Maternal Mortality in the UK: What the Latest 2022–2024 Data Shows

MBRRACE-UK has published its latest data brief on maternal mortality in the UK, covering the years 2022 to 2024. The findings provide an updated picture of deaths during pregnancy and up to one year after birth and highlight patterns that remain largely unchanged over the past decade.

This article summarises the key findings and places them in context.

Maternal mortality remains higher than national targets

Between 2022 and 2024, 252 women in the UK died during pregnancy or within six weeks of the end of pregnancy from direct or indirect causes. This equates to a maternal mortality rate of 12.8 deaths per 100,000 maternities.

While this rate is not statistically different from the most recent reporting periods, it remains 20% higher than in 2009–2011, when the UK set an ambition to halve maternal mortality rates by 2025.

Excluding deaths related to COVID-19 makes little difference to this overall picture, indicating that the increase cannot be attributed solely to the pandemic.

No significant improvement since 2019

The data shows no statistically significant reduction in maternal mortality compared to the last complete pre-pandemic triennium (2019–2021). In fact, when COVID-19 deaths are excluded, rates of indirect maternal deaths are significantly higher than in that earlier period.

This suggests that progress in reducing maternal deaths has stalled.

Leading causes of maternal death

During pregnancy and up to six weeks after birth, the leading causes of maternal death in 2022–2024 were:

-Thrombosis and thromboembolism (the most common cause)

-Cardiac disease

-Psychiatric causes

Between six weeks and one year after the end of pregnancy, suicide remained the leading cause of maternal death. Overall, psychiatric causes accounted for 33% of late maternal deaths in this period.

Persistent inequalities in risk

As in previous reports, maternal mortality rates varied significantly across different population groups.

The data shows that:

-Women aged 35 or older were nearly twice as likely to die as women aged 25–29

-Women aged over 40 faced almost three times the risk

-Black women were nearly three times more likely to die than White women

-Asian women also had a higher risk compared to White women

Women living in the most deprived areas had double the maternal mortality rate of those living in the least deprived areas

These disparities have been consistently reported in MBRRACE-UK data over multiple reporting periods.

What this data tells us

Many of the findings in the 2022–2024 data brief reflect patterns seen in earlier maternal mortality reports. This includes:

-Ongoing inequalities by ethnicity, age and deprivation

-High rates of deaths from conditions that may be identifiable earlier

-The significant contribution of mental health-related deaths, particularly in the postnatal period

The persistence of these trends raises questions about how effectively national guidance, recommendations and learning are being translated into consistent care across maternity services.

Why this information still matters

Maternal mortality data is not only about numbers. It reflects real experiences of women and families and highlights areas where systems, communication and follow-up may not be working as intended.

Understanding these patterns is essential for:

-Improving recognition of deterioration

-Supporting timely escalation of concerns

-Addressing inequalities in access, listening and care

-Ensuring postnatal mental health is prioritised alongside physical health

Further information

The full data brief and supporting charts are published by MBRRACE-UK, the organisation responsible for confidential enquiries into maternal deaths in the UK. You can access that report, here.

MAMA Academy will continue to follow updates from MBRRACE-UK and other national reviews and share clear, accessible summaries for families and professionals.