U.S. maternal death rate rose sharply in 2021, CDC data show

Researchers are unable to explain why U.S. maternal mortality rates sharply increased in 2021 compared with the previous 2 years. The maternal mortality rate for 2021 was 32.9 deaths per 100,000 live births, compared with a rate of 23.8 in 2020 and 20.1 in 2019. Data also reveal significant racial disparities: The maternal mortality rate for Black women was 2.6 times the rate for White women.