The U.S. Maternal Mortality Crisis Continues to Worsen: An International Comparison
The maternal mortality rate in the United States has for many years exceeded that of other high-income countries. Data from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show rates worsening around the world in recent years, as well as a widening gap between the U.S. and its peer nations.
New Data Shows U.S. Maternal Mortality Rate Exceeds That in Other High-Income Countries
The U.S. maternal mortality rate has been on the rise since 2000 and has spiked in recent years. The COVID-19 pandemic challenged health systems across the world and may have played a role in limiting women’s access to health care. Consistent with this finding, when looking at countries where maternal mortality data are available since 2018, we find the U.S. is not alone. The maternal death rate increased in six of the nine countries shown. It is yet to be seen whether this trend in maternal deaths continued throughout the pandemic.
