Deaths among mothers during pregnancy and childbirth declined nationwide in 2024, according to new federal health data released Wednesday, with early indicators pointing to a potential continuation of this downward trend in 2025.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention documented 649 maternal deaths in 2024 throughout pregnancy and the immediate postpartum period. This represents a decrease from the 669 fatalities recorded in 2023 and continues a declining pattern from 2022 and 2021, when maternal mortality reached its highest point in over five decades.
Early data from 2025 indicates this encouraging pattern may be persisting, according to Eugene Declercq, a Boston University researcher who analyzes federal health statistics.
However, Declercq cautioned that preliminary figures can shift when finalized, as delayed death certificates arrive or initial reports get excluded during review processes. The 2024 numbers experienced similar adjustments, initially appearing higher than 2023 figures in provisional reports.
“All you could reasonably say is that the provisional 2025 data look promising,” Declercq said in an email.
Federal health officials track fatalities occurring during pregnancy, delivery, and the 42-day period following birth when deaths stem from pregnancy-related complications. Primary causes include severe hemorrhaging, blood clots, and infections, though Wednesday’s report did not break down specific causes for the 2024 deaths.
Maternal mortality surged during the coronavirus pandemic as COVID-19 posed particular risks to expectant mothers, while overwhelmed healthcare providers may have dismissed pregnant patients’ concerns.
The decline of COVID-19 represents the primary factor behind falling death rates since 2021, Declercq explained. Enhanced medical care initiatives may also be contributing to the improvements.
The CDC analysis found the 2024 maternal mortality rate stood at approximately 18 deaths per 100,000 live births, which did not represent a statistically significant improvement from the previous year.
“The declines are welcome, but they are small and only bring us back to where we were six years ago” before the COVID-19 surge, Declercq said, adding there is a need for more attention to the problem.
Among developed nations, the United States maintains one of the highest maternal death rates. Previous studies have documented significant racial disparities, with Black women experiencing mortality rates far exceeding those of white women.
The latest CDC findings showed Black women’s maternal death rate in 2024 exceeded white and Hispanic rates by more than three times. Additionally, women aged 40 and above faced mortality rates more than triple those of younger mothers.
