GITNUXREPORT 2026

Womens Health Statistics

Maternal and cancer deaths among women reveal stark global health disparities.

Alexander Schmidt

Research Analyst specializing in technology and digital transformation trends.

First published: Feb 13, 2026

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Statistic 1

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women worldwide, with 2.3 million new cases diagnosed in 2020 representing 11.7% of all cancer cases

Statistic 2

In the US, 297,790 new cases of female breast cancer were expected in 2023, accounting for 30% of all new female cancers

Statistic 3

Cervical cancer causes 342,000 deaths annually worldwide, primarily in low- and middle-income countries

Statistic 4

Ovarian cancer has a 5-year survival rate of 49% in the US, but only 18% when diagnosed at distant stage

Statistic 5

Globally, 604,000 women died from breast cancer in 2020, making it the fifth leading cause of cancer death

Statistic 6

In Europe, endometrial cancer incidence rates are projected to rise 21% by 2040 due to aging populations

Statistic 7

HPV causes 90% of cervical cancers, with vaccination preventing up to 90% of cases

Statistic 8

US women have a 12.9% lifetime risk of being diagnosed with breast cancer

Statistic 9

Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer in women globally, with 870,000 new cases in 2020

Statistic 10

Lung cancer kills more women than breast cancer in the US, with 66,000 deaths expected in 2023

Statistic 11

Globally, 13% of cancers diagnosed in women are cervical

Statistic 12

In the UK, breast cancer survival rates reached 86% at 5 years for women diagnosed in 2010-11

Statistic 13

Uterine cancer incidence has increased 2% annually in US women under 50 since 2000

Statistic 14

4,800 women die from cervical cancer yearly in the EU despite screening programs

Statistic 15

BRCA1 mutation carriers have 72% lifetime risk of breast cancer

Statistic 16

Globally, 90% of cervical cancer deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries

Statistic 17

In Australia, melanoma skin cancer is the third most common in women, with 4,500 cases in 2022

Statistic 18

Pancreatic cancer 5-year survival in women is 12.5% in the US

Statistic 19

1 in 8 US women will develop invasive breast cancer in their lifetime

Statistic 20

Liver cancer rates in women are rising due to NAFLD, up 3% annually globally

Statistic 21

In India, oral cancer is common in women due to tobacco, with 86,000 cases in 2020

Statistic 22

Triple-negative breast cancer affects 15% of cases and is more aggressive in younger women

Statistic 23

Globally, 570,000 new uterine corpus cancer cases in 2020

Statistic 24

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in women globally, killing 17.9 million annually with 35% of total CVD deaths in women

Statistic 25

In the US, 1 in 3 women die from heart disease, higher than all cancers combined

Statistic 26

Women develop heart disease 7-10 years later than men but have higher mortality post-event

Statistic 27

Diabetes affects 422 million adults globally, with women comprising 44% and facing higher complication risks

Statistic 28

Osteoporosis causes 9 million fractures yearly worldwide, 75% in women post-menopause

Statistic 29

In Europe, 53% of women over 50 have osteopenia, precursor to osteoporosis

Statistic 30

Rheumatoid arthritis affects 1.3% of US women vs 0.6% men

Statistic 31

Chronic kidney disease stage 3+ affects 15% of US women over 65

Statistic 32

Autoimmune diseases strike women 6-10 times more than men

Statistic 33

In the UK, 1 in 5 women over 50 have osteoporosis

Statistic 34

Stroke kills more women than men annually in the US

Statistic 35

Hypothyroidism affects 5% of women vs 1% men worldwide

Statistic 36

PCOS affects 6-12% of women of reproductive age, leading to metabolic syndrome in 40%

Statistic 37

Multiple sclerosis is 2-3 times more common in women

Statistic 38

In Australia, 80% of hip fractures occur in women, costing $1B annually

Statistic 39

Lupus affects 9 times more women than men

Statistic 40

Endometriosis impacts 10% of reproductive-age women, 190 million globally

Statistic 41

Gallbladder disease hospitalization rates are 62% higher in women

Statistic 42

Fibromyalgia prevalence is 2-4% in women vs 0.5% in men

Statistic 43

In Canada, 23% of women have hypertension vs 25% men, but women have poorer control

