A new study published by a number of UN agencies on May 9th has found that not only has the decline in maternal mortality accelerated since 2000, but that the maternal mortality rate has dropped by 45 per cent worldwide since 1990. The report – launched by the WHO, UNICEF, UNFPA, and the World Bank – also concludes that the number of women dying as a result of complications during pregnancy and childbirth have reduced from 523,000 in 1990 to an estimated 289,000 women in 2013.
 
However, the new figures also show considerable regional differences: from these 289,000 maternal deaths, 99 per cent occur in low- and middle-income countries – and 60 percent in sub-Saharan African.
 

Ethiopia is making progress in terms of improving maternal mortality. Estimates of maternal mortality ratio per 100 000 live births reduced from 1400 in 1990 to 420 in 2013.

To access full report, please visit:
http://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/10665/112682/2/9789241507226_eng.pdf