New Delhi: India has made significant strides in reducing maternal mortality over the past two decades, according to a new United Nations report released Tuesday. The Maternal Mortality Estimation Inter-Agency Group (MMEIG) found that India’s maternal mortality ratio (MMR) fell from 103 to 80 deaths per 100,000 live births between 2020 and 2023 — a 23-point drop.
The report, covering data from 2000 to 2023, was developed by MMEIG, which includes the World Health Organization, UNICEF, UNFPA, the World Bank Group, and the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs, in collaboration with global technical experts.
India’s MMR has now declined by 86% since 1990, compared to a global reduction of 48% over the same period, the report said.
Despite this progress, India continues to bear a large share of the global maternal death burden, accounting for 7.2% of maternal deaths worldwide. The estimated number of maternal deaths in the country fell from 24,000 in 2020 to 19,000 in 2023, second only to Nigeria, which reported 75,000 maternal deaths.
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) noted that direct country-to-country comparisons should consider population differences. India’s population is currently around 1.45 billion, compared to Nigeria’s 232.6 million.
The MMEIG’s estimates cover 195 countries and aim to provide internationally comparable data on maternal mortality. The report underscores the need for continued investments in maternal health, especially in regions with high burdens, to meet the Sustainable Development Goal target of reducing global MMR to fewer than 70 deaths per 100,000 live births by 2030.