Statistic 44

Alzheimer's disease affects 2/3 of patients who are women in the US

Statistic 45

Migraine affects 18% of US women vs 6% men annually

Statistic 46

Interstitial cystitis impacts 3-8% of women

Statistic 47

Globally, an estimated 287,000 women died from pregnancy- or childbirth-related causes in 2020, with 94% of these deaths occurring in low and lower-middle income countries

Statistic 48

In the United States, the maternal mortality rate increased to 32.9 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2021 from 23.8 in 2020, driven largely by cardiovascular conditions

Statistic 49

About 830 women die from preventable causes related to pregnancy and childbirth every day worldwide, equivalent to one woman every two minutes

Statistic 50

In sub-Saharan Africa, the maternal mortality ratio is 533 deaths per 100,000 live births, the highest in the world as of 2020 data

Statistic 51

Postpartum hemorrhage accounts for 27% of maternal deaths globally, making it the leading direct cause of maternal mortality

Statistic 52

In the US, Black women are 3-4 times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than white women, with a rate of 69.9 per 100,000 live births in 2021

Statistic 53

Hypertensive disorders contribute to 14% of global maternal deaths, affecting around 10% of pregnancies worldwide

Statistic 54

Only 49% of women in low-income countries have access to skilled birth attendants during delivery as of 2023 estimates

Statistic 55

Preterm birth complications are the leading cause of death in children under 5, but also contribute significantly to maternal morbidity, affecting 14.8 million women annually

Statistic 56

In 2022, the US saw 1,205 maternal deaths, with 80% deemed preventable by experts

Statistic 57

Sepsis accounts for 11% of maternal deaths worldwide, often due to unclean delivery practices

Statistic 58

Adolescent girls aged 10-14 face 20 times higher risk of death during pregnancy than women aged 20-24 in low-income regions

Statistic 59

In India, maternal mortality ratio stood at 97 per 100,000 live births in 2018-20, down from 130 in 2014-16

Statistic 60

Unsafe abortion causes 13% of maternal deaths globally, resulting in 47,000 deaths annually

Statistic 61

In the UK, 13 women per 100,000 maternities died in 2019-21, with Black women 3.67 times more likely than white women

Statistic 62

Anemia affects 40% of pregnant women worldwide, increasing risks of maternal and fetal mortality

Statistic 63

In low-income countries, 65% of women receive no or inadequate antenatal care

Statistic 64

Eclampsia contributes to 14% of maternal deaths, preventable with magnesium sulfate

Statistic 65

In Brazil, maternal mortality rate was 59.7 per 100,000 live births in 2020, with COVID-19 exacerbating rates

Statistic 66

99% of all maternal deaths occur in developing regions

Statistic 67

In the US, drug overdose rates among pregnant women rose 94% from 2017 to 2021

Statistic 68

Obstructed labor causes 8% of maternal deaths globally

Statistic 69

In Ethiopia, maternal mortality ratio decreased to 267 per 100,000 live births by 2020 from 871 in 2000

Statistic 70

Cardiovascular diseases account for 33.4% of pregnancy-related deaths in the US in 2021

Statistic 71

Only 75% of births in low-income countries are attended by skilled health personnel as of 2023

Statistic 72

Indirect causes like HIV and malaria contribute to 27.5% of maternal deaths

Statistic 73

In Australia, Indigenous women have a maternal mortality rate 2.4 times higher than non-Indigenous women

Statistic 74

Severe maternal morbidity affects 50,000 women annually in the US

Statistic 75

Globally, 303,000 women died from pregnancy-related causes in 2015, with slow progress since

Statistic 76

In Nigeria, maternal mortality ratio is 814 per 100,000 live births, among the highest globally

