Policy dialogue on the State of the World’s Midwifery 2021 report
18 May 2021
Youtube Live
UNFPA Executive Director Dr. Natalia Kanem on The State of the World’s Midwifery 2021 Report
The world is currently facing an acute shortage of 900,000 midwives, which represents a third of the required global midwifery workforce. The COVID-19 crisis has only exacerbated these problems, with the health needs of women and newborns being overshadowed, midwifery services being disrupted and midwives being deployed to other health services.
The State of the World’s Midwifery 2021: Fast facts
An executive summary of the key points from the detailed analyses conducted for the State of the World’s Midwifery (SoWMy) 2021, including an infographic which presents the headline results and conclusions.
State of the World’s Midwifery 2021: Executive summary
A 4-page summary of the key points from the detailed analyses conducted for the State of the World’s Midwifery (SoWMy) 2021. It sets out the scale of the workforce challenges and proposes 4 areas in which bold investments in midwives and midwifery are needed.
How to use the SoWMy 2021 country profile
A detailed explanation of the data in the State of the World’s Midwifery (SoWMy) 2021 country profile and the sources and definitions used to produce it. The data and analysis are explained, and advice is provided on how to interpret and use the country profiles.
The State of the World’s Midwifery 2021: Webappendices
Technical details of the methods used to produce the State of the World’s Midwifery (SoWMy) 2021 analyses, including: definitions of key terms, data collection methods, analysis and modelling methods, assumptions made to compensate for missing data, and countries included in the main analyses.
The State of the World’s Midwifery 2021: Supplements
Two papers about groups at risk of being “left behind” in terms of access to Sexual, Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn and Adolescent Health (SRMNAH) workers: (i) adolescents and (ii) women, newborns and adolescents in humanitarian and fragile settings. The papers describe the health workforce challenges and gives examples of initiatives to improve access for these groups.
The State of the World’s Midwifery 2021
Colour indicates the number of midwives per 10,000 population. "Midwives" includes midwifery professionals, midwifery associate professionals, midwives not further defined, nursing professionals with midwifery training and nursing associate professionals with midwifery training
Click on a country to view key data and access the SoWMy 2021 country profile
- 10+
- 4 - 9.99
- 3 - 3.99
- 2 - 2.99
- 1 - 1.99
- 0 - 0.99
- not reported
The designations employed and the presentation of material on the map do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of UNFPA concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. The dotted line represents approximately the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir agreed upon by India and Pakistan. The final status of Jammu and Kashmir has not yet been agreed upon by the parties.