The International Confederation of Midwives (ICM), in partnership with Direct Relief, has launched a first-of-its-kind global platform to bring visibility to midwives, the systems they work in, and the health outcomes they help to improve.
The Midwives’ Data Hub brings together more than 50 data layers from over 15 trusted sources – including WHO, UN agencies and national health surveys—making them accessible, searchable, and ready to use. Designed for all users, the Hub is both intuitive and practical. Whether you need high level statistics or downloadable datasets, the platform lets you explore country profiles, compare health and workforce indicators, and dive deeper into the data that matter most.
“Midwives have long been invisible in global health data,” said ICM Chief Executive Anna Af Ugglas. “This Hub changes that. It allows us to see where midwives are, what environments they’re working in, and what outcomes are linked to strong midwifery systems.”
The platform includes data on sexual, reproductive, maternal and newborn health outcomes, midwifery workforce composition, service coverage, and the enabling—or not so enabling—policy environments midwives work in. The Midwives’ Data Hub is designed for practical use—whether to support policy development, advocacy campaigns, academic research, or donor planning. Users can download the full datasets behind the indicators and use them to inform strategies and initiatives at every level.
The platform also includes a growing collection of themed resource hubs. These bring together practical guidance and tools on key issues relevant to midwives. At launch, the focus is on midwives as first responders—acknowledging their crucial role in natural disasters, conflict zones, and public health emergencies. These resources support midwives’ leadership in responding to the climate crisis and other humanitarian challenges. The vision is for the Hub to continue evolving with new topics and tools that help translate data into action.
SOURCE: Midwives Data Hub: Global data on midwives and health outcomes. 2025.