Global maternal mortality rates saw a significant 40% decline from 2000 to 2023, falling from 328 to 197 deaths per 100,000 live births, yet the progress remains uneven, according to the new UN report released on this World Health Day; “Trends in maternal mortality 2000 to 2023.” The report states that 260,000 maternal deaths still occurred in 2023. For every death, up to 30 women experience childbirth injuries and other maternal morbidities.
7 April 2025
Ankara, Turkiye - Maternal death is largely preventable. Yet, every two minutes, a woman still dies from pregnancy or childbirth. The main reason for maternal deaths, which is most stark in the least developed countries, is poor-quality care: Insufficient essential medicines, equipment, and shortage of skilled personnel. Through political commitment and financial investments, however, prevention of maternal deaths is possible. On this World Health Day, the United Nations draws attention to maternal and newborn health with a campaign: Healthy beginnings, hopeful futures, that will urge governments and health communities to ramp up efforts to end preventable maternal and newborn deaths, and to prioritize women’s lives and health.
The global maternal mortality rate, a key component of sexual and reproductive health, fell by a whopping 40%, from 328 per 100,000 live births in 2000 to 197 in 2023, as indicated by the joint UN study; Trends in maternal mortality 2000 to 2023: Estimates by WHO, UNICEF, UNFPA, World Bank Group and UNDESA/Population Division, released today. However, the study also indicates that it was an uneven progress. The rich countries outperformed the poor countries to a great extent, revealing the deepening disparity in the world. Weak health systems and new and protracted humanitarian crises have led to stagnating results in several countries and even reversals in some.
Four countries account for 47% of maternal deaths: Democratic Republic of the Congo, India, Nigeria and Pakistan. Among these, Nigeria bears the highest burden, contributing 28.7% of the total maternal deaths worldwide. Additionally, Sub-Saharan Africa, despite a 22.2% reduction from 2016 to 2023, still accounts for 70% of global maternal deaths, with a rate of 454 per 100,000 live births. A woman in sub-Saharan Africa facing pregnancy complications is 135 times more likely to die from maternal mortality than a woman in Europe and North America. Conflict-affected countries have a maternal mortality rate, twice the global average. In 2023, fragile and crisis-affected countries accounted for 61% of maternal deaths, despite only having 25% of global births.
Echoing the global progress, in Türkiye, the maternal mortality rate fell by 53 percent, from 28,5 per 100,000 live births in 2005 to 13,5 in 2023. However, it is much higher among the most vulnerable population groups. Türkiye ranked 58th among 185 countries in terms of the lowest maternal mortality rate (WHO). Yet, it is the 31st one among 38 OECD countries (OECD).
Timely quality care can prevent most maternal deaths, yet health systems face life-threatening gaps in essential medicines, equipment and skilled personnel. While universal coverage by midwives could avert two-thirds of maternal and newborn deaths and stillbirths, there is a chronic global shortage of 900,000 midwives. Inequities persist in accessing quality care, based on factors including location, income, and race or ethnicity, with marginalized communities most left behind.
Prevention of maternal deaths is essential for building resilient societies and women’s empowerment. When women have control over their reproductive choices and access to equitable and high-quality maternal care, unsafe abortions drop, maternal deaths decline and women and families thrive. To meet the 2030 target of less than 70 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births, gains would have to increase by 2.5 times.
Success in reducing and preventing maternal deaths is achievable with political commitment and financial investments. To realize the fundamental right to safe pregnancy and childbirth, the world must continue to improve the quality of care, supported by robust financial resources and enabling laws. Crucial strategies include improving access to essential commodities and expanding midwifery care to detect risks, manage complications, and reduce costs. Ultimately, investing in maternal and newborn health offers profound returns, fostering a healthier workforce and potentially boosting the global economy by $400 billion.
What does UNFPA do in Turkiye?
UNFPA Türkiye aims to achieve health for all, including migrants, people affected by the 2023 earthquakes and other vulnerable groups by supporting access to comprehensive and quality reproductive health services. UNFPA supports systems strengthening as well as decentralised interventions. UNFPA established more than 100 service units to date, such as women and girls safe spaces, youth centers, maternal and child health service units and mobile units which offer information, counseling and life-saving reproductive health services tailored to the needs of the target groups. UNFPA works with authorities to deliver community-based programs in cooperation with its partners to improve reproductive health, safe motherhood, and newborn health and strengthen health literacy and health-seeking behaviors.
An innovative example is UNFPA’s health mediators model, which employs women from local and migrant communities as a bridge between the community and services. They visit households and neighborhoods, and work to raise awareness about health and protection risks such as high-risk pregnancies, obstetric emergencies, and major causes of maternal and newborn deaths.
In addition, UNFPA collaborated with Hacettepe University Institute of Population Studies on an impactful research, “Revisiting Maternal Mortality: What Qualitative Research Says,” which has provided in-depth information on the policies, strategies, and mechanisms Türkiye can employ to reduce maternal mortality. For its next 5 year plan of cooperation in Turkiye, UNFPA is in discussions with Ministry of Health and partners on essential elements to address quality of care to accelerate improvements in reproductive health, especially safe motherhood.