Statistic 77

Depression affects 10% of pregnant women and 13% postpartum worldwide

Statistic 78

In the US, 1 in 5 women experience mental illness annually, compared to 1 in 10 men

Statistic 79

Postpartum depression occurs in 17.22% of new mothers globally per meta-analysis

Statistic 80

Anxiety disorders affect 23.4% of US women versus 14.3% of men lifetime prevalence

Statistic 81

60% of women with perinatal mental health conditions receive no treatment

Statistic 82

In the UK, 20% of women experience depression in their lifetime, double the rate in men

Statistic 83

Eating disorders have highest mortality rate among psychiatric disorders, 5-10% in women with anorexia

Statistic 84

1 in 3 women worldwide experience gender-based violence, linked to higher PTSD rates

Statistic 85

Perimenopausal women have 2-4 times higher depression risk

Statistic 86

In Australia, 42% of women aged 16-85 have experienced depression

Statistic 87

Bipolar disorder affects women more severely during reproductive years due to hormonal changes

Statistic 88

80% of women with postpartum psychosis develop it within 2 weeks of delivery

Statistic 89

US women are twice as likely as men to experience major depression, 10.5% vs 5.5% past year

Statistic 90

Premenstrual dysphoric disorder affects 3-8% of women of reproductive age

Statistic 91

Suicide rates in pregnant/postpartum women are 7 times higher in those with depression

Statistic 92

In Canada, 25% of women experience mood disorders over lifetime

Statistic 93

Borderline personality disorder is diagnosed 75% more in women

Statistic 94

1 in 6 US women take antidepressants, higher than men

Statistic 95

Perinatal anxiety affects 15-20% of pregnancies, often undiagnosed

Statistic 96

Globally, 10% of women experience depression during pregnancy

Statistic 97

Women with PCOS have 3-5 times higher depression risk

Statistic 98

In Japan, 11.4% of postpartum women have depression

Statistic 99

PTSD prevalence in women is 8% lifetime vs 4% in men

Statistic 100

Menopause increases anxiety risk by 2-fold

Statistic 101

50% of women with schizophrenia experience postpartum relapse

Statistic 102

Globally, 16% of women aged 30-49 are obese, rising to 42% in high-income countries

Statistic 103

Infertility affects 1 in 6 people worldwide, with 48 million women experiencing it

Statistic 104

Endometriosis affects 190 million women globally, causing chronic pelvic pain

Statistic 105

80 million women in developing countries have unmet need for family planning

Statistic 106

Globally, 214 million women have an unmet need for contraception

Statistic 107

PCOS impacts 116 million women worldwide

Statistic 108

45% of women aged 15-49 in low-income countries use modern contraception

Statistic 109

Female genital mutilation affects 200 million women and girls alive today

Statistic 110

In the US, 12% of women aged 15-44 have impaired fecundity

Statistic 111

Globally, 1 in 4 pregnancies end in abortion, 73 million annually

Statistic 112

Uterine fibroids affect up to 80% of women by age 50

Statistic 113

Sexually transmitted infections like chlamydia affect 129 million women annually

Statistic 114

In Europe, 25% of women aged 40-44 are childless, up from 18% in 2000

Statistic 115

Pelvic floor disorders affect 24% of US women

Statistic 116

Globally, 23 million unsafe abortions occur yearly, mostly in developing countries

Statistic 117

10-15% of women experience recurrent miscarriage

Statistic 118

In sub-Saharan Africa, 24% of women have no access to contraception

Statistic 119

Ovarian cysts occur in 8% of premenopausal women

Statistic 120

Globally, 300 million women use oral contraceptives

Statistic 121

Adenomyosis affects 20-35% of women

Statistic 122

In the US, 11% of reproductive-age women have endometriosis symptoms

1/122

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Every two minutes, a woman dies from preventable pregnancy-related causes, a stark reality that underscores the urgent need to address the vast inequities and systemic gaps in global women's health care.

