Maternal mortality by race in US 2026 shows Black women dying at 44.8 deaths per 100,000 live births, against 14.2 for White women, 12.1 for Hispanic women and 18.1 for Asian women, based on the final 2024 data the CDC released in March 2026. The US recorded 649 maternal deaths in 2024 at an overall rate of 17.9, and the Black rate ran 3.15 times the White rate.
Maternal Mortality by Race in US 2026 – Introduction
Maternal Mortality by Race in US data exposes one of the widest gaps in American health care. The National Center for Health Statistics released its final 2024 numbers in March 2026. They count 649 maternal deaths for the year, an overall rate of 17.9 per 100,000 live births. Black women died at 44.8 per 100,000. White women died at 14.2. The Black rate was more than three times higher.
This report breaks the federal figures down by race, Hispanic origin and age. It tracks the trend from 2018 to 2024, including the pandemic peak of 1,205 deaths in 2021. It also shows how many Black deaths would not have happened at the White rate. Where this report does its own math, it says so.
Interesting Facts on Maternal Mortality by Race in US 2026
| Fact | 2026 Data (Final 2024 Figures) |
|---|---|
| Total maternal deaths | 649 |
| Overall maternal mortality rate | 17.9 per 100,000 live births |
| Black non-Hispanic rate | 44.8 per 100,000 |
| White non-Hispanic rate | 14.2 per 100,000 |
| Hispanic rate | 12.1 per 100,000 |
| Asian non-Hispanic rate | 18.1 per 100,000 |
| Black-to-White rate ratio | 3.15 times |
| Highest-risk age group | 40 and older at 62.3 per 100,000 |
| Peak year in this data | 2021 with 1,205 deaths and a rate of 32.9 |
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics, Health E-Stat 113 (March 2026).
The table sets the frame for everything below. Black women had the highest rate at 44.8, and Hispanic women had the lowest at 12.1. The overall rate of 17.9 sits between them. The Black-to-White ratio of 3.15 is the single number that sums up the racial gap. Women aged 40 and older carried the highest age-based rate at 62.3, and 2021 remains the worst year in the series.
The 649 deaths are a count of women whose death certificates list a pregnancy-related underlying cause. NCHS counts deaths during pregnancy and up to 42 days after it ends. The numbers are small, so rates swing from year to year. NCHS found that the 2024 changes for every race group were not statistically significant. The gaps between Black women and the other groups were.
Maternal Mortality Rate by Race in US 2026 | 2024 vs 2023 Rates
| Group | 2023 Rate | 2024 Rate | Change | Gap vs White (2024) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black, non-Hispanic | 50.3 | 44.8 | -5.5 | 3.15x |
| White, non-Hispanic | 14.5 | 14.2 | -0.3 | 1.00x |
| Hispanic | 12.4 | 12.1 | -0.3 | 0.85x |
| Asian, non-Hispanic | 10.7 | 18.1 | +7.4 | 1.27x |
| All women | 18.6 | 17.9 | -0.7 | 1.26x |
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics, Health E-Stat 113 (March 2026); percentages and ratios calculated for this report.
The Black rate fell from 50.3 to 44.8, a drop of 5.5 points or about 10.9%. White women moved from 14.5 to 14.2, and Hispanic women from 12.4 to 12.1. The Asian rate rose from 10.7 to 18.1, an increase of 7.4 points. NCHS says none of these year-over-year shifts reached statistical significance. The overall rate slipped from 18.6 to 17.9.
The last column compares each group with White women in 2024. Black women sit at 3.15 times the White rate. Hispanic women sit at 0.85 times, so their risk was lower. Asian women reached 1.27 times, but that jump rests on just 41 deaths, up from 23.
Black vs White Maternal Mortality Rate in US 2026 | Trend From 2018 to 2024
| Year | Black Rate | White Rate | Gap (Points) | Black-to-White Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 37.3 | 14.9 | 22.4 | 2.50x |
| 2019 | 44.0 | 17.9 | 26.1 | 2.46x |
| 2020 | 55.3 | 19.1 | 36.2 | 2.90x |
| 2021 | 69.9 | 26.6 | 43.3 | 2.63x |
| 2022 | 49.5 | 19.0 | 30.5 | 2.61x |
| 2023 | 50.3 | 14.5 | 35.8 | 3.47x |
| 2024 | 44.8 | 14.2 | 30.6 | 3.15x |
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics, Health E-Stat 113 (March 2026); percentages and ratios calculated for this report.
Both rates peaked in 2021. The Black rate hit 69.9 and the White rate hit 26.6. By 2024 the Black rate had fallen 35.9% to 44.8, while the White rate had fallen 46.6% to 14.2. White women improved faster, so the ratio grew from 2.63 in 2021 to 3.15 in 2024. The point gap shrank from 43.3 to 30.6, but only because the pandemic spike faded.
