The maternal mortality rate (MMR, the number of maternal deaths per 100,000 live births) has decreased in all countries between 2000 and 2023, except in nine countries where it remained stable: Botswana, Canada, Cyprus, Dominican Republic, Gabon, Greece, Portugal, the United States, and Venezuela, according to the report “Trends in Maternal Mortality 2000-2023” released today.
The document, prepared by the World Health Organization (WHO) in collaboration with other UN agencies, notes that in 2000, Portugal recorded a point estimate of nine maternal deaths per 100,000 live births, while in 2023, it observed a trend of 15 deaths.
The report, which analyzed data from January 1, 2000, to December 31, 2023, indicates that the overall reduction in the maternal mortality rate was greater than 70% in 35 countries, with Belarus showing the most significant change with a 94.6% improvement, followed by Bhutan with 85.3% and Kazakhstan with 83.5%.
During this period of analysis, the risk of maternal mortality also decreased in all regions.
The region of Central and Southern Asia achieved the largest global percentage reduction in mortality rate (72.9%), from 397 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births in 2000 to 112 in 2023.
In other regions, the risk of death decreased by 58% in Australia and New Zealand, 52% in North Africa and Western Asia, 45.1% in East and Southeast Asia, 39.6% in Sub-Saharan Africa, 38.2% in Oceania (excluding Australia and New Zealand), and 35.1% in Europe and North America.
Latin America and the Caribbean registered the smallest reduction during this period (16.8%).
The “Trends in Maternal Mortality 2000-2023” report is released on World Health Day and provides global, regional, and national estimates for maternal deaths.