Key Takeaways

Globally, an estimated 287,000 women died from pregnancy- or childbirth-related causes in 2020, with 94% of these deaths occurring in low and lower-middle income countries
In the United States, the maternal mortality rate increased to 32.9 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2021 from 23.8 in 2020, driven largely by cardiovascular conditions
About 830 women die from preventable causes related to pregnancy and childbirth every day worldwide, equivalent to one woman every two minutes
Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women worldwide, with 2.3 million new cases diagnosed in 2020 representing 11.7% of all cancer cases
In the US, 297,790 new cases of female breast cancer were expected in 2023, accounting for 30% of all new female cancers
Cervical cancer causes 342,000 deaths annually worldwide, primarily in low- and middle-income countries
Depression affects 10% of pregnant women and 13% postpartum worldwide
In the US, 1 in 5 women experience mental illness annually, compared to 1 in 10 men
Postpartum depression occurs in 17.22% of new mothers globally per meta-analysis
Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in women globally, killing 17.9 million annually with 35% of total CVD deaths in women
In the US, 1 in 3 women die from heart disease, higher than all cancers combined
Women develop heart disease 7-10 years later than men but have higher mortality post-event
Globally, 16% of women aged 30-49 are obese, rising to 42% in high-income countries
Infertility affects 1 in 6 people worldwide, with 48 million women experiencing it
Endometriosis affects 190 million women globally, causing chronic pelvic pain

Maternal and cancer deaths among women reveal stark global health disparities.

Cancer Statistics

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women worldwide, with 2.3 million new cases diagnosed in 2020 representing 11.7% of all cancer cases
In the US, 297,790 new cases of female breast cancer were expected in 2023, accounting for 30% of all new female cancers
Cervical cancer causes 342,000 deaths annually worldwide, primarily in low- and middle-income countries
Ovarian cancer has a 5-year survival rate of 49% in the US, but only 18% when diagnosed at distant stage
Globally, 604,000 women died from breast cancer in 2020, making it the fifth leading cause of cancer death
In Europe, endometrial cancer incidence rates are projected to rise 21% by 2040 due to aging populations
HPV causes 90% of cervical cancers, with vaccination preventing up to 90% of cases
US women have a 12.9% lifetime risk of being diagnosed with breast cancer
Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer in women globally, with 870,000 new cases in 2020
Lung cancer kills more women than breast cancer in the US, with 66,000 deaths expected in 2023
Globally, 13% of cancers diagnosed in women are cervical
In the UK, breast cancer survival rates reached 86% at 5 years for women diagnosed in 2010-11
Uterine cancer incidence has increased 2% annually in US women under 50 since 2000
4,800 women die from cervical cancer yearly in the EU despite screening programs
BRCA1 mutation carriers have 72% lifetime risk of breast cancer
Globally, 90% of cervical cancer deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries
In Australia, melanoma skin cancer is the third most common in women, with 4,500 cases in 2022
Pancreatic cancer 5-year survival in women is 12.5% in the US
1 in 8 US women will develop invasive breast cancer in their lifetime
Liver cancer rates in women are rising due to NAFLD, up 3% annually globally
In India, oral cancer is common in women due to tobacco, with 86,000 cases in 2020
Triple-negative breast cancer affects 15% of cases and is more aggressive in younger women
Globally, 570,000 new uterine corpus cancer cases in 2020

Cancer Statistics Interpretation

While every cancer statistic tells a story of scientific progress and persistent inequity, the staggering reality is that a woman's most likely path to a cancer diagnosis is through her breast, her most likely path to a preventable death is through her cervix, and her most likely killer, at least in the US, is lung cancer, painting a complex and urgent global portrait of both vulnerability and preventable loss.

