Estimates suggest that Pakistan saw 10,300 maternal deaths per one lakh livebirths the same year, while the African countries of Ethiopia and Nigeria had 11,900 maternal deaths per one lakh livebirths and 32,900 maternal deaths per one lakh livebirths, respectively. The world saw a total of 2.4 lakh maternal deaths in 2023, which equates to a global maternal mortality ratio of 190.5 maternal deaths per one lakh livebirths -- a decline by more than one-third from 321 maternal deaths per one lakh livebirths in 1990, the researchers estimated. While leading causes of maternal deaths were found to vary by location, maternal haemorrhage and hypertensive disorders of pregnancy were responsible for the largest share of deaths globally. The COVID-19 infection also led to increases in maternal mortality early in the pandemic. The latest official Sample Registration System (SRS) figure for 2020-22 puts India's Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) at 88 maternal deaths per 1,00,000 live births, down from 93 in 2019-21 and 130 in 2014-16.

Source: The Telegraph March 27, 2026 13:31 UTC