By David Arome
What happens when the world is missing nearly one million midwives? According to new evidence, the answer could be millions of preventable deaths, as health leaders warn that the global workforce crisis is leaving women and newborns without the care they urgently need.
On June 11, 2026, over 3,000 midwives, policymakers, researchers, and global health leaders from over 115 countries gathered in Lisbon, Portugal, with an urgent message: the world is running out of midwives, and the consequences are already being felt.
A global shortage of nearly 980,000 midwives across 181 countries is putting the lives of millions of women and newborns at risk. New evidence shows that closing this gap by 2030 could save as many as 4.3 million lives every year, including 67 per cent of maternal deaths, 64 per cent of newborn deaths, and 65 per cent of stillbirths.
“This is not a future risk. It is a present reality,” said Anna af Ugglas, chief executive of the International Confederation of Midwives. “Nearly one million missing midwives means care becomes rushed and fragmented. This is a quality and safety issue for women and babies.”
The warning comes as the 34th Triennial Congress of the International Confederation of Midwives (ICM) opens in Lisbon under the theme “The World Needs One Million More Midwives”. Throughout the congress, participants are presenting the latest research and evidence aimed at strengthening maternity care systems and expanding the global midwifery workforce.
Research Calls for a Shift in Maternity Care
A new peer-reviewed article by Justine Le Lez et al., published in Sexual & Reproductive HealthCare (Elsevier), argues that transitioning to midwifery models of care is no longer optional; it is an evidence-based necessity for protecting the lives of women and newborns.
In the article, Justine Le Lez et al. identified that midwife-led, woman-centred care delivers better maternal and newborn health outcomes, reduces unnecessary medical interventions, and improves women’s overall satisfaction with healthcare. Yet despite these benefits, growing workforce shortages are placing increasing pressure on midwives worldwide.
“In many settings, midwives are educated but not employed or enabled to practise fully, leaving women without access to the care they need,” said Professor Jacqueline Dunkley-Bent, chief midwife of the ICM.
The researchers urge governments and international institutions to act on four key priorities: sustained political commitment, enabling regulatory frameworks, greater investment in the midwifery workforce, and meaningful engagement with women and communities.
Africa Bears the Heaviest Burden
The shortage is far from evenly distributed.
Africa accounts for 46 per cent of the global midwives deficit, with nine out of every ten women lacking access to a midwife, making it the region hardest hit by the crisis.
Elsewhere, the Americas face an estimated 85 per cent shortfall in the number of midwives required, while the Eastern Mediterranean region has 69 per cent of its midwifery needs unmet. Even Europe continues to experience persistent shortages, including in several well-resourced healthcare systems.
Why Midwives Matter More Than Ever
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), midwives provide skilled, compassionate care for women, newborns, and families throughout pregnancy, childbirth, the postnatal period, and the early weeks of life. They are also trained to deliver up to 90 per cent of essential sexual and reproductive health services in ways that are cost-effective, sustainable, and grounded in human rights.
But experts warn that midwives are increasingly being stretched beyond their limits.
As frontline healthcare providers, they are often the first to experience the effects of climate disasters, disease outbreaks, conflict, and shrinking health budgets. With nearly one million midwives missing globally, health systems have less capacity to absorb future shocks.
“Midwives work at the heart of their communities, so they often see the impact of a crisis before it reaches the wider health system. When climate events, disease outbreaks, conflict or funding cuts disrupt health services, midwives help keep essential care available, trusted and close to home.”
As world leaders, researchers, and practitioners meet in Lisbon, the message is unmistakable: investing in midwives is not simply about filling workforce gaps; it is one of the most effective ways to save millions of lives, strengthen health systems, and ensure every woman has access to safe, respectful, and quality care.
Attribution: International Confederation of Midwives