Cardiovascular and Chronic Conditions

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in women globally, killing 17.9 million annually with 35% of total CVD deaths in women
In the US, 1 in 3 women die from heart disease, higher than all cancers combined
Women develop heart disease 7-10 years later than men but have higher mortality post-event
Diabetes affects 422 million adults globally, with women comprising 44% and facing higher complication risks
Osteoporosis causes 9 million fractures yearly worldwide, 75% in women post-menopause
In Europe, 53% of women over 50 have osteopenia, precursor to osteoporosis
Rheumatoid arthritis affects 1.3% of US women vs 0.6% men
Chronic kidney disease stage 3+ affects 15% of US women over 65
Autoimmune diseases strike women 6-10 times more than men
In the UK, 1 in 5 women over 50 have osteoporosis
Stroke kills more women than men annually in the US
Hypothyroidism affects 5% of women vs 1% men worldwide
PCOS affects 6-12% of women of reproductive age, leading to metabolic syndrome in 40%
Multiple sclerosis is 2-3 times more common in women
In Australia, 80% of hip fractures occur in women, costing $1B annually
Lupus affects 9 times more women than men
Endometriosis impacts 10% of reproductive-age women, 190 million globally
Gallbladder disease hospitalization rates are 62% higher in women
Fibromyalgia prevalence is 2-4% in women vs 0.5% in men
In Canada, 23% of women have hypertension vs 25% men, but women have poorer control
Alzheimer's disease affects 2/3 of patients who are women in the US
Migraine affects 18% of US women vs 6% men annually
Interstitial cystitis impacts 3-8% of women

Cardiovascular and Chronic Conditions Interpretation

Ladies, it appears our biological architecture, while often miraculous, comes with a statistically significant warranty void on a daunting array of critical systems, from our cardiovascular framework to our skeletal integrity and autoimmune defenses.

Maternal Health

Globally, an estimated 287,000 women died from pregnancy- or childbirth-related causes in 2020, with 94% of these deaths occurring in low and lower-middle income countries
In the United States, the maternal mortality rate increased to 32.9 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2021 from 23.8 in 2020, driven largely by cardiovascular conditions
About 830 women die from preventable causes related to pregnancy and childbirth every day worldwide, equivalent to one woman every two minutes
In sub-Saharan Africa, the maternal mortality ratio is 533 deaths per 100,000 live births, the highest in the world as of 2020 data
Postpartum hemorrhage accounts for 27% of maternal deaths globally, making it the leading direct cause of maternal mortality
In the US, Black women are 3-4 times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than white women, with a rate of 69.9 per 100,000 live births in 2021
Hypertensive disorders contribute to 14% of global maternal deaths, affecting around 10% of pregnancies worldwide
Only 49% of women in low-income countries have access to skilled birth attendants during delivery as of 2023 estimates
Preterm birth complications are the leading cause of death in children under 5, but also contribute significantly to maternal morbidity, affecting 14.8 million women annually
In 2022, the US saw 1,205 maternal deaths, with 80% deemed preventable by experts
Sepsis accounts for 11% of maternal deaths worldwide, often due to unclean delivery practices
Adolescent girls aged 10-14 face 20 times higher risk of death during pregnancy than women aged 20-24 in low-income regions
In India, maternal mortality ratio stood at 97 per 100,000 live births in 2018-20, down from 130 in 2014-16
Unsafe abortion causes 13% of maternal deaths globally, resulting in 47,000 deaths annually
In the UK, 13 women per 100,000 maternities died in 2019-21, with Black women 3.67 times more likely than white women
Anemia affects 40% of pregnant women worldwide, increasing risks of maternal and fetal mortality
In low-income countries, 65% of women receive no or inadequate antenatal care
Eclampsia contributes to 14% of maternal deaths, preventable with magnesium sulfate
In Brazil, maternal mortality rate was 59.7 per 100,000 live births in 2020, with COVID-19 exacerbating rates
99% of all maternal deaths occur in developing regions
In the US, drug overdose rates among pregnant women rose 94% from 2017 to 2021
Obstructed labor causes 8% of maternal deaths globally
In Ethiopia, maternal mortality ratio decreased to 267 per 100,000 live births by 2020 from 871 in 2000
Cardiovascular diseases account for 33.4% of pregnancy-related deaths in the US in 2021
Only 75% of births in low-income countries are attended by skilled health personnel as of 2023
Indirect causes like HIV and malaria contribute to 27.5% of maternal deaths
In Australia, Indigenous women have a maternal mortality rate 2.4 times higher than non-Indigenous women
Severe maternal morbidity affects 50,000 women annually in the US
Globally, 303,000 women died from pregnancy-related causes in 2015, with slow progress since
In Nigeria, maternal mortality ratio is 814 per 100,000 live births, among the highest globally

Maternal Health Interpretation

We have the knowledge and resources to prevent nearly all of these deaths, yet we treat maternal health like a negotiable privilege instead of a fundamental human right, allowing geography, race, and income to dictate who gets to survive childbirth.

