Maternal Mortality Rates in the United States, 2019

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A new NCHS report presents maternal mortality rates for 2019 based on data from the National Vital Statistics System.
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Summary

A data story from the National Center for Health Statistics

Author: NCHS

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A new NCHS report presents maternal mortality rates for 2019 based on data from the National Vital Statistics System. A maternal death is defined by the World Health Organization as, “the death of a woman while pregnant or within 42 days of termination of pregnancy, irrespective of the duration and the site of the pregnancy, from any cause related to or aggravated by the pregnancy or its management, but not from accidental or incidental causes.” Maternal mortality rates, which are the number of maternal deaths per 100,000 live births, are shown in this report by age group and race and Hispanic origin.

Table. Number of maternal deaths and maternal mortality rates, by race and Hispanic origin and age: United States, 2018 and 2019

Rate does not meet National Center for Health Statistics standards of reliability.
1. Maternal mortality rates are deaths per 100,000 live births.
2. Total includes deaths for race and origin groups not shown separately, including deaths among multiple-race women and deaths with origin not stated. Race groups are single race.
3. Race groups are single race.

NOTES: Maternal causes are those assigned to categories A34, O00–O95, and O98–O99 of the International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision, 1992. Maternal deaths occur while pregnant or within 42 days of being pregnant.

SOURCE: National Center for Health Statistics, National Vital Statistics System, Mortality.