Kazakhstan has ranked among the top 10 countries globally in terms of reducing maternal mortality rates, according to the World Health Organization.
Over the past decade, Kazakhstan’s maternal mortality rate has dropped significantly, reaching 10.1 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2024. This progress comes despite a temporary spike in maternal deaths during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Three regions — Pavlodar (northeast), Mangistau (west), and North Kazakhstan — reported zero maternal deaths in 2024. Additionally, 99.9% of births across the country were attended by qualified medical personnel, reflecting widespread access to professional maternal healthcare.
Steady Progress with Regional Disparities
The Ministry of Health reported the following annual maternal mortality figures:
- 2020: 200 cases
- 2021: 70 cases
- 2022: 45 cases
- 2024: 37 cases
Despite the national downward trend, 10 regions have seen a slight rise in maternal deaths over the past six years. In 2024, 54% of maternal deaths occurred in urban areas, with 46% in rural settings. A troubling development is the rise in mortality among women with four or more children, which left 97 children orphaned last year.
Nonetheless, the current maternal mortality rate is the lowest recorded in Kazakhstan’s post-Soviet history. In 1992, the rate stood at 76.8 deaths per 100,000 live births.
Regional Leadership in Maternal Health
As previously reported by The Times of Central Asia, Kazakhstan is actively sharing its expertise in maternal and child health with neighboring countries, contributing to broader regional health development efforts.
