The maternal mortality rate in the United States ranges from about 13.7 to 62.3 deaths per 100,000 live births depending on age group, based on the most recent 2024 data from the National Center for Health Statistics. That puts the U.S. far ahead of nearly every other wealthy nation, where rates are often two to three times lower. Roughly 700 women die from pregnancy-related causes in the U.S. each year, and more than 80% of those deaths are considered preventable.
Current Rates by Age
In 2024, the maternal mortality rate broke down sharply by age. Women younger than 25 had a rate of 13.7 deaths per 100,000 live births. Women between 25 and 39 had a rate of 16.5, which is not statistically different from the younger group. But for women 40 and older, the rate jumped to 62.3, five times higher than for women under 25.
That steep increase after 40 reflects the greater likelihood of chronic health conditions like high blood pressure and diabetes, which complicate pregnancy. It also reflects the added physical demands pregnancy places on the cardiovascular system as the body ages.
Racial Disparities
The gap between racial groups is one of the starkest features of U.S. maternal mortality. In 2023, Black women died at a rate of 50.3 per 100,000 live births. That’s nearly four times the rate for Hispanic women (12.4), more than three times the rate for White women (14.5), and almost five times the rate for Asian women (10.7).
These disparities persist even when controlling for income and education level, pointing to systemic factors: differences in the quality of hospital care, higher rates of chronic conditions driven by long-term inequities in housing and nutrition, implicit bias in clinical settings, and less access to consistent prenatal and postpartum care.
How the U.S. Compares Globally
In 2022, the U.S. recorded approximately 22 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births. That’s more than double, and sometimes triple, the rate in most other high-income countries. Half the peer nations in a Commonwealth Fund analysis had fewer than five maternal deaths per 100,000 births. France, for instance, has held steady at around eight deaths per 100,000. Even the United Kingdom, which saw its own rate rise in recent years, reported 13.4 per 100,000 over the 2020 to 2022 period.
One structural difference: the U.S. and Canada have the lowest supply of midwives and obstetricians among peer countries, at 16 and 13 providers per 1,000 live births respectively. In most other wealthy nations, midwives far outnumber obstetricians. In the U.S., the ratio is flipped, with ob-gyns outnumbering midwives, which shapes the kind of care pregnant people receive and how early warning signs get caught.
State-Level Differences
Maternal mortality varies dramatically within the U.S. itself. Based on CDC data covering 2018 through 2022, Tennessee had the highest reported rate at 41.1 deaths per 100,000 live births, while California had the lowest at 10.5. California’s rate is notable because the state invested heavily in standardized hospital protocols for handling obstetric emergencies, quality improvement collaboratives, and expanded Medicaid coverage for postpartum care. That gap between the best and worst performing states illustrates how much policy and infrastructure matter.
When Deaths Happen
Pregnancy-related deaths don’t cluster around delivery the way most people assume. About 31% happen during pregnancy itself, before labor begins. Another 36% occur during delivery or in the first week afterward. And a full 33% happen between one week and one year after delivery.
That last number is significant. It means one in three pregnancy-related deaths occurs well after the hospital stay, during a period when many women have limited or no follow-up care. In states that hadn’t expanded Medicaid, postpartum coverage historically ended just 60 days after delivery, leaving a dangerous gap during the months when complications like blood clots, infections, and heart problems can still emerge.
What Counts as a Maternal Death
The official maternal mortality rate uses the World Health Organization’s definition: the death of a woman while pregnant or within 42 days of the end of pregnancy, from any cause related to or made worse by the pregnancy. Accidental causes don’t count. Deaths occurring 43 days to one year after pregnancy are classified separately as “late maternal deaths” and are not included in the standard rate. This is worth knowing because it means the official number actually understates the full toll of pregnancy-related mortality.
Most Deaths Are Preventable
Maternal Mortality Review Committees, which investigate pregnancy-related deaths state by state, have concluded that more than 80% are preventable. “Preventable” in this context means there was at least some chance the death could have been avoided through reasonable changes at any level: the patient recognizing warning signs, family members acting on them, providers following best practices, hospitals having the right protocols, or the broader health system ensuring continuity of care.
The most common contributing factors are cardiovascular conditions (heart disease and stroke account for the largest share of deaths), severe bleeding, infections, and complications from high blood pressure during pregnancy. Many of these conditions are manageable when caught early. The problem is often one of timing and access: symptoms get dismissed, follow-up appointments don’t happen, or rural hospitals lack the specialists and equipment to handle emergencies when they arise.