What is maternal mortality ratio in United States?

Maternal mortality ratio in United States was 21.08 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2020, according to UN MMEIG (2023) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data.

What is the highest maternal mortality ratio recorded in United States?

The highest recorded value was 916 deaths per 100,000 live births in 1918.

What is the lowest maternal mortality ratio recorded in United States?

The lowest recorded value was 7.54 deaths per 100,000 live births in 1984.

How does United States rank for maternal mortality ratio?

United States ranks 125th out of 189 countries with data for 2020.

Is maternal mortality ratio rising or falling in United States?

Over the last ten years it is up 49.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.

Where does this United States data come from?

The figures come from UN MMEIG (2023) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Maternal mortality ratio. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

Maternal mortality ratio in United States

Name: Maternal mortality ratio in United States
Creator: UN MMEIG (2023) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data
License: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)

United States: Maternal mortality ratio was 21.08 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2020. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2020)

21.08 deaths per 100,000 live births

Change on year

up 6.2%

World rank

125th

of 189 countries

All-time high

916 deaths per 100,000 live births

in 1918

All-time low

7.54 deaths per 100,000 live births

in 1984

Years of data

121

1900–2020

Maternal mortality ratio in United States, 1900–2020

Source: UN MMEIG (2023) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in deaths per 100,000 live births.

Analysis

In 2020, maternal mortality ratio in United States stood at 21.08 deaths per 100,000 live births.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 6.2% on the previous year and up 49.8% over ten years.

Over the whole period, maternal mortality ratio in United States peaked at 916 deaths per 100,000 live births in 1918 and was at its lowest, 7.54 deaths per 100,000 live births, in 1984.

United States ranks 125th of 189 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Averages by decade

Decade	Average	Lowest	Highest	Years
1900s	748 deaths per 100,000 live births	670 deaths per 100,000 live births	850 deaths per 100,000 live births	10
1910s	697.5 deaths per 100,000 live births	608 deaths per 100,000 live births	916 deaths per 100,000 live births	10
1920s	680.3 deaths per 100,000 live births	647 deaths per 100,000 live births	799 deaths per 100,000 live births	10
1930s	565.7 deaths per 100,000 live births	404 deaths per 100,000 live births	673 deaths per 100,000 live births	10
1940s	213.1 deaths per 100,000 live births	90 deaths per 100,000 live births	376 deaths per 100,000 live births	10
1950s	53.33 deaths per 100,000 live births	36.38 deaths per 100,000 live births	80.04 deaths per 100,000 live births	10
1960s	30.46 deaths per 100,000 live births	21.37 deaths per 100,000 live births	36.13 deaths per 100,000 live births	10
1970s	13.77 deaths per 100,000 live births	9.13 deaths per 100,000 live births	20.62 deaths per 100,000 live births	10
1980s	9.41 deaths per 100,000 live births	7.54 deaths per 100,000 live births	11.07 deaths per 100,000 live births	10
1990s	10.82 deaths per 100,000 live births	10.04 deaths per 100,000 live births	11.46 deaths per 100,000 live births	10
2000s	13.26 deaths per 100,000 live births	11.83 deaths per 100,000 live births	15.41 deaths per 100,000 live births	10
2010s	17.26 deaths per 100,000 live births	14.07 deaths per 100,000 live births	19.85 deaths per 100,000 live births	10
2020s	21.08 deaths per 100,000 live births	21.08 deaths per 100,000 live births	21.08 deaths per 100,000 live births	1

Countries ranked near United States

123 Grenada 21.14 deaths per 100,000 live births compare
124 Malaysia 21.13 deaths per 100,000 live births compare
126 Lebanon 20.62 deaths per 100,000 live births compare
127 Palestine 20.43 deaths per 100,000 live births compare
128 Uruguay 18.64 deaths per 100,000 live births compare

See the full ranking of 189 places →

More health data for United States

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)
Deaths in armed conflicts based on where they occurred 0 deaths (2026)
Deaths in armed conflicts by region 0 deaths (2026)
Age population, age 25, male, interpolated 2.37 million (2025)
Age population, age 25, female, interpolated 2.22 million (2025)
Age population, age 24, male, interpolated 2.38 million (2025)
Age population, age 24, female, interpolated 2.24 million (2025)
Age population, age 23, male, interpolated 2.37 million (2025)
Age population, age 23, female, interpolated 2.23 million (2025)

All data for United States →

Frequently asked questions

What is maternal mortality ratio in United States?: Maternal mortality ratio in United States was 21.08 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2020, according to UN MMEIG (2023) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data.
What is the highest maternal mortality ratio recorded in United States?: The highest recorded value was 916 deaths per 100,000 live births in 1918.
What is the lowest maternal mortality ratio recorded in United States?: The lowest recorded value was 7.54 deaths per 100,000 live births in 1984.
How does United States rank for maternal mortality ratio?: United States ranks 125th out of 189 countries with data for 2020.
Is maternal mortality ratio rising or falling in United States?: Over the last ten years it is up 49.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this United States data come from?: The figures come from UN MMEIG (2023) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Maternal mortality ratio. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

Download this data

CSV · JSON — 121 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).

About this data

Indicator: Maternal mortality ratio
Unit: deaths per 100,000 live births
Source: UN MMEIG (2023) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data
Licence: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage: 189 places, 8,868 data points, 1751–2020
Last refreshed: 07 August 2026

The estimated number of women who die from maternal conditions per 100,000 live births, based on data from death certificates, large-scale surveys, and statistical modeling.