Maternal mortality rate decreased significantly, from 34 deaths/100,000 born-alive children in 2001 to 15 deaths/100,000 born-alive children in 2006. Hence, the maternal mortality target was met several years in advance.

Importantly, maternal mortality by abortion reached the lowest level in 20 years decreasing from 17 deaths/100,000 born-alive children in 2001 to 5 deaths in 2006. The growing popularity of modern reproductive health methods, to which UN’s interventions contributed, played a critical role in the achievement of this spectular result.

More information

World Health Oragnization - Progress on health-related MDGs

Millennium Project Report - Who's got the power? Transforming health systems for women and children

Millennium Campaign's page on Goal 5