Introduction
Maternal and child mortality is one of the clearest tests of how well a health system protects women and newborns. Outcomes in this area reflect factors such as access to timely care, socioeconomic conditions, and the capacity of hospitals and community health services.
Globally, maternal and child mortality rates show significant variation across regions and income levels, with uneven progress and persistent challenges in many areas. Using WHO mortality statistics, this analysis tracks worldwide trends in maternal deaths, infant and under-five mortality, and neonatal outcomes to highlight global patterns and regional disparities.
Number of Maternal Deaths
In 2023, approximately 260,128.63 maternal deaths were recorded globally (-7,684.1 y/y), capturing all reported deaths during pregnancy or within 42 days of termination, irrespective of the pregnancy duration or site.
This pattern illustrates a reduction in the absolute number of maternal deaths, suggesting improvements in referral pathways, quality of emergency obstetric care, and better management of underlying conditions such as hypertension or diabetes.
Infant Mortality
The infant mortality rate measures the probability that a child dies before reaching one year of age per 1,000 live births.
In 2023, the infant mortality rate globally decreased to 27.1 deaths per 1,000 live births (-0.9 y/y). This evolution demonstrates encouraging improvements in infant care, with continued reductions in preventable deaths through better access to healthcare and vaccination programs.
Under-Five Mortality
Under-five mortality captures the probability that a child dies before age five per 1,000 live births, integrating risks across infancy and early childhood.
In 2023, the under-five mortality rate globally decreased to 36.7 deaths per 1,000 live births (-1.5 y/y). This trajectory indicates sustained progress in child health, with ongoing reductions in preventable deaths through improved healthcare access and poverty reduction programs.
Neonatal Mortality
Neonatal mortality focuses on deaths within the first 28 days of life, a period when complications of pregnancy and childbirth, preterm birth, and infections are most critical.
In 2023, 2,284,015 neonatal deaths were recorded globally (-50,408 y/y), reflecting outcomes in delivery rooms, neonatal intensive care units, and early postnatal support. This pattern demonstrates encouraging progress in newborn care, with significant reductions in deaths through improved neonatal intensive care and better management of preterm births.
Frequently Asked Questions
The main causes of maternal mortality globally include:
- Hemorrhage: Excessive bleeding during or after childbirth, accounting for about 27% of maternal deaths worldwide
- Hypertensive disorders: Conditions like preeclampsia and eclampsia, responsible for about 14% of deaths
- Infections: Including sepsis and other infections, contributing to about 11% of maternal deaths
- Unsafe abortion: Complications from unsafe abortion procedures, accounting for about 8% of deaths
- Other direct causes: Including embolism and complications from anesthesia
Indirect causes such as malaria, HIV/AIDS, and cardiovascular disease also contribute significantly, especially in developing regions.
Maternal and neonatal deaths are typically linked to a combination of medical and social factors. Key medical drivers include hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, haemorrhage, thromboembolism, and complications of pre-existing conditions such as diabetes or cardiovascular disease. Social determinants—such as income, education, housing conditions, and access to healthcare services—strongly influence whether women receive timely antenatal care, safe delivery services, and high-quality postnatal follow-up.
Over the past decades, infant and under-five mortality rates have fallen markedly in most countries thanks to widespread vaccination, improved neonatal care, better management of respiratory infections and diarrhoeal diseases, and stronger injury-prevention measures. Key factors driving progress include advances in medical technology, improved access to healthcare services, and better nutrition. However, significant disparities persist both within and between countries, with higher rates often observed in disadvantaged communities and lower-income regions.
Regional Variations in Maternal and Child Mortality
Explore maternal and child mortality patterns across different regions and countries to understand how health outcomes vary globally.
Methodology and Data Sources
All charts and indicators are based on WHO mortality statistics, including datasets on the number of maternal deaths, maternal mortality ratio per 100,000 live births, number of neonatal deaths, infant mortality rate per 1,000 live births, and under-five mortality rate per 1,000 live births. These data are compiled from national civil registration and vital statistics systems, household surveys, and model-based estimates where needed, and are updated periodically to ensure consistency across countries and over time. Values may be revised as new information becomes available, so all charts on this page update automatically when WHO releases new estimates.