While maternal mortality has been halved since 1990 low and middle income countries still have a long way to go in order to see improved maternal mortality numbers. Sub-Saharan Africa still ranks highest in maternal mortality. For example, some of the highest maternal death rates are seen in Chad with 1 in 15 women dying during childbirth and the Democratic Republic of Congo that tallies 1 in 30 women who succumb to maternal mortality.

This 50th anniversary infographic from USAiD shows basic interventions that can help keep more women alive during childbirth. You can see maternal death rates for every country in the world in Save the Children’s State of the World’s Mothers 2013 report.

UN Photo/Martine Perret