Despite setbacks in the two Telugu states, South India as a whole continued to report the lowest MMR in the country – 42 deaths per 1,00,000 live births in 2020–22 – well below the national average of 88.
Published Jun 23, 2025 | 7:00 AM ⚊ Updated Jun 23, 2025 | 7:00 AM
Tamil Nadu emerged as the strongest performer, achieving a 22.4 percent reduction.
Synopsis: The two Telugu states recorded increases in maternal mortality between 2019–21 and 2020–22, bucking the national trend of decline. The rises of 11.1 per cent and 2.2 per cent respectively coincided with the Covid-19 pandemic.
Telangana and Andhra Pradesh have experienced a rise in maternal mortality rates between 2019–21 and 2020–22, marking a setback in South India’s otherwise strong track record in maternal healthcare.
Telangana witnessed an 11.1 percent increase in its Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR), rising from 45 deaths per 1,00,000 live births in 2019–21 to 50 in 2020–22, according to a special bulletin by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs based on data from the Sample Registration System.
Similarly, Andhra Pradesh recorded an increase in MMR from 46 to 47, a 2.2 percent rise during the same period.
The increases coincided with the COVID-19 pandemic.
Despite setbacks in the two Telugu states, South India as a whole continued to report the lowest MMR in the country – 42 deaths per 1,00,000 live births in 2020–22 – well below the national average of 88.
While Telangana and Andhra Pradesh recorded setbacks, other southern states demonstrated that notable gains remain possible.
Tamil Nadu emerged as the strongest performer, achieving a 22.4 percent reduction in MMR – from 49 to 38 deaths per 1,00,000 live births – the highest improvement among all major states.
Kerala retained its position as the best-performing state, with its MMR falling from 20 to 18, a 10 percent improvement. The state continues to show that single-digit maternal mortality is achievable through sustained healthcare efforts.
Karnataka also showed steady progress, with MMR declining from 63 to 58 – a 7.9 percent improvement that continues its downward trend in maternal deaths.
At the national level, maternal mortality continued its downward trajectory, albeit at a slower pace. India’s MMR declined from 93 in 2019–21 to 88 in 2020–22 – a 5.4 percent improvement.
This keeps the country on course to meet the Sustainable Development Goal of reducing MMR to 70 by 2030.
The sharpest improvement came from Assam, which recorded a 25.1 percent drop – from 167 to 125. Although Assam still has the highest MMR in the country, the reduction reflects encouraging progress in a historically high-burden region.
Rajasthan reported a 14.7 percent improvement, with MMR falling from 102 to 87. Bihar’s MMR dropped from 100 to 91, a 9 percent reduction. These gains point to ongoing efforts to strengthen rural healthcare systems.
Several states continue to report high maternal mortality rates. Madhya Pradesh recorded the highest MMR in the country at 159 deaths per 1,00,000 live births, though this was an improvement from 175 in the previous period.
Chhattisgarh saw a concerning rise in MMR – from 132 to 141 – matching Uttar Pradesh, which also recorded 141. This 6.8 percent increase places Chhattisgarh among states requiring urgent policy attention.
Uttar Pradesh saw a modest improvement, with its MMR dropping from 151 to 141. However, it continues to account for the largest absolute number of maternal deaths due to its population size.
West Bengal posted a slight improvement from 109 to 105, while Odisha remained largely stable, with MMR inching from 135 to 136.
A look at the longer-term trend from 2014–16 to 2020–22 highlights India’s progress in maternal health. The national MMR declined from 130 to 88 – a 32 percent drop over eight years, despite recent challenges.
South Indian states have led this improvement. Kerala reported the most significant reduction, from 46 to 18 – a 61 percent drop, establishing the state as a model for maternal health outcomes.
Karnataka followed with a 46 percent reduction, from 108 to 58, while Tamil Nadu improved by 42 percent, reducing its MMR from 66 to 38.
Even states showing recent increases have made strong long-term progress. Telangana’s MMR declined from 81 to 50 – down 38 percent – while Andhra Pradesh reported a 36 percent reduction, from 74 to 47. These trends suggest that the recent increases may be temporary setbacks rather than lasting reversals.
Among high-burden states, Rajasthan stood out with the largest long-term improvement, reducing its MMR from 199 to 87 – a 56 percent decline.
Bihar recorded a 45 percent reduction, from 165 to 91, while Assam, despite its high numbers, brought down MMR from 237 to 125 – a 47 percent improvement.
Based on 2020–22 data, four states require urgent policy intervention: Madhya Pradesh (159), Chhattisgarh and Uttar Pradesh (both 141), and Assam (125). These states account for a disproportionate share of India’s maternal deaths and hold the greatest potential for nationwide gains.
