Daijiworld Media Network- Seoul

Seoul, Apr 11: A recent report has estimated North Korea’s maternal mortality rate at 67 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2023, reflecting a gradual decline since 2000, but still significantly higher than that of its southern neighbor. This figure, while an improvement from the 129 per 100,000 recorded in 2000, remains nearly 17 times higher than South Korea’s maternal mortality rate of just 4.

The report, released jointly by the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF, and the World Bank Group, provides insight into global trends in maternal mortality. It defines maternal mortality as the death of a woman during pregnancy or within 42 days after the end of a pregnancy. According to the findings, North Korea’s maternal mortality rate has been steadily decreasing over the years: from 129 in 2000, to 78 in 2005, 72 in 2015, and 66 in 2020.

Despite these improvements, the country’s maternal mortality rate remains high in comparison to global standards. The global average maternal mortality rate in 2023 stood at 197, with the United Nations setting a target to reduce it to fewer than 70 per 100,000 live births. The report also highlighted a troubling global trend: over 700 women continue to die every day from preventable causes related to pregnancy and childbirth, particularly in low and lower-middle-income countries.

The decline in maternal mortality has slowed since 2016, and in 2023, an estimated 260,000 women died globally from pregnancy-related complications. More than 90% of these deaths occurred in low-income nations.

The report was released on World Health Day, April 7, underscoring the ongoing challenges in reducing maternal mortality rates worldwide.