Miscarriage Statistics and Facts: 2025 Data & Trends

Losing a pregnancy is heartbreaking, and it happens more often than many people realize. Whether you are currently navigating a loss, worried about your pregnancy, or simply looking for answers, knowledge can be a powerful tool for healing.

We have gathered 40 essential statistics and facts to help you understand the reality of miscarriage. From global rates and age-related risks to common causes and mental health impacts, this guide breaks down the numbers to help you make sense of the complex emotions and medical details surrounding pregnancy loss.

40 Miscarriage Statistics and Facts

Miscarriage is a tragedy that touches countless families, yet it is often surrounded by silence. It helps to know you aren’t alone in this experience. We have compiled 40 facts across five categories to shed light on the frequency, causes, and impacts of pregnancy loss.

Miscarriage Statistics Across the World

Pregnancy loss is a global issue that affects people from all walks of life. Here is a look at the numbers from around the world:

1. United States rates: The Mayo Clinic estimates that 10 to 20 percent of known pregnancies end in miscarriage. However, because many losses happen before a person realizes they are pregnant, the actual number is likely higher ⁽¹⁾.
2. Recurrence risks: Most women go on to have healthy pregnancies after a loss. However, after one miscarriage, the risk of a second is about 20 percent. After two consecutive losses, the risk rises to 28 percent, and after three, it sits at roughly 43 percent.
3. Legal complications in the U.S.: Medical laws in certain states have complicated miscarriage care. In places like Texas, strict legislation has left some medical providers unsure if they can legally offer standard treatments for miscarriage management, which can delay essential care ⁽²⁾.
4. Stats in Canada: In Canada, statistics show that 15 to 25 percent of pregnancies result in miscarriage ⁽³⁾.
5. Global impact: Worldwide, there is an estimated 15 percent chance of miscarriage for confirmed pregnancies. This accounts for approximately 23 million losses every year ⁽⁴⁾.
6. United Kingdom numbers: The U.K. sees about 20 percent of pregnancies ending in loss ⁽⁵⁾.
7. Recurrent loss in the U.K.: Approximately one percent of women in the U.K. experience recurrent miscarriage, defined as three or more consecutive losses.
8. Trends in Sweden: Recurrent pregnancy loss appears to be rising in some areas. In Sweden, the number of women experiencing recurrent miscarriages jumped by 58 percent between 2003 and 2012 ⁽⁶⁾.

Risk of Miscarriage by Age

A woman’s age is one of the most significant factors regarding pregnancy outcomes. Here is how the risk shifts as you get older:

1. Teenage pregnancies: While young women are generally fertile, about 14 percent of teenage pregnancies in the U.S. end in miscarriage ⁽⁷⁾.
2. Women under 30: Generally, this age group has the lowest risk, experiencing an average pregnancy loss rate of about eight percent ⁽⁸⁾.
3. Early 30s: For women aged 30 to 34, the rate of pregnancy loss increases slightly to roughly 12 percent.
4. Mid-to-late 30s: Between ages 35 and 37, the risk jumps to about 16 percent. Some data from the Mayo Clinic suggests this risk could be as high as 20 percent once you cross the age of 35 ⁽⁹⁾.
5. Late 30s: Women aged 38 to 39 face a 22 percent risk of pregnancy loss due to egg quality and chromosomal changes.
6. Early 40s: The risk increases sharply here. Women aged 40 to 41 experience about a 33 percent chance of miscarriage.
7. Mid-40s: By ages 42 and 43, the rate of miscarriage climbs to 45 percent.
8. Over 45: Pregnancies in women over 44 carry a high risk, with miscarriage rates reported between 53 and 60 percent. The Mayo Clinic notes this can range up to 80 percent ⁽¹⁰⁾.

Risk of Miscarriage by Week

The timing of the pregnancy plays a massive role in risk levels. Here is the probability of miscarriage broken down by week:

1. The first trimester: The vast majority of miscarriages, about 80 percent, happen in the first 12 weeks.
2. The second trimester: Once you reach week 13, the risk drops significantly. Only one to five percent of losses occur between weeks 13 and 19.
3. Chemical pregnancies (Weeks 3-4): Between 50 and 75 percent of losses happen before a missed period, often called a chemical pregnancy. Many women never realize they conceived ⁽¹¹⁾.
4. Week five: Once clinically recognized, the rate of loss around week five is approximately 21 percent.
5. Weeks six and seven: As the heartbeat develops, the risk drops slightly to just over 16 percent.
6. Weeks eight to thirteen: The risk plummets to between two and four percent. Seeing a heartbeat on an ultrasound usually indicates a much higher chance of carrying to term.
7. Age impact on early weeks: During the first six weeks, women aged 35 to 39 have a 75 percent higher risk of loss compared to younger women ⁽¹²⁾.
8. Stillbirth classification: A pregnancy loss that occurs after 20 weeks is medically classified as a stillbirth, not a miscarriage.

Prevention and Risk Factors

While many miscarriages are unavoidable due to genetic issues, certain factors can influence your risk. Here is what research tells us about risk and prevention:

1. Maternal age: This is the single biggest risk factor. The chance of loss jumps from 8 percent in your 20s to nearly 50 percent or higher in your 40s.
2. History of loss: Having one previous miscarriage slightly increases your risk, but having multiple consecutive losses is a stronger indicator of potential underlying issues.
3. Prenatal care matters: Regular checkups allow doctors to monitor conditions like high blood pressure or hormonal imbalances. Taking prescribed prenatal vitamins, especially folic acid, helps prevent neural tube defects.
4. Chronic conditions: Uncontrolled diabetes, thyroid issues, or autoimmune disorders like lupus can increase the likelihood of pregnancy loss.
5. Substance use: Smoking, drug use, and excessive alcohol consumption during pregnancy are strongly linked to miscarriage and other complications.
6. Nutrition and weight: Both obesity and being severely underweight can affect hormone levels and pregnancy health. A balanced diet rich in fruits and vegetables supports the baby’s development.
7. Infections: Illnesses such as toxoplasmosis, rubella, HIV, syphilis, and CMV can cross the placenta and cause harm ⁽¹³⁾.
8. Dietary precautions: To reduce the risk of foodborne illnesses like listeria or salmonella, avoid raw meat, unpasteurized dairy, raw shellfish, and high-mercury fish ⁽¹⁴⁾.

