Rate of Black maternal mortality in California remains high
According to state data on maternal mortality, or deaths that occur during childbirth, Black women are four times more likely to die than any other race or ethnicity. From 2021 to 2023, Black women died at a rate of 58%, while white women died at a rate of 16%. So, Black women were roughly four times more likely to die as a result of giving birth than any other race or ethnicity.
The graph below shows a stark gap in maternal health outcomes for Black women in California from 2009 to 2023. From 2021-2023, the latest data available, the rate of maternal mortality among Black women was 58%. The rate of white maternal mortality was 16% in the same period. So, Black women were roughly four times more likely to die as a result of giving birth than any other race or ethnicity.
