Maternal mortality ratio (modeled estimate, per 100,000 live births) in United States
United States: Maternal mortality ratio (modeled estimate, per 100,000 live births) was 17 in 2023. ▲ Rising
Maternal mortality ratio in United States, 1985–2023
Source: Trends in Maternal Mortality, World Health Organization (WHO).
Analysis
In 2023, maternal mortality ratio in United States stood at 17.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 15.0% on the previous year and up 6.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, maternal mortality ratio in United States peaked at 31 in 2021 and was at its lowest, 11, in 1985.
United States ranks 128th of 194 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 39 years of available data.
Maternal mortality ratio (modeled estimate, per 100,000 live births) in United States, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 11 | — |
| 1986 | 11 | +0.0% |
| 1987 | 11 | +0.0% |
| 1988 | 12 | +9.1% |
| 1989 | 12 | +0.0% |
| 1990 | 12 | +0.0% |
| 1991 | 12 | +0.0% |
| 1992 | 11 | -8.3% |
| 1993 | 12 | +9.1% |
| 1994 | 11 | -8.3% |
| 1995 | 12 | +9.1% |
| 1996 | 11 | -8.3% |
| 1997 | 11 | +0.0% |
| 1998 | 11 | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 12 | +9.1% |
| 2000 | 12 | +0.0% |
| 2001 | 13 | +8.3% |
| 2002 | 13 | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 13 | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 13 | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 13 | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 13 | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 13 | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 14 | +7.7% |
| 2009 | 15 | +7.1% |
| 2010 | 15 | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 15 | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 16 | +6.7% |
| 2013 | 16 | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 17 | +6.2% |
| 2015 | 17 | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 18 | +5.9% |
| 2017 | 18 | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 18 | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 18 | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 22 | +22.2% |
| 2021 | 31 | +40.9% |
| 2022 | 20 | -35.5% |
| 2023 | 17 | -15.0% |
United States compared with similar countries
- United States's 17 is above the median for high income countries, which is 8, 2.1× the median. (64 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 11.4 | 11 | 12 | 5 |
| 1990s | 11.5 | 11 | 12 | 10 |
| 2000s | 13.2 | 12 | 15 | 10 |
| 2010s | 16.8 | 15 | 18 | 10 |
| 2020s | 22.5 | 17 | 31 | 4 |
Countries ranked near United States
More health data for United States
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.67 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate -0.1867 % change on previous year (2090)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 4,015 (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2023)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 0.056 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.0261 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 0.1919 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per capita 0.0274 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is maternal mortality ratio in United States?
- Maternal mortality ratio in United States was 17 in 2023, according to Trends in Maternal Mortality, World Health Organization (WHO).
- What is the highest maternal mortality ratio recorded in United States?
- The highest recorded value was 31 in 2021.
- What is the lowest maternal mortality ratio recorded in United States?
- The lowest recorded value was 11 in 1985.
- How does United States rank for maternal mortality ratio?
- United States ranks 128th out of 194 countries with data for 2023.
- Is maternal mortality ratio rising or falling in United States?
- Over the last ten years it is up 6.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this United States data come from?
- The figures come from Trends in Maternal Mortality, World Health Organization (WHO), published as part of Maternal mortality ratio (modeled estimate, per 100,000 live births). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 39 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
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 measured using purchasing power parities (PPPs).