Pakistan Among Top Four Countries Responsible for Half of Global Maternal Deaths

Pakistan’s Alarming Maternal Mortality Rate Puts It Among Global Top Four

In a deeply concerning global health development, Pakistan has been listed among the four countries alongside Nigeria, India, and the Democratic Republic of Congo that collectively accounted for nearly 50% of all maternal deaths worldwide in 2023. According to the latest estimates, Pakistan alone contributed approximately 11,000 maternal deaths, representing 4.1% of the global total.

Maternal Mortality in Pakistan: The Stats That Matter

Despite modest progress in global maternal health, Pakistan’s maternal mortality ratio (MMR) remains worryingly high. The Pakistan Maternal Mortality Survey (PMMS) 2019 placed the national MMR at 186 deaths per 100,000 live births a figure that continues to reflect critical gaps in healthcare access and quality.

Stark Provincial Disparities

Maternal mortality isn’t evenly spread across the country. The MMR varies sharply by region:

• Balochistan: 298 per 100,000 live births (highest)
• Sindh: 224 per 100,000
• Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: 165 per 100,000
• Punjab: 157 per 100,000 (lowest)

These differences underline systemic inequality and healthcare access issues.

Why Are Maternal Deaths So High?

Several contributing factors are making maternal health a national crisis:

• Lack of skilled birth attendants, especially in rural areas
• Inadequate healthcare infrastructure and emergency obstetric care
• Low literacy rates and cultural barriers limiting women’s health choices
• Poverty and gender inequality, leading to poor nutrition and delayed care-seeking

Falling Behind Neighbors

Pakistan lags behind neighboring countries in maternal health:

• India: 145 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births
• Bangladesh: 173 per 100,000

If current trends continue, UNFPA estimates it could take Pakistan 122 years to eliminate preventable maternal deaths.

What Needs to Change?

To reverse this dangerous trend, Pakistan must:

• Expand access to quality maternal care in underserved areas
• Train and deploy more skilled health professionals
• Raise awareness through education, especially for women
• Invest in healthcare infrastructure and ensure 24/7 emergency services
• Implement bold, results-oriented policy reforms

A Wake-Up Call for Pakistan

This is more than a health issue it’s a national emergency. Without urgent, well-funded action, thousands more mothers will continue to die from entirely preventable causes. Pakistan must prioritize maternal health as a cornerstone of its public health agenda.