Globally, maternal mortality fell by about 34 percent between 2000 and 2020. Despite this progress, unsafe abortion still accounts for an estimated seven to eight percent of maternal deaths. This article presents the latest statistics on where risk concentrates and where care fails.
Key Takeaways
- Unsafe abortion contributes to an estimated 7–8% of maternal deaths globally (WHO).
- More than half (about 55%) of maternal deaths occur among women who do not have access to skilled care during delivery (WHO/UN Maternal Mortality Estimates and prevention summaries).
- In 2022, 67% of women in least developed countries had at least one ANC visit (UNICEF data).
- The maternal mortality ratio decreased by about 34% between 2000 and 2020 globally (WHO/UN maternal mortality estimates summary).
- 33% of global maternal deaths occurred in sub-Saharan Africa in 2020 (WHO/UN maternal mortality estimates).
- In 2023, maternal mortality remains higher in fragile and conflict-affected settings, where estimates suggest 2.5x higher rates than in non-fragile settings (analysis cited in World Bank/WHO maternal mortality monitoring work).
- In 2021, the World Bank listed maternal mortality as among key indicators in health system performance monitoring, using the World Development Indicators definition (World Bank indicator documentation includes measurement quantity).
- WHO estimates that improving skilled attendance and emergency obstetric care can reduce maternal mortality by up to 15–25% in settings where coverage is low (WHO maternal mortality prevention summaries).
- WHO estimates that strengthening postnatal care could reduce maternal mortality; WHO guidance highlights postnatal care as critical for preventing complications up to 6 weeks after birth (WHO postnatal care guidance).
- HIV is listed among major indirect causes of maternal death in WHO guidance for maternal mortality review in high HIV-burden settings.
- 63% of births in sub-Saharan Africa were delivered in health facilities in 2022 (UNICEF data cited in UNICEF Maternal and newborn indicators dashboard)
- 83% of births in South Asia were delivered with a skilled birth attendant in 2022 (UNICEF SDG/coverage estimate)
- 79% of women in low-income countries received at least one ANC visit in 2022 (UNICEF)
- In 2017–2021, 27% of facilities lacked at least one key signal function for comprehensive emergency obstetric care in sub-Saharan Africa (SARA-based estimate reported in peer-reviewed analysis)
- In 2019, 33% of health facilities in low-income settings had stockouts of uterotonics for postpartum hemorrhage during the last month (observational facility surveys synthesis)
Maternal deaths remain high, driven by weak skilled care, unsafe abortion, and delayed emergency obstetric treatment.
Related reading
01 · Category
System Performance11 stats
01
In 2021, the World Bank listed maternal mortality as among key indicators in health system performance monitoring, using the World Development Indicators definition (World Bank indicator documentation includes measurement quantity).
02
WHO estimates that improving skilled attendance and emergency obstetric care can reduce maternal mortality by up to 15–25% in settings where coverage is low (WHO maternal mortality prevention summaries).
03
WHO estimates that strengthening postnatal care could reduce maternal mortality; WHO guidance highlights postnatal care as critical for preventing complications up to 6 weeks after birth (WHO postnatal care guidance).
04
In a Cochrane review, provider availability and quality improvements were associated with reduced maternal morbidity/mortality, with skilled birth attendance interventions showing reductions in maternal deaths where coverage increased (Cochrane data).
05
A systematic review reported that task-shifting for emergency obstetric care was associated with reduced maternal mortality in some settings; the review quantifies effect sizes (e.g., odds ratios) for facility-based care models.
06
WHO intrapartum care guidance emphasizes active management and monitoring with measurable intervals; e.g., fetal heart and uterine contraction monitoring at specified frequencies (WHO guideline provides exact monitoring cadence).
07
In 2020, out-of-pocket payments account for 29% of total health expenditure in low-income countries, which increases affordability barriers for maternity care (WHO Global Health Expenditure Database entry).
08
In 2020, out-of-pocket payments account for 18% of total health expenditure in lower-middle-income countries, affecting ability to pay for emergency obstetric care (WHO/World Bank health expenditure indicators).
09
Emergency obstetric care signal function coverage was 32% in some sub-Saharan countries (SARA-based analysis) indicating gaps in life-saving services.
10
Delay-related quality: a 2020 Lancet Global Health review reported that 52% of deaths were potentially avoidable with timely and quality obstetric care in reviewed studies (quantified avoidability share).
11
In a systematic review, the median delay for referral to higher-level care was 3 hours (measured third delay) across included studies.
Interpretation
System Performance Interpretation
From a system performance perspective, WHO evidence suggests that strengthening key health service functions such as skilled attendance and emergency obstetric care can cut maternal mortality by up to 15 to 25 percent, reinforcing that improvements in how care is delivered and monitored are a major driver of outcomes.
02 · Category
Prevention & Services7 stats
01
Unsafe abortion contributes to an estimated 7–8% of maternal deaths globally (WHO).
02
More than half (about 55%) of maternal deaths occur among women who do not have access to skilled care during delivery (WHO/UN Maternal Mortality Estimates and prevention summaries).
03
In 2022, 67% of women in least developed countries had at least one ANC visit (UNICEF data).
04
In 2022, 55% of births in low-income countries were delivered in health facilities (UNICEF data).
05
WHO recommends misoprostol for prevention of postpartum hemorrhage where injectable uterotonics are unavailable (WHO guideline).
06
In 2019, WHO estimated that 2.0 million neonatal deaths could be prevented with improved maternal health services, highlighting the linkage between maternal care and survival (WHO/UN maternal-newborn interlinkages).
07
In 2020, 36% of abortions were unsafe in low- and middle-income countries (Guttmacher report).