Mental Health

Depression affects 10% of pregnant women and 13% postpartum worldwide
In the US, 1 in 5 women experience mental illness annually, compared to 1 in 10 men
Postpartum depression occurs in 17.22% of new mothers globally per meta-analysis
Anxiety disorders affect 23.4% of US women versus 14.3% of men lifetime prevalence
60% of women with perinatal mental health conditions receive no treatment
In the UK, 20% of women experience depression in their lifetime, double the rate in men
Eating disorders have highest mortality rate among psychiatric disorders, 5-10% in women with anorexia
1 in 3 women worldwide experience gender-based violence, linked to higher PTSD rates
Perimenopausal women have 2-4 times higher depression risk
In Australia, 42% of women aged 16-85 have experienced depression
Bipolar disorder affects women more severely during reproductive years due to hormonal changes
80% of women with postpartum psychosis develop it within 2 weeks of delivery
US women are twice as likely as men to experience major depression, 10.5% vs 5.5% past year
Premenstrual dysphoric disorder affects 3-8% of women of reproductive age
Suicide rates in pregnant/postpartum women are 7 times higher in those with depression
In Canada, 25% of women experience mood disorders over lifetime
Borderline personality disorder is diagnosed 75% more in women
1 in 6 US women take antidepressants, higher than men
Perinatal anxiety affects 15-20% of pregnancies, often undiagnosed
Globally, 10% of women experience depression during pregnancy
Women with PCOS have 3-5 times higher depression risk
In Japan, 11.4% of postpartum women have depression
PTSD prevalence in women is 8% lifetime vs 4% in men
Menopause increases anxiety risk by 2-fold
50% of women with schizophrenia experience postpartum relapse

Mental Health Interpretation

The statistics paint a grim portrait of women's mental health, revealing a systemic, often life-stage-specific suffering that is profoundly common yet scandalously overlooked and undertreated.

Reproductive Health

Globally, 16% of women aged 30-49 are obese, rising to 42% in high-income countries
Infertility affects 1 in 6 people worldwide, with 48 million women experiencing it
Endometriosis affects 190 million women globally, causing chronic pelvic pain
80 million women in developing countries have unmet need for family planning
Globally, 214 million women have an unmet need for contraception
PCOS impacts 116 million women worldwide
45% of women aged 15-49 in low-income countries use modern contraception
Female genital mutilation affects 200 million women and girls alive today
In the US, 12% of women aged 15-44 have impaired fecundity
Globally, 1 in 4 pregnancies end in abortion, 73 million annually
Uterine fibroids affect up to 80% of women by age 50
Sexually transmitted infections like chlamydia affect 129 million women annually
In Europe, 25% of women aged 40-44 are childless, up from 18% in 2000
Pelvic floor disorders affect 24% of US women
Globally, 23 million unsafe abortions occur yearly, mostly in developing countries
10-15% of women experience recurrent miscarriage
In sub-Saharan Africa, 24% of women have no access to contraception
Ovarian cysts occur in 8% of premenopausal women
Globally, 300 million women use oral contraceptives
Adenomyosis affects 20-35% of women
In the US, 11% of reproductive-age women have endometriosis symptoms

Reproductive Health Interpretation

The sheer scale of these statistics paints a grim portrait of global women's health, where conditions from obesity to infertility are not just personal battles but systemic crises, revealing a world that often fails to prioritize the fundamental well-being of half its population.

Sources & References

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