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US Maternal Deaths Drop in 2024
4 Mar
Summary
- US maternal deaths decreased in 2024 compared to previous years.
- Provisional data indicates this downward trend may have continued.
- Racial disparities persist, with Black women dying at higher rates.
Government analysis reveals a decrease in U.S. maternal deaths during 2024, with 649 mothers experiencing fatalities around childbirth. This marks a reduction from the 669 deaths recorded in 2023 and continues a downward pattern observed since 2021.
Preliminary data for 2025 suggests this promising trend has potentially continued. Researchers caution that final numbers can shift as more records are processed and verified.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention defines maternal death as a fatality occurring during pregnancy or up to 42 days postpartum due to pregnancy-related conditions. Leading causes include excessive bleeding, blood clots, and infections.
While the decline is encouraging, the overall maternal mortality rate in 2024 was approximately 18 deaths per 100,000 live births, a figure not significantly lower than the previous year. This rate brings the U.S. back to levels seen six years prior, before the COVID-19 surge.
Significant racial disparities persist, with Black women's maternal death rate in 2024 being over three times that of white and Hispanic women. Older women also face higher risks, as those aged 40 and above experienced mortality rates more than three times greater than younger women.
