Healthcare Access
Maternal Mortality Rate by Country 2025
Maternal Mortality Rate 2020 (per 100k births)
0
200
400
600
800
1,000
1,200
1,223 per 100k births
1,063 per 100k births
1,047 per 100k births
835 per 100k births
725 per 100k births
- Values shown indicate the annual number of maternal deaths due to complications from pregnancy or childbirth per 100k live births.
Over the last 20 years, there has been a drop in the global mortality rate from 342 deaths to 233 deaths per 100,000 live births.
When it comes to each country, the individual maternal mortality rate varies significantly from region to region.
Mexico has a maternal mortality rate of 54. Mexico’s maternal mortality rate is high due to poor healthcare and lack of geographical access.
Top 10 Countries with the Highest Maternal Mortality Rate
Country | Maternal Mortality Rate 2020 (per 100k births) |
|---|---|
| South Sudan | 1,223 |
| Chad | 1,063 |
| Nigeria | 1,047 |
| Central African Republic | 835 |
| Guinea-Bissau | 725 |
| Liberia | 652 |
| Somalia | 621 |
| Afghanistan | 620 |
| Lesotho | 566 |
| Guinea | 553 |
The maternal mortality rate in Columbia is 50.7 deaths per 100,000 births, mainly because of barriers in healthcare.
Costa Rica is ranked third in maternal mortality rate at 34.4 deaths per 100,000 live births.
In the United States, it’s estimated that the maternal mortality rate is 23.8. The US is fourth on the list mainly because of inequities in healthcare. A rise in chronic health conditions is also leading to a high maternal mortality rate in the United States.
While it’s decreased in recent years, the maternal mortality rate in Latvia is 22.9 deaths per 100,000 live births. The leading causes of the high maternal mortality rate are disabilities and socio-economic factors.
The maternal mortality rate in Chile is 22.1, an improvement since 2020.
Hungary’s maternal mortality rate is 15.2 deaths per 100,000 live births, up from the previous year. The increase is due to risky health behaviors like smoking and lack of proper healthcare.
At the other end of the list, the Slovak Republic, Denmark, and the Netherlands all report less than two deaths per 100,000 live births.
Countries with quality healthcare, such as Luxembourg, Slovenia, and Lithuania, have a 0 maternal mortality rate.
In Ireland, a doctor always treats the mother even if there is a chance of the unintentional death of the baby. The material mortality rate in Ireland is zero because physicians focus on saving the mother.
