North Korea's Maternal Mortality Rate Reaches 67 per 100,000 Live Births in 2023: Study
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Synopsis
On April 11, a report revealed that North Korea's maternal mortality rate is 67 per 100,000 live births in 2023, significantly lower than in 2000 but still 17 times higher than South Korea's rate of 4. The report highlights ongoing global maternal health challenges.
Key Takeaways
- Maternal mortality rate in North Korea is 67 per 100,000 live births.
- Rate has decreased from 129 in 2000.
- Still 17 times higher than South Korea's rate of 4.
- Global average maternal mortality is estimated at 197.
- UN aims for less than 70 by 2023.
Seoul, April 11 (NationPress) The maternal mortality rate in North Korea has been estimated to be 67 per 100,000 live births in 2023. This figure is significantly lower than the rate recorded in 2000, yet it remains nearly 17 times greater than the corresponding rate in South Korea, according to a report released on Friday.
This data was shared in a recent report on maternal mortality estimates, which was co-published by the World Health Organization, UNICEF, the World Bank Group, and various international organizations, as reported by the Yonhap news agency.
The report defines maternal mortality as the death of a woman during pregnancy or within 42 days after the conclusion of a pregnancy.
Since hitting a peak of 129 in 2000, around the time of a severe famine following the collapse of the Soviet Union, North Korea's maternal mortality rate has gradually decreased. It fell to 78 in 2005, 72 in 2015, 66 in 2020, and now stands at 67 in 2023. However, this rate is still approximately 17 times higher than South Korea's rate of just 4, as per the report.
The global average maternal mortality rate for 2023 is estimated to be 197, with the United Nations aiming to reduce this figure to below 70 per 100,000 live births by 2023.
A global report released on World Health Day on April 7 revealed that over 700 women lose their lives every day due to preventable complications related to pregnancy and childbirth in 2023 worldwide.
The report titled Trends in Maternal Mortality indicates a significant 40 percent global decrease in the maternal mortality ratio (MMR) from 2000 to 2023.
However, it also noted that since 2016, the rate of improvement has slowed considerably, with an estimated 260,000 women losing their lives in 2023 due to complications arising from pregnancy or childbirth.
The report emphasized that over 90 percent of maternal deaths occurred in low-income and lower-middle-income countries in 2023.
