1M More Midwives Could Save 4M Lives by 2035

A global health gap has a clear solution that could save millions of mothers and babies each year.

The United Nations Population Fund announced on International Day of the Midwife that the world needs one million more trained midwives by 2035. That workforce expansion would prevent more than four million deaths from pregnancy and childbirth complications every year.

Diene Keita, Executive Director of UNFPA, explained that midwives provide essential care at the most critical moments. They offer skilled birth attendance, prenatal and postnatal care, family planning, nutrition counseling, and cancer screenings.

In many crisis zones and fragile regions, midwives are often the only healthcare providers available to pregnant women. Their presence dramatically increases the chances of safe delivery and survival for both mother and child.

Africa faces the steepest challenge, accounting for roughly half of the global midwife shortage. This gap contributes directly to the continent's high maternal mortality rates.

The good news? The solution delivers incredible returns. Every dollar invested in midwifery generates up to $16 in social and economic benefits for communities.

UNFPA is already working through the Midwifery Accelerator coalition to help countries build evidence-based plans tailored to local needs. The focus includes fair compensation, better career development opportunities, and innovative technologies to strengthen midwives' skills and decision-making abilities.

The Ripple Effect

When communities invest in midwives, they're investing in healthier families and stronger societies. These largely female health workers become the backbone of resilient healthcare systems where women can access the care they deserve.

Better midwifery care means fewer mothers dying from preventable complications, healthier newborns, and communities where women have access to comprehensive reproductive healthcare. The ripple extends beyond individual births to transform entire healthcare systems and uplift whole communities.

Countries that prioritize midwife education, leadership, and protection see improvements that last generations. Families thrive when mothers survive childbirth and receive proper care.

Empowered midwives save lives and transform communities, one birth at a time.