Nigeria Ranks as Most Dangerous Country for Childbirth in 2026 Global Report
Global maternal health has demonstrated significant advancement over the past four decades, with worldwide deaths during pregnancy and childbirth showing a substantial decline. However, a concerning disparity persists, as numerous countries continue to record maternal mortality rates that remain alarmingly high above the global average. A recent report based on the latest World Health Organization data has highlighted the ten most perilous nations for mothers, with Nigeria occupying the unfortunate top position.
Global Progress Amidst Persistent Challenges
The World Health Organization has documented that the global maternal mortality ratio experienced a remarkable reduction of more than 57% over the last forty years. In 1985, the average stood at 460 deaths per 100,000 live births, while by 2023, this figure had decreased to 197. Despite this encouraging trend, many nations, particularly across Africa, still face maternal mortality rates that far exceed this global benchmark, creating dangerous conditions for expectant mothers.
The Ten Most Dangerous Countries for Maternal Health
10. Guinea - The WHO placed Guinea's maternal mortality ratio at 494 deaths per 100,000 live births. While this represents a significant improvement compared to the year 2000 figure of 971, it remains critically high.
9. Guinea-Bissau - This nation recorded 505 deaths per 100,000 live births. UNICEF had reported a much higher figure of 900 a decade earlier. The United Nations Population Fund noted in 2021 that health centers typically have nurses and midwives but lack obstetricians and gynecologists to immediately assess high-risk obstetric cases.
8. Benin - Benin witnessed its maternal mortality ratio increase from 397 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2020 to 518 in 2023, indicating a troubling reversal of progress compared to neighboring countries.
7. Afghanistan - Afghanistan's maternal mortality ratio dropped from 638 deaths per 100,000 live births to 521. However, fewer than 60% of births were overseen by skilled healthcare professionals, with financial constraints and restrictive gender norms continuing to limit access to adequate care.
6. Somalia - UNICEF reported that one in twenty Somali women died due to pregnancy or birth complications, representing an improvement from 2017 when the figure stood at one in twelve. Somalia reduced its maternal mortality ratio from 829 to 563, yet risks remained exceptionally high.
5. Liberia - Liberia launched an ambitious plan in 2011 to reduce maternal deaths, but multiple challenges persisted. The Ebola epidemic between 2014 and 2016, followed by the COVID-19 pandemic, severely disrupted progress. The maternal mortality ratio stood at 628 in 2023, down from 694 in 2011.
4. Central African Republic - Ongoing conflict pushed the Central African Republic's maternal mortality ratio above 1,000 in 2013. By 2023, it had decreased to 692, yet healthcare access remained severely limited, with half of medical facilities destroyed or shut down and only six doctors available per 100,000 people.
3. South Sudan - South Sudan recorded the world's highest maternal mortality ratio in 2017 at 1,150 deaths per 100,000 live births. By 2023, the figure fell to 692, though some regions still reported rates as high as 1,252. Limited access to skilled care and emergency services continued to endanger mothers throughout the country.
2. Chad - Chad's maternal mortality ratio stagnated between 2013 and 2017, but some progress emerged by 2023 with 748 deaths per 100,000 live births. Fewer than 25% of women gave birth with professional assistance, and 35% lacked essential prenatal care.
Nigeria's Disturbing Top Position
1. Nigeria - Nigeria ranked as the worst country globally for maternal mortality, with 993 deaths per 100,000 live births. The figure rose steadily between 2007 and 2015, reaching 917 in 2017 and climbing again by 2023. This alarming trend poses a serious and escalating threat to millions of women across the nation, highlighting systemic healthcare challenges that require urgent attention and intervention.
Uneven Progress Across the Continent
While global maternal mortality has declined overall, countries including Nigeria, Chad, and South Sudan remain among the most dangerous places worldwide to give birth. Progress continues to be uneven across Africa, with ongoing conflict, weakened healthcare systems, and severely limited access to skilled medical professionals persistently placing mothers at grave risk. The 2026 report underscores the critical need for targeted interventions and strengthened healthcare infrastructure to address this pressing maternal health crisis across the continent.
