The United Nations has issued a stark warning that sweeping cuts to global humanitarian aid are threatening to undo decades of progress in reducing maternal deaths, with new data indicating that fatalities linked to pregnancy and childbirth could rise sharply if action is not taken. The UN’s latest report, Trends in Maternal Mortality, released on 7 April to coincide with World Health Day, reveals that while maternal deaths have decreased by 40% globally between 2000 and 2023, that progress is now under serious threat.
The report shows that the pace of improvement has slowed markedly since 2016, with an estimated 260,000 women dying in 2023 due to complications arising from pregnancy or childbirth. This equates to one maternal death every two minutes. The situation has been exacerbated by widespread funding reductions that have forced the scaling back of critical maternal, newborn, and child health services in numerous regions, particularly those experiencing conflict or humanitarian crises.
Healthcare systems in vulnerable settings have suffered significant setbacks, including the closure of medical facilities, shortages of healthcare personnel, and disruptions to the supply of essential medicines used to treat conditions such as haemorrhage, pre-eclampsia, and malaria—leading causes of maternal death. UN agencies warn that without renewed investment, the lives of countless pregnant women, particularly those in already high-risk environments, hang in the balance.
Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), emphasised the dual message of the report. “While this report contains some signs of progress, it also lays bare the stark reality that pregnancy remains perilous in many parts of the world, despite proven, life-saving interventions,” he said. He stressed the need not only for quality maternity care but also for robust support for women’s and girls’ broader health and reproductive rights.
The report is the first to provide a comprehensive global analysis of how the COVID-19 pandemic impacted maternal health. In 2021 alone, an additional 40,000 women died from complications linked to pregnancy and childbirth, with the global death toll reaching 322,000. The increase is attributed to both direct effects of COVID-19 and the disruption of essential maternity services during the pandemic.
UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell warned that recent funding cuts to health services are placing more pregnant women in danger, particularly in fragile regions where access to care is already limited. The data underscores deep-rooted disparities: Sub-Saharan Africa accounted for around 70% of maternal deaths in 2023, with no significant progress reported in five other global regions, including Europe and North America.
Dr Natalia Kanem, Executive Director of the UN Population Fund (UNFPA), reaffirmed the urgent need to treat maternal healthcare as a basic human right. “We must ensure that every pregnant woman and newborn is protected by strong, well-resourced health systems. By investing in supply chains, midwifery training, and accurate data, we can eliminate preventable maternal deaths and ease the profound impact they have on families and communities,” she said.
The report paints an especially grim picture for women in conflict zones and humanitarian emergencies. It notes that nearly two-thirds of maternal deaths now occur in countries affected by crisis or instability. A girl living in such settings faces a 1 in 51 lifetime risk of dying from maternal causes—compared to a 1 in 593 risk in more stable nations.
The countries with the most alarming maternal mortality rates include Chad and the Central African Republic, where the odds are 1 in 24, followed closely by Nigeria (1 in 25), Somalia (1 in 30), and Afghanistan (1 in 40).
UN agencies are now calling for an immediate and substantial increase in global investment to meet the Sustainable Development Goal of significantly reducing maternal mortality. To reach the target, the current annual reduction rate of 1.5% must surge to 15%—a goal that is increasingly out of reach without swift and sustained action.
