Maternal Mortality Rate By State

Last updated September 18, 2024

Deaths per 100k Births
Top
Last
Deaths per 100k Births
1.LouisianaLouisiana58.1
2.GeorgiaGeorgia48.4
3.IndianaIndiana43.6
4.IdahoIdaho41.8
5.New JerseyNew Jersey38.1
6.ArkansasArkansas37.5
7.AlabamaAlabama36.4
8.MissouriMissouri34.6
9.TexasTexas34.5
10.South CarolinaSouth Carolina27.9
11.ArizonaArizona27.3
12.TennesseeTennessee26.7
13.WyomingWyoming26.3
14.South DakotaSouth Dakota24.5
15.IdahoIdaho23.8
16.KentuckyKentucky22.9
17.FloridaFlorida22.3
18.Rhode IslandRhode Island22.1
19.New MexicoNew Mexico21.5
20.OklahomaOklahoma21.1
21.MontanaMontana
22.MississippiMississippi20.8
23.North DakotaNorth Dakota20.1
24.VirginiaVirginia20
25.MarylandMaryland19.7
26.MichiganMichigan19.4
27.New YorkNew York19.2
28.OhioOhio19.2
29.KansasKansas18.9
30.MaineMaine18.9
31.PennsylvaniaPennsylvania18.6
32.North CarolinaNorth Carolina18.6
33.IowaIowa18.3
34.NebraskaNebraska18.2
35.DelawareDelaware17
36.New HampshireNew Hampshire16.7
37.UtahUtah16.5
38.IllinoisIllinois14.7
39.WashingtonWashington13.8
40.WisconsinWisconsin13.7
41.West VirginiaWest Virginia12.9
42.HawaiiHawaii12.9
43.OregonOregon12.8
44.AlaskaAlaska12.4
45.MinnesotaMinnesota11.8
46.ColoradoColorado11.5
47.ConnecticutConnecticut10.5
48.NevadaNevada8.4
49.MassachusettsMassachusetts8.4
50.CaliforniaCalifornia4

Introduction

The United States has the highest maternal mortality rate among developed nations. Ranked on the spectrum of preventable loss, it is distressing that the US faces a maternal death rate that has only escalated over the decades. Maternal mortality is a critical indicator of a nation's healthcare system, encompassing death due to complications from pregnancy or childbirth, or within 42 days of termination of pregnancy. Deaths from all causes related to or aggravated by the pregnancy or its management, excluding accidental or incidental causes, contribute to this rate. Recent analysis shows that, far from improvement, the crisis seems to be worsening, with the U.S. suffering an average of 17.4 maternal deaths per 100,000 births, based on 2018 data. Evoking alarm is the fact that the U.S. stands alone as the only developed country experiencing a rise in maternal mortality rates.

  • Regionally, the states with the lowest maternal mortality rates are California (4), Massachusetts (8.4), and Nevada (8.4). Comparatively, on the higher end of the spectrum, the mortality rate escalates significantly, with Indiana (43.6), Georgia (48.4), and Louisiana (58.1).
  • Certain states are performing exceptionally poorly with alarmingly high mortality rates, like Louisiana leading with 58.1 deaths per 100k births.
  • There's a threefold difference between the states with best (California) and worst (Louisiana) maternal mortality rates, indicating vast disparities among individual states.

States With the Highest Maternal Mortality Rates

Louisiana sadly leads the list with the highest maternal mortality rate, a shocking 58.1 deaths per 100,000 births. Georgia lags not far behind with a death rate of 48.4, underscoring a significant problem across the state. Indiana rounds off the top three states with a maternal mortality rate of 43.6. Idaho and New Jersey are next on this list of unfortunate distinction, with morbidity rates of 41.8 and 38.1, respectively. Arkansas has a maternal mortality rate of 37.5, followed by Alabama reporting 36.4 deaths per 100k births. Missouri and Texas similarly face high rates of 34.6 and 34.5 respectively. South Carolina, while having the tenth highest rate, still reports a worrying count of 27.9 maternal deaths per 100,000 births. States with the highest maternal mortality rates:

  1. Louisiana - 58.1
  2. Georgia - 48.4
  3. Indiana - 43.6
  4. Idaho - 41.8
  5. New Jersey - 38.1
  6. Arkansas - 37.5
  7. Alabama - 36.4
  8. Missouri - 34.6
  9. Texas - 34.5
  10. South Carolina - 27.9

States With the Lowest Maternal Mortality Rates

Topping this list with only 4 maternal deaths per 100k births is the state of California, whose rigorous approaches to healthcare and maternity policy improvements seem to be paying off. The next in line are Massachusetts and Nevada, tied for second place, both with commendable rates of 8.4 deaths per 100k births. Connecticut and Colorado trail right behind with 10.5 and 11.5 maternal deaths respectively for every 100k births. Showcasing relatively lower maternal mortality rates, Minnesota has 11.8, Alaska has 12.4, Oregon has 12.8, and Hawaii and West Virginia both report a rate of 12.9 maternal deaths per 100k births. States reporting the lowest Maternal Mortality rates (per 100k births):

  1. California - 4
  2. Massachusetts - 8.4
  3. Nevada - 8.4
  4. Connecticut - 10.5
  5. Colorado - 11.5
  6. Minnesota - 11.8
  7. Alaska - 12.4
  8. Oregon - 12.8
  9. Hawaii - 12.9
  10. West Virginia – 12.9

By Region

Alabama

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Ranked in U.S.