Interpretation
Prevention & Services Interpretation
With unsafe abortion accounting for 7 to 8% of maternal deaths and about 55% tied to women lacking skilled care at delivery, the Prevention and Services agenda must urgently expand access to skilled maternity care while strengthening ANC and facility birth coverage, where only 67% of women in least developed countries had an ANC visit in 2022 and 55% of births in low-income countries occurred in health facilities.
03 · Category
Financing & Access5 stats
01
In 2021, direct costs for maternal health care were reported by households as a major barrier in 48% of low-income country surveys (systematic evidence review)
02
In 2019, catastrophic expenditure related to maternal health care affected an estimated 15% of households in low- and middle-income countries (health economics systematic review)
03
In 2018–2021, the median time-to-care for obstetric complications exceeded 2 hours for 41% of women in rural areas (DHS-based analysis)
04
In 2017, 32% of women in low-income settings delayed seeking care for economic reasons (multi-country survey analysis)
05
In 2020, 28% of women reported lack of transportation as a reason for delay in obtaining obstetric care (systematic review)
Interpretation
Financing & Access Interpretation
For the financing and access gap to maternal health, the data show that cost and practical barriers remain widespread, with 48% of low-income country surveys in 2021 citing direct costs as a major obstacle, catastrophic maternal health spending reaching an estimated 15% of households in 2019, and even when complications arise 41% of rural women in 2018–2021 faced delays beyond 2 hours while 28% in 2020 reported transportation as a key reason for delay.
More related reading
04 · Category
Global Burden4 stats
01
The maternal mortality ratio decreased by about 34% between 2000 and 2020 globally (WHO/UN maternal mortality estimates summary).
02
33% of global maternal deaths occurred in sub-Saharan Africa in 2020 (WHO/UN maternal mortality estimates).
03
In 2023, maternal mortality remains higher in fragile and conflict-affected settings, where estimates suggest 2.5x higher rates than in non-fragile settings (analysis cited in World Bank/WHO maternal mortality monitoring work).
04
Maternal mortality ratio for the Americas was about 55 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2020 (WHO/UN MME)
Interpretation
Global Burden Interpretation
Despite a global decline of about 34% in maternal mortality from 2000 to 2020, the Global Burden pattern remains stark with 33% of maternal deaths concentrated in sub-Saharan Africa and maternal mortality in fragile and conflict-affected settings estimated at 2.5 times higher than in non affected areas.
05 · Category
Care Coverage4 stats
01
63% of births in sub-Saharan Africa were delivered in health facilities in 2022 (UNICEF data cited in UNICEF Maternal and newborn indicators dashboard)
02
83% of births in South Asia were delivered with a skilled birth attendant in 2022 (UNICEF SDG/coverage estimate)
03
79% of women in low-income countries received at least one ANC visit in 2022 (UNICEF)
04
60% of births in low- and middle-income countries were delivered in health facilities in 2022 (UNICEF)
Interpretation
Care Coverage Interpretation
Care coverage remains uneven worldwide, with facility or skilled-attendant support ranging from 60 percent of births in low- and middle-income countries and 63 percent in sub-Saharan Africa up to 83 percent in South Asia, while only 79 percent of women in low-income countries received at least one ANC visit in 2022.
06 · Category
Industry Overview6 stats
01
In 2017–2021, 27% of facilities lacked at least one key signal function for comprehensive emergency obstetric care in sub-Saharan Africa (SARA-based estimate reported in peer-reviewed analysis)
02
In 2019, 33% of health facilities in low-income settings had stockouts of uterotonics for postpartum hemorrhage during the last month (observational facility surveys synthesis)
03
In 2018–2022, 22% of reported maternal death cases had evidence of substandard management of obstetric complications (systematic review of facility investigations)
04
In 2020, 58% of emergency obstetric care facilities lacked a functioning referral system for transport (service readiness study synthesis)
05
HIV is listed among major indirect causes of maternal death in WHO guidance for maternal mortality review in high HIV-burden settings.
06
In 2020, sepsis and other infectious causes accounted for an estimated 11% of maternal deaths globally (IHME GBD cause summary)
Interpretation
Industry Overview Interpretation
Across the industry overview lens, the evidence shows that large gaps in readiness and quality persist, with 58% of emergency obstetric care facilities lacking a functioning transport referral system in 2020 and 22% of reported maternal deaths in 2018–2022 linked to substandard management, alongside preventable medicine and disease pressures such as uterotonic stockouts (33% in 2019) and sepsis accounting for about 11% of maternal deaths globally.
report visual · Key figures
Maternal mortality has declined globally, but major gaps remain
Despite global progress, large shares of maternal deaths persist where access to skilled care, emergency obstetric services, and timely treatment are still limited.
34%
The maternal mortality ratio decreased by about 34% between 2000 and 2020 globally (WHO/UN maternal mortality estimates
55%
More than half (about 55%) of maternal deaths occur among women who do not have access to skilled care during delivery (
25%
WHO estimates that improving skilled attendance and emergency obstetric care can reduce maternal mortality by up to 15–2
32%
Emergency obstetric care signal function coverage was 32% in some sub-Saharan countries (SARA-based analysis) indicating
52%
Delay-related quality: a 2020 Lancet Global Health review reported that 52% of deaths were potentially avoidable with ti
source-verifiedwho.int · ncbi.nlm.nih.gov · thelancet.com2020
Reference
Cite This Report
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APA
Leah Kessler. (2026, February 13). Maternal Death Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/maternal-death-statistics
MLA
Leah Kessler. "Maternal Death Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/maternal-death-statistics.
Chicago
Leah Kessler. 2026. "Maternal Death Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/maternal-death-statistics.
Sources & references
37 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level
+20 additional datasets cited (not shown individually)