Statistical Takeaways
Maternal mortality: US 17.9 vs OECD avg 10.3 (per 100,000)
Infant mortality: US 5.6 vs OECD avg 4.0 (per 1,000)
Cesarean rate: US 32–33% vs OECD avg ~28%
Induction rate: US 34.5% (no OECD benchmark; peers ~20–35%)
Earliest Elective Induction Timing: US ~39 weeks vs ~41–42 weeks in most peers
Cost per birth: US $19,900 per birth vs. most peers spend 20-35% of that
Summary
This review pulls data from independent government datasets, the OECD (one of the world's most comprehensive and reputable international datasets, encompassing 38 member countries), & other reliable data resources to give reasonable comparisons of the US to fellow developed & comparable peers. We’ve provided sources for these datasets at the end of the article.
The United States shows higher maternal and infant mortality rates compared with OECD averages, along with slightly elevated cesarean section rates. The US has the highest spending per birth of all countries within the OECD datasets. Induction rates are broadly similar across high-income countries, though US guidelines are more permissive of elective induction beginning at 39 weeks than those of many other OECD countries. In conclusion, while intervention rates are relatively comparable to other developed nations, the US stands out in significantly higher healthcare spending and higher than average mortality outcomes.
Maternal Mortality Statistics
The United States reports a 3-year average maternal mortality ratio of approximately 17.9 deaths per 100,000 live births, compared with an OECD average of 10.3 deaths per 100,000 live births (OECD, Health at a Glance 2025). This represents approximately a 74% higher maternal mortality ratio than the OECD average. The OECD average is calculated using available, internationally comparable data reported by member countries.
Approximate OECD-reported 3-year average maternal mortality ratios of G7 countries:
Infant Mortality Statistics
The United States reports a 3-year average infant mortality rate of approximately 5.6 deaths per 1,000 live births, compared with an OECD average of 4.0 deaths per 1,000 live births (OECD, 2025). This represents approximately a 35% higher infant mortality rate than the OECD average. This average is made up of available and comparable data from OECD countries.
Approximate OECD-reported 3-year average infant mortality rates of G7 countries:
Cesarean Section Rates
The United States reports a cesarean section rate of ~32–33% of all live births, compared with an OECD average of ~28% (OECD, 2025). This represents approximately a 15–20% higher rate than the OECD average. This average is made up of available & comparable data from OECD countries.
Among the G7 major advanced economies (United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, and Japan), the United States reports one of the higher cesarean section rates² based on OECD estimates, however this rate is not as substantially higher than the previous comparisons¹.
Approximate reported cesarean section rates (% of all live births) of all G7 countries specifically:
Induction Rates Comparison
There is no standardized OECD average available for induction of labor rates. Because of this lack of standardized OECD-wide reporting, cross-country comparisons for induction of labor are limited and typically rely on individual national datasets rather than a unified OECD benchmark. Individual data bases are less precise than OECD reporting’s for maternal and infant mortality.
The United States reports an induction of labor rate of approximately ~25–30% of births, based on CDC national birth certificate data³.
Based on available national data, induction rates in high-income countries are broadly comparable, with the United States falling within the upper portion of the reported range rather than standing as a clear outlier.
Approximate reported induction of labor rates (selected high-income countries where available):
United States: 34.5% of singleton births in 2024³
England: 33% of deliveries in 2023–24⁴
Australia: 33% of women giving birth in 2023 (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, Australia’s Mothers and Babies: Onset of Labour).⁵
Metropolitan France: 25.8% of women giving birth in 2021⁶
International Guidance on Elective Induction
When evaluating stats on induction rates it’s relevant to understand of other induction guidelines and cultural differences in maternal care options.
The United States is among the high-income countries whose clinical guidelines are most accepting of elective induction at approximately 39 weeks for low-risk pregnancies, a practice that has become increasingly common following publication of the ARRIVE trial. In contrast, many other high-income countries continue to recommend routine induction closer to 41 or 42 weeks for uncomplicated pregnancies unless a medical indication arises.
United States: Elective induction may be offered from 39 weeks, and induction is recommended between 41 weeks 0 days and 42 weeks 0 days, with delivery recommended by 42 weeks 6 days. Although induction can be refused, continuing into the 43rd week often limits maternal care options.⁷
United Kingdom: Induction is offered from 41 weeks. Patients who decline generally remain under maternity care, with continued discussion and additional monitoring while expectant management continues.⁸
Canada: Induction is recommended between 41 weeks 0 days and 42 weeks 0 days. Patients who decline may continue under care with counseling and closer fetal surveillance.⁹
Australia: Induction is generally offered at 41 weeks. Declining does not automatically end maternity care; expectant management may continue with individualized monitoring.¹⁰
New Zealand: Induction is generally recommended at 41 weeks. Patients who decline may remain under maternity care with additional surveillance.¹¹
Spending Per Birth Comparison
The United States has the highest cost of childbirth among OECD peer nations¹⁸, approximately $19,900 per hospital birth (2024 data).¹²
Comparable overall national birth costs were not publicly available for the other countries listed. Therefore, the comparison below from 2022 data uses the most consistently available measure across countries: the cost of an uncomplicated singleton vaginal hospital birth. These comparisons do not account for differences in health insurance systems, reimbursement models, or billing practices.
¹³
These findings are meant to provide a relevant understanding of how the US as whole compares in the world of birth. All parents should take the time to find the up-to-date statistics for not only their state, but also for their local hospitals or birth centers.
REFERENCES
¹ OECD. (2025). Health at a Glance 2025: OECD Indicators. https://doi.org/10.1787/8f9e3f98-en
² Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2026). Births: Final Data for 2024. https://doi.org/10.15620/cdc/252440
³ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2026). Induction of Labor Increases in the United States: 2016 to 2024. https://doi.org/10.15620/cdc/174652
⁴ NHS England. (2024). NHS Maternity Statistics, England, 2023–24: Deliveries Over Time. https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/nhs-maternity-statistics/2023-24/deliveries---time-series
⁵ Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. (2026). Australia's Mothers and Babies: Onset of Labour. https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/mothers-babies/australias-mothers-babies/contents/labour-and-birth/onset-of-labour
⁶ Santé publique France. (2022). Results of the 2021 French National Perinatal Survey and Trends in Perinatal Health in Metropolitan France Since 1995.
⁷ American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. (2014, reaffirmed 2024). Management of Late-Term and Postterm Pregnancies (Practice Bulletin No. 146). https://www.acog.org/clinical/clinical-guidance/practice-bulletin/articles/2014/08/management-of-late-term-and-postterm-pregnancies
⁸ National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. (2021). Inducing Labour (NG207). https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng207
⁹ Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada. (2023). Guideline No. 432: Induction of Labour. https://www.jogc.com/article/S1701-2163(23)00734-4/fulltext
¹⁰ Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. (2021). Management of Term Pregnancy (C-Obs 22). https://ranzcog.edu.au/wp-content/uploads/Management-Term-Pregnancy.pdf
¹¹ Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. (2021). Management of Term Pregnancy (C-Obs 22). https://ranzcog.edu.au/wp-content/uploads/Management-
¹² Peterson-KFF Health System Tracker. (2024). Health Care Costs Associated with Pregnancy, Childbirth, and Postpartum Care. https://www.healthsystemtracker.org/brief/health-care-costs-associated-with-pregnancy-childbirth-and-postpartum-care/
¹³ Statista Research Department. (2025). Cost for a Vaginal Delivery in Hospitals in Selected Countries in 2022. https://www.statista.com/statistics/312026/total-hospital-and-physician-costs-of-a-normal-delivery-by-country
