Table 2.
Global estimates of MMR and lifetime risk of maternal death produced by WHO and partner agencies, published from 1985 to 2019
| Tabulations of available information by the World Health Organization (WHO) | |
|---|---|
| Publication date and title | Description and key reported estimates |
| 1985: Maternal mortality rates: a tabulation of available information (unpublished) | This report was compiled and informally disseminated (but not published) by WHO, in response to many requests for information. |
| 1986: Maternal mortality rates: a tabulation of available information, second edition [38] | Estimates for 1983: Maternal deaths in 1983/annual: 500,000 (99% of these in developing countries, where 86% of births take place). MMR: World: 390 Developing countries: 450 Developed countries: 30 Region with highest MMR: Western Africa, 700 |
| 1991: Maternal mortality ratios and rates: a tabulation of available information, third edition [39]* | Estimates for 1988: Maternal deaths in 1988: 509,000 MMR: World: 370 (lifetime risk of maternal death [LR]: 1 in 73) Developing countries: 420 (LR: 1 in 57) Developed countries: 26 (LR: 1 in 1825) Region with highest MMR: Western Africa, 760 (LR 1 in 18) |
| WHO and UNICEF collaboration to develop revised 1990 estimates using a new approach | |
| 1996: Revised 1990 estimates of maternal mortality: a new approach by WHO and UNICEF [40]† | Estimates for 1990: Maternal deaths in 1990: 585,000 MMR: World: 430 (LR: 1 in 60) Less developed regions: 480 (LR: 1 in 48) More developed regions: 27 (LR: 1 in 1800) Region with highest MMR: Eastern Africa, 1060 (LR: 1 in 12) |
| Series of estimates of maternal mortality developed by WHO and UN partners | |
| 2001: Maternal mortality in 1995: estimates developed by WHO, UNICEF, UNFPA [41] | Estimates for 1995: Maternal deaths in 1995: 515,000 World: 400 (LR: 1 in 75) More developed countries: 21 (LR: 1 in 2500) Less developed countries: 440 (LR: 1 in 60) Least developed countries: 1000 (LR: 1 in 16) Region with the highest MMR: Eastern Africa, 1300 (LR: 1 in 11) |
| 2004: Maternal mortality in 2000: estimates developed by WHO, UNICEF, UNFPA [42] | Estimates for 2000: Maternal deaths in 2000: 529,000 MMR: World: 400 (LR: 1 in 74) Developing regions: 440 (LR: 1 in 61) Developed regions: 20 (LR: 1 in 2800) Region with the highest MMR: Sub-Saharan Africa, 920 (LR: 1 in 16) |
| 2007: Maternal mortality in 2005: estimates developed by WHO, UNICEF, UNFPA and The World Bank [43] | Estimates for 2005: Maternal deaths in 2005: 536,000 (99% in developing countries) MMR: World: 400 (LR: 1 in 92) Developing regions: 450 (LR: 1 in 75) Developed regions: 9 (LR: 1 in 7300) Region with highest MMR: Sub-Saharan Africa, 900 (LR: 1 in 22) |
| Series of estimates and trends of maternal mortality developed by the UN’s Maternal Mortality Estimation Inter-Agency Group (UN MMEIG) – WHO, UNICEF, UNFPA, World Bank Group and UNPD* | |
| 2010: Trends in maternal mortality: 1990 to 2008: estimates developed by WHO, UNICEF, UNFPA and The World Bank [44] | Estimates for 2008, and revised estimates for 1990, 1995, 2000,
2005 Maternal deaths in 2008: 358,000 MMR in 2008: World: 260 (LR: 1 in 140) Developing regions: 290 (LR: 1 in 120) Developed regions: 14 (LR: 1 in 4300) |
| This and later reports use UN MDG regions | Region with the highest MMR: Sub-Saharan Africa, 640 (LR: 1 in 31) |
| 2012: Trends in maternal mortality: 1990 to 2010: WHO, UNICEF, UNFPA and The World Bank estimates [45] | Estimates for 2010, and revised estimates for 1990, 1995, 2000,
2005 Maternal deaths in 2010: 287,000 MMR in 2010: World: 210 (LR: 1 in 180) Developing regions: 240 (LR: 1 in 150) Developed regions: 16 (LR: 1 in 3800) Region with the highest MMR: Sub-Saharan Africa, 500 (LR: 1 in 39) |
| 2014: Trends in maternal mortality: 1990 to 2013: estimates by WHO, UNICEF, UNFPA, The World Bank and the United Nations Population Division [46] | Estimates for 2013, and revised estimates for 1990, 1995, 2000,
2005, 2010 Maternal deaths in 2013: 289,000 MMR in 2013: World: 210 (LR: 1 in 190) Developing regions: 230 (LR: 1 in 160) Developed regions: 16 (LR: 1 in 3700) Region with the highest MMR: Sub-Saharan Africa, 510 (LR: 1 in 38) |
| 2015: Trends in maternal mortality: 1990 to 2015: estimates by WHO, UNICEF, UNFPA, World Bank Group and the United Nations Population Division [20] | Estimates for 2015, and revised estimates for 1990, 1995, 2000,
2005, 2010 (see Table 3) Maternal deaths in 2015: 303,000 MMR in 2015:‡ World: 216 (LR: 1 in 180) Developing regions: 239 (LR: 1 in 150) Developed regions: 12 (LR: 1 in 4900) Region with the highest MMR: Sub-Saharan Africa, 546 (LR: 1 in 36) |
| 2019: Trends in maternal mortality: 2000 to 2017: estimates by WHO, UNICEF, UNFPA, World Bank Group and the United Nations Population Division [1] | Estimates for 2017, and revised estimates for 2000, 2005, 2010,
2015 Maternal deaths in 2017: 295,000 MMR in 2017: World: 211 (LR: 1 in 190) Less developed regions: 232 (LR: 1 in 160) More developed regions: 12 (LR: 1 in 5200) |
Data from each report cannot be meaningfully compared to data from previous reports/years due to subsequent advances in modelling/estimation methods for each publication. The UN MMEIG was formed in 2010. The estimates presented in each Trends in maternal mortality report listed above supersede all previously published estimates for years that fall within the same time period due to modifications in methodology and data availability. Therefore, differences between newer and previous estimates should not be interpreted as representing time trends; trends should only be interpreted as presented within each separate publication for the years covered [1].
In addition to the reports of estimates and trends in maternal mortality, WHO also published Maternal mortality: a global factbook in 1991, presenting 1983 MMR estimates as well as 1985 estimates for coverage of maternity care (per cent of births with a trained attendant), country profiles compiling all available demographic and maternal health information, and detailed information about measuring maternal mortality [47].
These revised 1990 estimates were required because the model used to calculate previous 1990 estimates could not support accurate country-level estimates but just regional and global estimates. The earlier 1990 estimates were inadvertently published in the 1992 Human Development Report but were never used.
Unfortunately, these estimates were not available before the 2015 MDG report was published in the same year [26], so that report used the 1990 baseline and 2013 MMR estimates from the previous (2014) UN MMEIG publication.