Women today are more likely than ever to survive pregnancy and childbirth, according to a new report produced by the World Health Organization (WHO) and released today.

The United Nations (UN) agencies have highlighted the threat of a major slide in maternal health even as unprecedented aid cuts take effect around the world.

Released today on World Health Day, the UN report, Trends in Maternal Mortality, shows a 40 percent global decline in maternal deaths between 2000 and 2023, largely due to improved access to essential health services.

Still, the report reveals that the pace of improvement has slowed significantly since 2016 and that an estimated 260,000 women died in 2023 as a result of complications arising from pregnancy or childbirth, roughly equivalent to one maternal death every two minutes.