Number of maternal deaths (Trends) in United States
United States: Number of maternal deaths (Trends) was 610 in 2023. ▲ Rising
Number of maternal deaths in United States, 1985–2023
Source: Trends in Maternal Mortality, World Health Organization (WHO).
Analysis
The most recent figure for number of maternal deaths in United States is 610, measured in 2023.
That represents a change of down 18.7% on the previous year and down 3.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of maternal deaths in United States peaked at 1,100 in 2021 and was at its lowest, 420, in 1985.
That places United States 49th out of 194 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 39 years of available data.
Number of maternal deaths (Trends) in United States, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 420 | — |
| 1986 | 430 | +2.4% |
| 1987 | 440 | +2.3% |
| 1988 | 460 | +4.5% |
| 1989 | 480 | +4.3% |
| 1990 | 490 | +2.1% |
| 1991 | 480 | -2.0% |
| 1992 | 460 | -4.2% |
| 1993 | 460 | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 450 | -2.2% |
| 1995 | 440 | -2.2% |
| 1996 | 430 | -2.3% |
| 1997 | 420 | -2.3% |
| 1998 | 430 | +2.4% |
| 1999 | 450 | +4.7% |
| 2000 | 480 | +6.7% |
| 2001 | 500 | +4.2% |
| 2002 | 510 | +2.0% |
| 2003 | 530 | +3.9% |
| 2004 | 530 | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 540 | +1.9% |
| 2006 | 560 | +3.7% |
| 2007 | 570 | +1.8% |
| 2008 | 580 | +1.8% |
| 2009 | 600 | +3.4% |
| 2010 | 580 | -3.3% |
| 2011 | 600 | +3.4% |
| 2012 | 620 | +3.3% |
| 2013 | 630 | +1.6% |
| 2014 | 660 | +4.8% |
| 2015 | 680 | +3.0% |
| 2016 | 700 | +2.9% |
| 2017 | 690 | -1.4% |
| 2018 | 670 | -2.9% |
| 2019 | 660 | -1.5% |
| 2020 | 820 | +24.2% |
| 2021 | 1,100 | +34.1% |
| 2022 | 750 | -31.8% |
| 2023 | 610 | -18.7% |
United States compared with similar countries
- United States's 610 is above the median for high income countries, which is 3.5, 174.3× the median. (64 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Number of maternal deaths (Trends) 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 | -31.8% | 1,100 | 750 |
| 2021 | +34.1% | 820 | 1,100 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 446 | 420 | 480 | 5 |
| 1990s | 451 | 420 | 490 | 10 |
| 2000s | 540 | 480 | 600 | 10 |
| 2010s | 649 | 580 | 700 | 10 |
| 2020s | 820 | 610 | 1,100 | 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 number of maternal deaths in United States?
- Number of maternal deaths in United States was 610 in 2023, according to Trends in Maternal Mortality, World Health Organization (WHO).
- What is the highest number of maternal deaths recorded in United States?
- The highest recorded value was 1,100 in 2021.
- What is the lowest number of maternal deaths recorded in United States?
- The lowest recorded value was 420 in 1985.
- How does United States rank for number of maternal deaths?
- United States ranks 49th out of 194 countries with data for 2023.
- Is number of maternal deaths rising or falling in United States?
- Over the last ten years it is down 3.2%. 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 Number of maternal deaths. 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
A maternal death refers to the death of a woman while pregnant or within 42 days of termination of pregnancy, irrespective of the duration and site of the pregnancy, from any cause related to or aggravated by the pregnancy or its management but not from accidental or incidental causes.