Black maternal health: the gap, and what helps

Real CDC data on the gap in pregnancy-related mortality for Black women in the US, what's driving it, and concrete steps that help close it.

A pregnant Black woman in a tan tank top stands in profile against a grey studio backdrop, head tilted back and hand on her belly

In short

In the US, Black women die from pregnancy-related causes about three times more often than white women. This gap isn't about one cause. It comes from uneven healthcare quality and chronic health conditions. It also comes from unequal access to the everyday conditions that shape a healthy pregnancy (social determinants of health). More than 8 in 10 of these deaths could be prevented. So know your warning signs. And speak up for yourself.

Sourced from CDC/NCHS, Maternal Mortality Rates in the United States, 2023, CDC, Working Together to Reduce Black Maternal Mortality · Updated September 12, 2026

Pregnancy-related mortality in the United States isn't experienced equally. Black women die from pregnancy-related causes at several times the rate of white women. This gap has persisted for years. Unlike other groups, it hasn't meaningfully narrowed in recent data. This isn't a story about individual risk factors alone. It's a documented pattern in how care is delivered and experienced.

Here's what the data actually shows. Here's what's known about why the gap exists. And here are steps grounded in real evidence, not just good intentions.

How big is the gap?

In 2023, there were 50.3 pregnancy-related deaths for every 100,000 live births to Black women in the US. That's more than three times the rate for white women (14.5). It's also higher than the rate for Hispanic women (12.4). And it's higher than the rate for Asian women (10.7).

This gap isn't new. The CDC says plainly that Black women are three times more likely to die from a pregnancy-related cause than white women. This pattern has held for years. It has held even as overall national rates have shifted.

Why does this happen?

The CDC says there's no single cause. Several things add up. These include differences in the quality of healthcare people receive. They also include chronic health conditions going into pregnancy. Social determinants of health — the everyday conditions like money, safety, and stress that shape your health — also play a role. Many Black women don't get the same fair chance at economic, physical, and emotional health. Those chances shape a pregnancy long before delivery day.

Here's a number worth remembering: more than 80% of pregnancy-related deaths in the US could be prevented. This isn't mostly about medical problems with no fix. It's about whether warning signs get heard. It's about whether they get believed and acted on in time.

What can help right now?

Most preventable deaths come down to missed warning signs. So knowing exactly which symptoms need an urgent call — not a wait-and-see approach — is something you can act on right now. Our own warning-signs guide covers this in detail. It's sourced the same way as everything else here.

Bring a support person or advocate to your appointments and delivery. Ask directly for your symptoms to be written down, not dismissed. Know that you have the right to a second opinion. These steps don't need the whole system to change first. You can start using them today, even though closing the deeper gap does need bigger change.

Frequently asked questions

How much higher is the pregnancy-related mortality rate for Black women in the US?

In 2023, the rate for non-Hispanic Black women was 50.3 deaths per 100,000 live births, versus 14.5 for white women. That's more than three times higher, per CDC data. The CDC states this disparity plainly: Black women are three times more likely to die from a pregnancy-related cause than white women.

Is this gap mostly about individual health differences?

No. The CDC attributes it to multiple factors: variation in healthcare quality and underlying chronic conditions. Social determinants of health also play a part. These limit fair opportunities for economic, physical, and emotional health for many women from racial and ethnic minority groups. It's not explained by any single individual risk factor.

Are most of these deaths preventable?

Yes. More than 80% of pregnancy-related deaths in the US are preventable, per the CDC. That's a strong signal that the gap is largely about care access and response, not just medical inevitability.

Sources

  1. In 2023, the maternal mortality rate for non-Hispanic Black women was 50.3 deaths per 100,000 live births, significantly higher than rates for white (14.5), Hispanic (12.4), and Asian (10.7) women. — CDC/NCHS, Maternal Mortality Rates in the United States, 2023
  2. Black women are three times more likely to die from a pregnancy-related cause than white women. Multiple factors contribute to these disparities, such as variation in quality healthcare and underlying chronic conditions. Social determinants of health prevent many women from racial and ethnic minority groups from having fair opportunities for economic, physical, and emotional health. — CDC, Working Together to Reduce Black Maternal Mortality
  3. More than 80% of pregnancy-related deaths in the U.S. are preventable. — CDC, Working Together to Reduce Black Maternal Mortality

Educational information, not medical advice — always consult your doctor.

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