Global Maternal Mortality 2023: Why Too Many Women Are Continuing to Die in Childbirth

By  at July 03, 2025  , , ,  No comments


 

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Maternal death remains an international crisis. In 2023 alone, approximately 260,000 women died from pregnancy and childbirth-related complications—most of which were entirely preventable.

Despite advances in medicine and global efforts to improve maternal health, the cost in lives indicates deep inequalities in health systems worldwide. This blog post addresses recent maternal mortality rates, why women still die, and what needs to change in order to save lives.


Where Are Women Dying? Understanding Global Maternal Mortality Hotspots


In 2023, almost 92% of all maternal deaths occurred in low- and lower-middle-income countries. The two locations that share the heaviest burden are:

Sub-Saharan Africa: 182,000 maternal deaths (70% of total global)

Southern Asia: 43,000 maternal deaths (17%)

These figures reflect serious imbalances in access to quality maternal health services. High-income countries, in contrast, had a maternal mortality ratio (MMR) of a mere 10 deaths per 100,000 live births, compared to 346 deaths per 100,000 in poor settings.


Improvement Gained: Reductions in Maternal Mortality since 2000


While the 2023 numbers are dismal, some regions have gained substantial improvements since 2000:

  • Eastern Europe: 75% reduction in MMR (from 38 to 9)
  • Southern Asia: 71% drop (from 405 to 117)
  • Sub-Saharan Africa: 40% drop yet still having high MMR

The lifetime risk of death from maternal causes also dropped significantly. Central and Southern Asia had the risk fall by 83%—from 1 in 71 in 2000 to 1 in 410 in 2023.


Why Do Maternal Deaths Occur?


Most maternal deaths are due to preventable or treatable complications, mainly with proper and timely care. The top five causes of maternal death account for approximately 75% of all maternal deaths:

The majority of the complications are of pregnancy, but a few are of conditions that are present before pregnancy, decompensate if not treated medically.


The Role of Health Systems and Inequality


The drivers of women failing to receive the care they are entitled to are interlinked and plural:

  • Weaknesses in the health system: deficiencies in skilled staff, medicines and equipment, and low-quality care
  • Socioeconomic disadvantage: poverty, education, rural isolation, racial and ethnic disparities
  • Gender-based discrimination: discriminatory gender norms de-prioritizing women's health and rights
  • Conflict and fragility: In 2023, countries experiencing conflict and social fragility caused 61% of all maternal deaths—yet only 25% of all live births.

Access to skilled birth attendants is a key indicator. In high-income countries, 99% of births are attended by trained professionals, while in low-income countries, this figure drops to just 73%.


COVID-19 and Maternal Mortality: A Setback in 2021


The COVID-19 pandemic caused a temporary spike in maternal mortality, with deaths rising from 282,000 in 2020 to 322,000 in 2021. This was likely due to:

  • Disruptions in maternal healthcare services
  • Direct causes of COVID-19 infections during pregnancy

But by 2022, the global MMR fell again, showing a resumption of the downward trend.


Prevention of Maternal Deaths: Evidence-based Solutions


Most maternal deaths are preventable with existing medical science and infrastructure. The following are the most critical interventions:

For example, oxytocin given intrapartum during spontaneous delivery prevents life-threatening bleeding, and magnesium sulphate in pre-eclampsia will prevent seizures.


Meeting the SDG Goal for Maternal Mortality by 2030


The Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 3) state it is agreed that the world will reduce the global MMR to below 70 per 100,000 live births by 2030.

But in 2023, the world MMR was 197 per 100,000—far off track. It will require:

  • A decrease of nearly 15% annually, a pace never met anywhere
  • Accelerated global, regional, and national effort
  • Mobilization of resource and political will
  • Greater focus on equity and rights-based strategies


Role of WHO in Eradication of Avoidable Maternal Death


  • The World Health Organization (WHO) plays a crucial role by:
  • Establishing world standards and evidence-based policies
  • Supporting countries to strengthen maternal and newborn health systems
  • Promoting universal health coverage of reproductive and maternal services
  • Enhancing data collection and accountability

With the deadline for the SDG 2030 approaching, joint action by governments, civil society, and global health institutions is now essential to catalyze progress.


Final Thoughts: Every Maternal Death Is Preventable


No woman should have to die in the act of giving life. The chronic high rates of maternal deaths throughout much of the world are not the product of a lack of knowledge or solution—but of unequal access, political will, and investment in women's health.

Maternal health improvement is not just a question of medicine—it's a matter of human rights.

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