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U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion

Reduce maternal deaths — MICH‑04 Infographic

This objective is a Leading Health Indicator (LHI). Learn about LHIs.

Status: Getting worse

  Getting worse

Most Recent Data:
22.3 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births (2022)

Target:
15.7 per 100,000

Desired Direction:
Decrease desired

Baseline:
17.4 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births occurred in 2018

The United States has a higher maternal mortality rate than any other industrialized country — and that rate is still going up. There are significant racial and ethnic disparities in maternal mortality due to factors like lack of access to high-quality health care, underlying chronic conditions, structural racism, and implicit bias. Understanding and addressing the factors that contribute to disparities in maternal mortality can improve maternal health across the United States.

In 2021, there were 32.9 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births.

Data Sources:  National Vital Statistics System - Mortality (NVSS-M), CDC/NCHS ; National Vital Statistics System - Natality (NVSS-N), CDC/NCHS

Disparities in maternal death rates by race and ethnicity: Highest/lowest rate ‡

In 2021, non-Hispanic American Indian or Alaska Native mothers had the highest group rate of maternal mortality (118.7 per 100,000 live births). Non-Hispanic Asian mothers (reference group) had the lowest group rate (16.8 per 100,000 live births).

The maternal mortality rate among non-Hispanic American Indian or Alaska Native mothers was 7 times the rate among non-Hispanic Asian mothers (maximal rate ratio). The difference between the highest and lowest group rates was 101.8 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births (maximal rate difference).

Learn about how we calculate disparities data.

Disparities in maternal death rates by race and ethnicity: All groups ‡

In 2021, non-Hispanic Asian mothers had the lowest group rate of maternal mortality (16.8 per 100,000 live births).

  • The maternal mortality rate among non-Hispanic White mothers was 58.3 percent higher than the lowest group rate.
  • The maternal mortality rate among Hispanic or Latino mothers was 66.3 percent higher than the lowest group rate.
  • The maternal mortality rate among non-Hispanic Black or African American mothers was more than 4 times the lowest group rate.
  • The maternal mortality rate among non-Hispanic American Indian or Alaska Native mothers was 7 times the lowest group rate.

Maternal deaths (per 100,000 live births), 2021

16.8 Non-Hispanic Asian mothers
26.6 Non-Hispanic White mothers
28.0 Hispanic or Latino mothers
69.9 Non-Hispanic Black or African American mothers
118.7 Non-Hispanic American Indian or Alaska Native mothers

Find data for additional demographic groups.