Stillbirth
GMJ News knowledge hub · last reviewed August 2026 · Georgian Medical Journal
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Every 16 seconds, a baby is stillborn: there are approximately 2 million stillbirths every year — defined as fetal death at or after 28 weeks of gestation — of which 98% occur in LMICs, predominantly in South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa (WHO). Stillbirths are largely invisible in global health data, policy and society — rarely counted in civil registration, grieved without societal recognition, and almost entirely absent from the Sustainable Development Goal indicators until advocacy forced their inclusion. SDG target 3.2 calls for fewer than 12 stillbirths per 1,000 total births by 2030; current rates in some countries exceed 30 per 1,000.
Key messages
2 million per year — every 16 seconds
There are approximately 2 million stillbirths every year — one every 16 seconds. 98% occur in LMICs, predominantly in South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa (WHO).
The invisible crisis
Stillbirths are largely invisible: rarely counted in civil registration, absent from most health statistics, grieved without societal recognition, and excluded from SDG indicators until 2015. This invisibility perpetuates neglect of the conditions that cause them.
Most are preventable
An estimated 45-98% of stillbirths in LMICs are preventable with quality antenatal care, skilled attendance at birth, and emergency obstetric care — primarily by preventing or managing infection, hypertension, antepartum haemorrhage, and fetal growth restriction.
SDG 3.2 target
SDG 3.2 includes a target of fewer than 12 stillbirths per 1,000 total births in every country by 2030. Current rates exceed 30 per 1,000 in the highest-burden countries — compared to 2-3 per 1,000 in high-income countries.
Intrapartum stillbirths
Approximately 1.3 million stillbirths occur during labour (intrapartum) — entirely preventable with skilled birth attendance and emergency obstetric care. These "fresh" stillbirths are particularly tragic as the baby was alive at the onset of labour.
Lancet Stillbirths Series
The Lancet Stillbirths Series (2011, 2016) catalysed global action — establishing estimates, identifying causes and calling for stillbirth counting, quality antenatal care, skilled birth attendance and bereavement support as priorities.
Key statistics
Stillbirth rates per 1,000 total births by region — WHO 2023
Source: WHO/UNICEF. South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa dominate global stillbirth burden.
Glossary of key terms
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