 2020 was <strong>9.00</strong>, a <strong>12.5% increase</strong> from 2019.</li>
</ul>Maternal mortality ratio is the number of women who die from pregnancy-related causes while pregnant or within 42 days of pregnancy termination per 100,000 live births. The data are estimated with a regression model using information on the proportion of maternal deaths among non-AIDS deaths in women ages 15-49, fertility, birth attendants, and GDP.

US: Maternal Mortality Ratio: National Estimate: per 100,000 Live Births data was reported at 28.000 Ratio in 2013. This records an increase from the previous number of 13.000 Ratio for 2007. US: Maternal Mortality Ratio: National Estimate: per 100,000 Live Births data is updated yearly, averaging 13.000 Ratio from Dec 1996 (Median) to 2013, with 3 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 28.000 Ratio in 2013 and a record low of 7.600 Ratio in 1996. US: Maternal Mortality Ratio: National Estimate: per 100,000 Live Births data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s USA – Table US.World Bank: Health Statistics. Maternal mortality ratio is the number of women who die from pregnancy-related causes while pregnant or within 42 days of pregnancy termination per 100,000 live births.; ; UNICEF, State of the World's Children, Childinfo, and Demographic and Health Surveys.; ;