Democratic Republic of Congo, recorded the second-highest number of maternal deaths in 2023 (19,000 each). India’s maternal mortality rate (MMR) declined by 78% from 2000 to 2023 (362 to 80).
COVID-19 Impact: The COVID-19 pandemic worsened maternal mortality,
with an estimated 40,000 additional deaths in 2021 compared to 2020.
Primary Cause: Haemorrhage remains the leading direct obstetric cause of maternal deaths globally.
UN Report: The “Trends in Maternal Mortality 2000-2023” report was published by the United Nations Maternal Mortality Estimation Inter-Agency Group (MMEIG).