When it comes to both developed and developing nations, maternal healthcare is a contentious topic. From a full-year of paid maternity leave to painfully inadequate medical facilities, the experience of pre- and post-pregnancy can be shockingly unequal across the board.
Save the Children's State of the World's Mothers 2014 report, released at the beginning of May, illustrates the development of maternal healthcare around the world. You can see the full report here.
Check out the list below to see 50 countries that are excelling at maternal care. To see the other side of things, take a look at our slideshow of the 10 most difficult places to be a mother.
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50
Bahrain
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The lifetime risk of maternal death in Bahrain is 1 in 1,800.
49
Barbados
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Women make up 21.6 percent of the national government in Barbados.
48
Bosnia and Herzegovina
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The gross national income per person in Bosnia and Herzegovina is $4,750.
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47
Chile
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Chile has moved up four spots, from 51st in 2013.
46
Slovakia
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The lifetime risk of maternal death in Slovakia is 1 in 12,200.
45
Montenegro
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Women hold 14 percent of the seats in Montenegro's national government.
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44
Bulgaria
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Children receive an average of 14 years of formal schooling in Bulgaria.
43
Argentina
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Argentina has moved up one place this year, from 43 in 2013 to 42 in 2014.
42
Grenada
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Women hold 25 percent of the seats in Grenada's national government.
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41
Malta
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The lifetime risk of maternal death in Malta is 1 in 8,900.
40
Macedonia
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Nearly 13 years of formal schooling is expected in Macedonia.
39
Costa Rica
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There is a 0.4 percent maternal mortality rate in Costa Rica.
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38
Saudi Arabia
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The average gross national income per person in Saudi Arabia is $21,210.
37
Cyprus
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Of all entries on this list, Cyprus has fallen furthest from their highest spot.
36
Serbia
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There is a 1 in 4,900 lifetime maternal death risk in Serbia.
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35
Cuba
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Women hold nearly 49 percent of seats in Cuba's national government.
34
Latvia
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Women hold 25 percent of seats in Latvia's national government.
33
Croatia
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Croatian women have a 1 in 4,100 lifetime risk of maternal death.
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32
Japan
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The gross national income per person in Japan is $47,880.
31
United States
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Surprisingly, the U.S. has made very little progress since 2000 in terms of maternal care. The risk of maternal death has actually risen by a rapid pace, going from from 1 in 3,700 to 1 in 2,400.
A woman giving birth in the United States is now at the same maternal death risk as a woman giving birth in Iran or Romania.
A woman giving birth in the United States is now at the same maternal death risk as a woman giving birth in Iran or Romania.
30
Republic of Korea
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There is a 1 in 4,800 maternal death risk in Korea.
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29
Poland
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There is only a 1 in 14,000 risk of maternal death in Poland.
28
Israel
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More than 22 percent of the Israeli government is comprised of women.
27
United Kingdom
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The UK has dropped three places, from 23rd place in 2013 to 26th place in 2014.
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26
Belarus
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Mothers have only a 1 in 16,300 risk of maternal death in Belarus.
25
Lithuania
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Lithuania has jumped two spots on this list, from 26th place in 2013 to 24th place this year.
24
Czech Republic
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Women make up 18.9 percent of the national Czech government.
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23
Estonia
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Women in Estonia only have a 1 in 25,100 risk of maternal death.
22
Luxembourg
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The gross national income per capita in Luxembourg is $71,620.
21
Greece
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More than 20 percent of the Greek government is comprised by women.
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20
France
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France dropped four spots this year, from 16th in 2013 to 20th this year.
19
Ireland
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Ireland jumped a spot, from 20th in 2013 to 19th in 2014.
18
Canada
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The gross national income per capita in Canada is $50,970 USD.
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17
Slovenia
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More than a quarter of the Slovenian government is comprised of women.
16
New Zealand
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New Zealand jumped a spot this year, moving from 17th in 2013 to 16th in 2014.
15
Singapore
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Women in Singapore face only a 1 in 25,300 risk of maternal death.
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14
Portugal
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The national Portuguese government is 31.3 percent female.
13
Switzerland
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The gross national income per capita in Switzerland is $80,970.
12
Austria
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The average student in Austria goes through 15.6 years of formal schooling.
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11
Italy
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After only placing 17th in 2013, Italy broke the top 10 this year.
10
Belgium
Save the Children
Over 40 percent of the seats in Belgium's national government are held by women.
9
Australia
Save the Children
The average student in Australia is expected to go through 19.9 years of schooling.
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8
Germany
Save the Children
More than 35 percent of the German national government is comprised of women.
7
Spain
The average student in Spain is expected to go through 17.1 years of schooling.
6
Denmark
Save the Children
The gross national income per capita in Denmark is $59,850.
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5
Netherlands
Save the Children
The infant mortality rate in the Netherlands is only 4.1 per 1,000 births.
4
Iceland
Save the Children
Nearly 40 percent of Iceland's national government is female.
3
Sweden
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The gross national income per capita in Sweden is $55,970.
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2
Norway
Save the Children
Norway went up a spot since 2013, moving from 3rd to 2nd place on this list.
1
Finland
Annika Söderblom/ Save the Children
For the second year in a row, FInland ranked #1 in maternal health.