The ratio column tells the real story. It ran 2.50 in 2018 and 2.46 in 2019. It rose to 2.90 in 2020, held near 2.6 in 2021 and 2022, then jumped to 3.47 in 2023. The 2024 figure of 3.15 is lower than 2023 but still above every pre-pandemic year.
Number of Maternal Deaths by Race in US 2026 | Share of Deaths vs Share of Births
| Group | Deaths 2023 | Deaths 2024 | Share of Deaths | Share of Live Births |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black, non-Hispanic | 247 | 212 | 32.7% | 13.0% |
| White, non-Hispanic | 259 | 254 | 39.1% | 49.1% |
| Hispanic | 117 | 119 | 18.3% | 27.1% |
| Asian, non-Hispanic | 23 | 41 | 6.3% | 6.3% |
| All women | 669 | 649 | 100% | 100% |
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics, Health E-Stat 113 (March 2026); percentages and ratios calculated for this report.
White women recorded the most deaths in 2024 with 254, followed by Black women with 212, Hispanic women with 119 and Asian women with 41. Black deaths fell by 35 from 247. White deaths fell by 5. Hispanic deaths rose by 2, and Asian deaths rose by 18.
Share of deaths against share of births makes the disparity plain. Black women gave birth to 13.0% of babies but made up 32.7% of maternal deaths. White women made up 49.1% of births and 39.1% of deaths. Hispanic women made up 27.1% of births and 18.3% of deaths. Asian women landed at 6.3% on both measures.
Maternal Mortality by Age Group in US 2026 | Under 25, 25-39 and 40 and Older
| Age Group | Live Births 2024 | Deaths 2024 | Rate 2023 | Rate 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Younger than 25 | 750,800 | 103 | 12.5 | 13.7 |
| 25-39 | 2,725,743 | 451 | 18.1 | 16.5 |
| 40 and older | 152,391 | 95 | 59.8 | 62.3 |
| All ages | 3,628,934 | 649 | 18.6 | 17.9 |
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics, Health E-Stat 113 (March 2026).
Women aged 40 and older faced a rate of 62.3, more than four times the 13.7 for women under 25. The 25-39 group sat at 16.5. NCHS found the older group’s rate was significantly higher than both younger groups. The gap between under-25 and 25-39 was not significant. Rates moved from 2023 to 2024 as follows: under 25 rose from 12.5, 25-39 fell from 18.1, and 40 and older rose from 59.8. None of those moves was significant.
Birth counts explain why the rates behave this way. The 25-39 group had 2,725,743 births and 451 deaths, so it accounts for 69.5% of all deaths. Women 40 and older had only 152,391 births but 95 deaths, so each death moves their rate sharply. Women under 25 had 750,800 births and 103 deaths.
Maternal Mortality by Race and Age Group in US 2026 | Black, White and Hispanic Women
| Age Group | Black Rate | White Rate | Hispanic Rate | Black-to-White Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Younger than 25 | 28.4 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 2.84x |
| 25-39 | 43.9 | 13.0 | 11.2 | 3.38x |
| 40 and older | 147.8 | 58.8 | 35.2 | 2.51x |
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics, Health E-Stat 113 (March 2026); percentages and ratios calculated for this report.
Black women have the higher rate at every age. Under 25, the Black rate is 28.4 against 10.0 for White women and 11.3 for Hispanic women. At 25-39 the numbers are 43.9, 13.0 and 11.2. At 40 and older they reach 147.8, 58.8 and 35.2. A Black woman under 25 faces a higher rate than a White woman in the 25-39 range. NCHS suppressed the Asian age-group rates because the counts were too small to be reliable.
The ratio column shows the gap is widest at 25-39, where Black women die at 3.38 times the White rate. It is 2.84 under 25 and 2.51 at 40 and older. The largest single rate in the whole data set belongs to Black women 40 and older at 147.8, from 33 deaths. Black women in the 25-39 group had 144 deaths, the biggest block of Black maternal deaths.
US Maternal Mortality Rate Trend 2026 | Deaths and Rates From 2018 to 2024
| Year | Maternal Deaths | Rate per 100,000 | Live Births |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 658 | 17.4 | 3,791,712 |
| 2019 | 754 | 20.1 | 3,747,540 |
| 2020 | 861 | 23.8 | 3,613,647 |
| 2021 | 1,205 | 32.9 | 3,664,292 |
| 2022 | 817 | 22.3 | 3,667,758 |
| 2023 | 669 | 18.6 | 3,596,017 |
| 2024 | 649 | 17.9 | 3,628,934 |
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics, Health E-Stat 113 (March 2026).
