As per the Sample Registration System (SRS) Report 2021, released by the Registrar General of India (RGI), India continues to register remarkable improvements in maternal and child health indicators, significantly outpacing global averages.
Key Maternal Health Indicator: Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR)
- MMR dropped from 130 (2014–16) to 93 (2019–21) per 1 lakh live births — a reduction of 37 points.
Key Child Health Indicators (SRS 2021)
| Indicator | 2014 | 2021 | % Decline (2014–21) |
| Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) | 39/1000 live births | 27/1000 live births | ↓ 31% |
| Neonatal Mortality Rate (NMR) | 26/1000 live births | 19/1000 live births | ↓ 27% |
| Under-Five Mortality Rate (U5MR) | 45/1000 | 31/1000 | ↓ 31% |
| Sex Ratio at Birth | 899 | 913 | Improved |
| Total Fertility Rate (TFR) | 2.3 | 2.0 | Achieved Replacement Level |
States Achieving SDG Targets (By 2030)
- MMR (≤70 by 2030) achieved by 8 states: Kerala (20), Maharashtra (38), Telangana (45), Andhra Pradesh (46), Tamil Nadu (49), Jharkhand (51), Gujarat (53), Karnataka (63).
- U5MR (≤25 by 2030) achieved by 12 states/UTs: Kerala (8), Delhi (14), Tamil Nadu (14), J&K (16), Maharashtra (16), etc.
- NMR (≤12 by 2030) achieved by 6 states/UTs: Kerala (4), Delhi (8), Tamil Nadu (9), Maharashtra (11), J&K (12), Himachal Pradesh (12).
India’s Progress
India’s Progress in reduction of Maternal and Child mortality indicators outpaces Global Averages
As per the UN Maternal Mortality Estimation Inter-agency Group (UN-MMEIG) Report 2023 (released April 2025):
- India reduced MMR by 23 points between 2020 and 2023.
- MMR declined by 86% between 1990 and 2023, compared to 48% global reduction.
Global Comparison (UN IGME Report 2024)
India significantly surpassed global average reductions from 1990 to 2023:
- 78% decline in the Under-Five Mortality Rate (U5MR) surpassing the global reduction of 61%
- 70% decline in the Neonatal Mortality Rate (NMR) compared to 54% globally
- 71% decline in the Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) compared to 58% globally.