#7

Alaska

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Ranked in U.S.

#44

Arizona

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Ranked in U.S.

#11

Arkansas

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Ranked in U.S.

#6

California

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Ranked in U.S.

#50

Colorado

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Ranked in U.S.

#46

Connecticut

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Ranked in U.S.

#47

Delaware

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Ranked in U.S.

#35

Florida

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Ranked in U.S.

#17

Georgia

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Ranked in U.S.

#2

Hawaii

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Ranked in U.S.

#42

Idaho

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Ranked in U.S.

#4

Ranked in U.S.

#15

Idaho

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Ranked in U.S.

#4

Ranked in U.S.

#15

Illinois

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Ranked in U.S.

#38

Indiana

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Ranked in U.S.

#3

Iowa

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Ranked in U.S.

#33

Kansas

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Ranked in U.S.

#29

Kentucky

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Ranked in U.S.

#16

Louisiana

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Ranked in U.S.

#1

Maine

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Ranked in U.S.

#30

Maryland

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Ranked in U.S.

#25

Massachusetts

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Ranked in U.S.

#49

Michigan

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Ranked in U.S.

#26

Minnesota

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Ranked in U.S.

#45

Mississippi

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Ranked in U.S.

#22

Missouri

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Ranked in U.S.

#8

Montana

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Ranked in U.S.

#21

Nebraska

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Ranked in U.S.

#34

Nevada

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Ranked in U.S.

#48

New Hampshire

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Ranked in U.S.

#36

New Jersey

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Ranked in U.S.

#5

New Mexico

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Ranked in U.S.

#19

New York

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Ranked in U.S.

#27

North Carolina

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Ranked in U.S.

#32

North Dakota

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Ranked in U.S.

#23

Ohio

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Ranked in U.S.

#28

Oklahoma

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Ranked in U.S.

#20

Oregon

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Ranked in U.S.

#43

Pennsylvania

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Ranked in U.S.

#31

Rhode Island

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Ranked in U.S.

#18

South Carolina

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Ranked in U.S.

#10

South Dakota

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Ranked in U.S.

#14

Tennessee

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Ranked in U.S.

#12

Texas

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Ranked in U.S.

#9

Utah

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Ranked in U.S.

#37

Virginia

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Ranked in U.S.

#24

Washington

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Ranked in U.S.

#39

West Virginia

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Ranked in U.S.

#41

Wisconsin

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Ranked in U.S.

#40

Wyoming

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Ranked in U.S.

#13

Table

Region ↕Deaths per 100k Births↕
Alabama iconAlabama36.4
Alaska iconAlaska12.4
Arizona iconArizona27.3
Arkansas iconArkansas37.5
California iconCalifornia4
Colorado iconColorado11.5
Connecticut iconConnecticut10.5
Delaware iconDelaware17
Florida iconFlorida22.3
Georgia iconGeorgia48.4
Hawaii iconHawaii12.9
Idaho iconIdaho41.8
Idaho iconIdaho41.8
Illinois iconIllinois14.7
Indiana iconIndiana43.6
Iowa iconIowa18.3
Kansas iconKansas18.9
Kentucky iconKentucky22.9
Louisiana iconLouisiana58.1
Maine iconMaine18.9
Maryland iconMaryland19.7
Massachusetts iconMassachusetts8.4
Michigan iconMichigan19.4
Minnesota iconMinnesota11.8
Mississippi iconMississippi20.8
Missouri iconMissouri34.6
Montana iconMontana21
Nebraska iconNebraska18.2
Nevada iconNevada8.4
New Hampshire iconNew Hampshire16.7
New Jersey iconNew Jersey38.1
New Mexico iconNew Mexico21.5
New York iconNew York19.2
North Carolina iconNorth Carolina18.6
North Dakota iconNorth Dakota20.1
Ohio iconOhio19.2
Oklahoma iconOklahoma21.1
Oregon iconOregon12.8
Pennsylvania iconPennsylvania18.6
Rhode Island iconRhode Island22.1
South Carolina iconSouth Carolina27.9
South Dakota iconSouth Dakota24.5
Tennessee iconTennessee26.7
Texas iconTexas34.5
Utah iconUtah16.5
Virginia iconVirginia20
Washington iconWashington13.8
West Virginia iconWest Virginia12.9
Wisconsin iconWisconsin13.7
Wyoming iconWyoming26.3
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