In WHO's Eastern Mediterranean Region, maternal mortality fell from 191 to 160 deaths per 100,000 live births between 2020 and 2025.
Since 2000, maternal mortality in the region has declined by 56 percent, from 378 to 167 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2023.
In Somalia, cholera deaths fell by 93 percent after vaccination and community engagement.
Fewer women are dying in pregnancy and childbirth in WHO's Eastern Mediterranean Region. Between 2020 and 2025, maternal mortality fell from 191 to 160 deaths per 100,000 live births. That is a decline of just over 16 percent.
The figures come from WHO ahead of the 73rd session of the Regional Committee, the region's main decision-making meeting on health, which takes place in Cairo in October. Adham Ismail, WHO's Officer-in-Charge for the region, presented the results at a press conference. According to WHO, the results mean that more children are protected against disease, fewer people die in outbreaks, and pregnancy and childbirth are becoming safer.
From Morocco to Pakistan
The region is made up of 22 countries and territories, including Morocco, Tunisia, Sudan, Somalia, Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan, and Pakistan. More than 120 million women of reproductive age live there, and about 20 million children are born each year. With that number of births, the decline equals roughly 6,000 fewer maternal deaths per year.
The region has about nine percent of the world's population, but nearly half of all people in the world who need humanitarian assistance. According to Adham Ismail, the countries still kept providing care, and the results were achieved with fewer resources.
More than halved since 2000
WHO's annual report for 2025/2026 shows a longer trend. Between 2000 and 2023, maternal mortality in the region fell from 378 to 167 deaths per 100,000 live births. That is a decline of 56 percent.
We have previously written about how maternal mortality has fallen sharply worldwide, and about how new data and methods show measurable results.
More young children are also surviving. Mortality among children under five has fallen by 49 percent, to 42 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2024.
WHO has helped the countries keep care for mothers, newborns, and children going, even during humanitarian crises. In Gaza, WHO provided medicines and supplies to 56 health facilities. The organization also trained 165 health workers in safe delivery.
More results in the same report
The annual report shows progress in several areas. In Somalia, cholera cases fell by nearly 60 percent and deaths by 93 percent after vaccination and community engagement. The share of people with diphtheria who die from it also fell there, from 12.8 to 4.1 percent. Somalia has also re-established a national medicines regulatory authority after more than three decades.
In Sudan, the share of children who received three doses of a vaccine against five diseases rose from 38 to 71 percent in a single year. Three countries in the region have received WHO validation that the eye disease trachoma is no longer a public health problem.
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