REVISED: Statement from Dr. Michael Warren, Chief Medical and Health Officer, March of Dimes

The latest maternal mortality data released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows a slight decline in deaths in 2024 from causes related to pregnancy or childbirth in the United States. While any reduction in maternal deaths is encouraging, this decrease to 17.9 deaths per 100,000 live births from 18.6 in 2023 is not statistically significant and reminds us that progress remains fragile.

These findings also demonstrate persistent health disparities experienced by Black moms and babies in America. In fact, the data show that the maternal mortality rate among Black moms was 44.8 per 100,000 live births compared to 14.2 among white moms.

Additionally, the 2025 March of Dimes Report Card shows that American Indian/Alaska Native women had the highest rate (60.8 per 100,000), followed by Non-Hispanic Black women (53.7 per 100,000) and Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander women (40.7 per 100,000) compared to women of other racial and ethnic groups during the 2019-2023 time period.

These deaths are tragic, unacceptable, and a stark reminder that the U.S. remains among the most dangerous developed nations for childbirth. A system failing moms and babies is a system failing everyone.

March of Dimes remains committed to addressing the maternal and infant health crisis in America by advancing evidence-based solutions that improve maternal health outcomes, including expanding access to high-quality maternity care, supporting the maternal health workforce, and investing in innovations that help prevent complications and save lives. Every mom deserves the safest possible start to motherhood, and every baby deserves a healthy beginning.

This Statement was updated with population-specific maternal mortality rates on 4/10/2026.