Maternal mortality ratio in United States
United States: Maternal mortality ratio was 16.63 per 100,000 live births in 2023. ▲ Rising
Latest (2023)
16.63 per 100,000 live births
Change on year
down 17.0%
World rank
142nd
of 212 countries
All-time high
31.21 per 100,000 live births
in 2021
All-time low
12.09 per 100,000 live births
in 2000
Years of data
24
2000–2023
Maternal mortality ratio in United States, 2000–2023
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Measured in per 100,000 live births.
Analysis
United States recorded 16.63 per 100,000 live births for maternal mortality ratio in 2023.
The figure is down 17.0% on the previous year and up 3.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, maternal mortality ratio in United States peaked at 31.21 per 100,000 live births in 2021 and was at its lowest, 12.09 per 100,000 live births, in 2000.
United States ranks 142nd of 212 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 24 years of available data.
Maternal mortality ratio in United States, year by year
| Year | per 100,000 live births | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 12.09 per 100,000 live births | — |
| 2001 | 12.66 per 100,000 live births | +4.7% |
| 2002 | 12.98 per 100,000 live births | +2.5% |
| 2003 | 13.32 per 100,000 live births | +2.7% |
| 2004 | 13.22 per 100,000 live births | -0.8% |
| 2005 | 13.36 per 100,000 live births | +1.0% |
| 2006 | 13.48 per 100,000 live births | +0.9% |
| 2007 | 13.49 per 100,000 live births | +0.1% |
| 2008 | 13.85 per 100,000 live births | +2.6% |
| 2009 | 14.6 per 100,000 live births | +5.4% |
| 2010 | 14.58 per 100,000 live births | -0.1% |
| 2011 | 15.34 per 100,000 live births | +5.2% |
| 2012 | 15.68 per 100,000 live births | +2.2% |
| 2013 | 16.06 per 100,000 live births | +2.4% |
| 2014 | 16.54 per 100,000 live births | +2.9% |
| 2015 | 17.02 per 100,000 live births | +2.9% |
| 2016 | 17.79 per 100,000 live births | +4.5% |
| 2017 | 17.86 per 100,000 live births | +0.4% |
| 2018 | 17.55 per 100,000 live births | -1.7% |
| 2019 | 17.52 per 100,000 live births | -0.2% |
| 2020 | 22.46 per 100,000 live births | +28.2% |
| 2021 | 31.21 per 100,000 live births | +39.0% |
| 2022 | 20.04 per 100,000 live births | -35.8% |
| 2023 | 16.63 per 100,000 live births | -17.0% |
United States compared with similar countries
- United States's 16.63 per 100,000 live births is above the median for high income countries, which is 7.67 per 100,000 live births, 2.2× the median. (63 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Maternal mortality ratio in United States changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | -35.8% | 31.21 per 100,000 live births | 20.04 per 100,000 live births |
| 2021 | +39.0% | 22.46 per 100,000 live births | 31.21 per 100,000 live births |
| 2020 | +28.2% | 17.52 per 100,000 live births | 22.46 per 100,000 live births |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 13.3 per 100,000 live births | 12.09 per 100,000 live births | 14.6 per 100,000 live births | 10 |
| 2010s | 16.59 per 100,000 live births | 14.58 per 100,000 live births | 17.86 per 100,000 live births | 10 |
| 2020s | 22.59 per 100,000 live births | 16.63 per 100,000 live births | 31.21 per 100,000 live births | 4 |
Countries ranked near United States
- 139 Azerbaijan 17.9 per 100,000 live births compare
- 140 Egypt 16.95 per 100,000 live births compare
- 141 Bahrain 16.78 per 100,000 live births compare
- 143 China 16.25 per 100,000 live births compare
- 144 State of Palestine 16.11 per 100,000 live births compare
- 145 Iran (Islamic Republic of) 15.84 per 100,000 live births compare
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)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,069 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 4,015 deaths (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)
Frequently asked questions
- What is maternal mortality ratio in United States?
- Maternal mortality ratio in United States was 16.63 per 100,000 live births in 2023, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
- What is the highest maternal mortality ratio recorded in United States?
- The highest recorded value was 31.21 per 100,000 live births in 2021.
- What is the lowest maternal mortality ratio recorded in United States?
- The lowest recorded value was 12.09 per 100,000 live births in 2000.
- How does United States rank for maternal mortality ratio?
- United States ranks 142nd out of 212 countries with data for 2023.
- Is maternal mortality ratio rising or falling in United States?
- Over the last ten years it is up 3.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this United States data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database, published as part of Maternal mortality ratio. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 24 observations, free to reuse under UN SDG Global Database (open, attribution requested).