These estimates provide an up-to-date indication of the extent of the maternal mortality problem globally. They reflect the efforts by countries, which have increasingly been engaged in studies to measure maternal mortality and strengthen systems to obtain better information about maternal deaths. The modest and encouraging progress in reducing maternal mortality is likely due to increased attention to developing and implementing policies and strategies targeting increased access to effective interventions. Such efforts need to be expanded and intensified, to accelerate progress towards reducing the still very wide disparities between developing and developed worlds.

An updated version of this report is available for download here.