Black maternal mortality climbs, CDC data shows

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CDC data show Black maternal mortality remains far higher than for white, Hispanic, or Asian women, even as the overall U.S. rate has fallen. In the latest CDC figures cited in coverage, Black women’s maternal mortality rate was 50.3 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2023, compared with 14.5 for white women, 12.4 for Hispanic women, and 10.7 for Asian women.

What the numbers show

The gap has stayed stubbornly wide rather than narrowing meaningfully. Coverage of newer CDC data also notes the Black maternal mortality rate remained around 44.8 per 100,000 live births in a more recent reporting period, still roughly three times the rate for white women.

Why experts are concerned

Advocates say the disparity reflects unequal access to quality prenatal and postpartum care, along with broader health and policy inequities. Even when the national rate improves, Black women continue to face a much higher risk of pregnancy-related death than other groups.

Bigger picture

The CDC has highlighted ongoing efforts to reduce Black maternal mortality, but the data make clear the problem is persistent and structural, not isolated. The headline is less about one bad year and more about a long-running racial health gap that public health officials still have not closed.