Deaths climbed from 658 in 2018 to 1,205 in 2021, and the rate rose from 17.4 to 32.9. Both then fell for three straight years. The 2024 count of 649 is 46.1% below the peak. The rate of 17.9 sits just above the 2018 level. A Boston University researcher told the Associated Press the declines are welcome but only bring the country back to where it stood six years ago.
Live births stayed in a tight band, from 3,791,712 in 2018 to a low of 3,596,017 in 2023, then 3,628,934 in 2024. Because births barely moved, the death count drove the rate. The 2021 spike followed the COVID-19 surge. The same researcher credited the fade of the virus as a major reason for the drop since.
Excess Black Maternal Deaths in US 2026 | What the Black vs White Gap Means in Numbers
| Group | Live Births 2024 | Actual Deaths | Expected at White Rate (14.2) | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black, non-Hispanic | 473,377 | 212 | 67 | +145 |
| Hispanic | 984,092 | 119 | 140 | -21 |
| Asian, non-Hispanic | 226,860 | 41 | 32 | +9 |
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics, Health E-Stat 113 (March 2026); expected deaths and differences calculated for this report by applying the White rate to each group’s live births.
This report applied the White rate of 14.2 to each group’s 2024 live births. Black women had 473,377 births, so that rate predicts about 67 deaths. The actual count was 212. That leaves roughly 145 more deaths than the White rate would produce. Put another way, about 68% of Black maternal deaths in 2024 sit above the White benchmark.
Hispanic women had 984,092 births and a benchmark of about 140 deaths. They recorded 119, which is 21 fewer. Asian women had 226,860 births and a benchmark of about 32. They recorded 41, which is 9 more, and that small count is the reason NCHS did not call the Asian change significant. These figures are estimates for illustration. They do not prove a cause for any gap.
Maternal Mortality by Race in US 2026 – Frequently Asked Questions
What Is the Maternal Mortality Rate in the US in 2026?
The latest final rate is 17.9 deaths per 100,000 live births, for 2024. NCHS published it in March 2026. The rate was 18.6 in 2023, and the change was not statistically significant.
What Is the Maternal Mortality Rate for Black Women in the US in 2026?
The rate was 44.8 per 100,000 live births in 2024, down from 50.3 in 2023. Black women accounted for 212 deaths. NCHS says the rate was significantly higher than the rates for White, Hispanic and Asian women.
How Many Times More Likely Are Black Women to Die From Pregnancy Causes Than White Women in 2026?
Black women died at 3.15 times the White rate in 2024. The ratio was 3.47 in 2023. It has stayed between 2.46 and 3.47 since 2018.
Why Are Black Women More Likely to Die in Childbirth in the US in 2026?
The NCHS report counts deaths and rates. It does not break deaths down by cause. Researchers point to unequal access to quality care, chronic health conditions and structural racism. This report does not assign a cause to the gap.
How Many Women Died From Maternal Causes in the US in 2026 Data?
The final count is 649 deaths for 2024. The earlier counts were 669 in 2023, 817 in 2022 and 1,205 in 2021.
Which Age Group Has the Highest Maternal Mortality Rate in the US in 2026?
Women aged 40 and older at 62.3 per 100,000. Women aged 25-39 came next at 16.5, and women under 25 had 13.7. Black women 40 and older had the highest rate of any group at 147.8.
Is Maternal Mortality Going Up or Down in the US in 2026?
It is going down from the pandemic peak. The rate fell from 32.9 in 2021 to 17.9 in 2024. That is about 46% lower, and it is close to the 17.4 recorded in 2018.
What Is the Maternal Mortality Rate for Hispanic and Asian Women in the US in 2026?
Hispanic women had a rate of 12.1 from 119 deaths, the lowest of the four groups. Asian women had 18.1 from 41 deaths. The Asian rate rose from 10.7, but NCHS says that change was not significant.
How Does the CDC Define a Maternal Death in 2026?
A maternal death is a death during pregnancy or within 42 days after it ends, from a cause related to or made worse by the pregnancy or its care. Accidental and incidental causes are excluded. Deaths after 42 days are not part of this count.
Why Is There No American Indian Rate in the 2026 NCHS Report?
NCHS shows only the largest race and Hispanic-origin groups with statistically reliable rates. It suppresses numbers and rates for groups where the counts are too small. American Indian and Alaska Native women are not shown separately in the 2024 table.
Are 2025 Maternal Mortality Numbers Available in 2026?
Only provisional figures exist. A Boston University researcher said they look promising, but he warned that counts can rise or fall once final records arrive. Treat the 2024 figures as the latest final national data now.
Disclaimer: This research report is compiled from publicly available sources. While reasonable efforts have been made to ensure accuracy, no representation or warranty, express or implied, is given as to the completeness or reliability of the information. We accept no liability for any errors, omissions, losses, or damages of any kind arising from the use of this report.