Miscarriages and Mental Health

The physical recovery is only half the battle; the emotional toll can be overwhelming. These facts highlight the mental health reality of pregnancy loss:

1. Post-loss depression: Approximately 55 percent of women report symptoms of depression following a miscarriage ⁽¹⁵⁾. Risk factors include a history of mental health issues or a lack of social support.
2. The grief process: Up to 27 percent of women experience “perinatal grief,” which can mirror the five stages of grief: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance.
3. Impact on partners: Partners hurt too. About 10 percent of partners experience depression or anxiety, often feeling helpless or overlooked during the grieving process.
4. Duration of grief: Emotional healing takes time. For some, anxiety and depression symptoms can persist for one to three years after the loss ⁽¹⁶⁾.
5. Screening gaps: Medical guidelines suggest screening women for depression for several months after a loss, yet this is often missed in standard follow-up care.
6. Need for follow-up: While 90 percent of women want follow-up care regarding their emotional well-being, only about 30 percent actually receive it from their provider.
7. PTSD symptoms: A significant study found that nearly 40 percent of women met the criteria for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) three months after their pregnancy loss ⁽¹⁷⁾.
8. Healing takes time: Hormonal crashes can amplify sadness. It is crucial for couples to give themselves grace and time to grieve, acknowledging that the loss is significant regardless of how early it happened.

What Can Cause a Miscarriage?

It is natural to look for a reason why this happened, but remember: most miscarriages are not caused by anything the mother did. In fact, up to 70 percent of first-trimester miscarriages are due to random chromosomal abnormalities.

Here are the potential medical causes and risk factors:

• Chromosomal abnormalities (the most common cause).
• Paternal factors (sperm quality and DNA fragmentation).
• Uterine abnormalities (like fibroids or a septum).
• Cervical insufficiency (weak cervix).
• Hormonal issues (Progesterone deficiency or PCOS).
• Clotting disorders (Antiphospholipid syndrome or Thrombophilia).
• Chronic illnesses (Uncontrolled diabetes, thyroid disease).
• Severe infections (Listeria, Salmonella, etc.).
• Immunological factors (Lupus).
• Maternal age (egg quality declines over time).
• Extremes in weight (Obesity or malnutrition).
• Environmental toxins (Radiation, certain chemicals).
• Lifestyle factors (Smoking, heavy drinking, drug use).
• Implantation issues.

There are also many myths surrounding miscarriage. To set the record straight, the following do not typically cause miscarriage:

• Moderate exercise (jogging, yoga).
• Working (unless exposed to harmful chemicals/radiation).
• Having sex.
• Lifting kids or groceries.
• Emotional stress or shock.
• Eating spicy food.
• Flying in an airplane.
• Use of birth control pills prior to pregnancy.

What Are the Types of Miscarriage?

Not all pregnancy losses present the same way. Doctors classify them based on what is happening in the uterus:

• Chemical Pregnancy: A very early loss that occurs shortly after implantation. Bleeding usually happens around the time of your expected period.
• Blighted Ovum (Anembryonic Pregnancy): A fertilized egg implants in the uterus, but the embryo never develops. The gestational sac forms, but it is empty.
• Threatened Miscarriage: You experience bleeding and cramping, but the cervix remains closed. The pregnancy is still viable, and symptoms may stop, leading to a healthy birth.
• Inevitable Miscarriage: Bleeding is heavy, cramping is severe, and the cervix has opened. The loss of the pregnancy is unfortunately unavoidable at this stage.
• Incomplete Miscarriage: The miscarriage has started, but some tissue remains in the uterus. Medical intervention (medication or a procedure) might be needed to prevent infection.
• Missed Miscarriage: The embryo has died, but the body hasn’t released it yet. You might not have bleeding or pain, but pregnancy symptoms (like nausea) often disappear.
• Recurrent Miscarriage: Defined as having three or more consecutive pregnancy losses. This often triggers a deeper investigation into genetic or autoimmune causes.
• Septic Miscarriage: A rare but dangerous complication where the uterus becomes infected during a miscarriage. Symptoms include fever, chills, and foul-smelling discharge.
• Ectopic Pregnancy: The fertilized egg implants outside the uterus (usually in the fallopian tube). This is a life-threatening medical emergency and cannot result in a viable pregnancy.

FAQs

What Is the Most Common Cause of Miscarriage?

The most common cause of miscarriage is chromosomal abnormalities in the embryo. This happens by chance during fertilization and prevents the baby from developing normally; it is rarely related to the parents’ genetic health.

How Long Does a Miscarriage Last?

The physical process of a miscarriage can vary. Heavy bleeding and cramping may last for a few hours to a few days. Lighter bleeding or spotting can continue for one to two weeks. It is important to follow up with your doctor to ensure the process is complete.

Can I Get Pregnant After a Miscarriage?

Yes, most women can go on to have a healthy pregnancy after a miscarriage. Doctors often recommend waiting for one complete menstrual cycle before trying again to allow the uterus to heal and to make dating the next pregnancy easier.

Do Miscarriages Run in Families?

Generally, miscarriages do not run in families. Most are random events. However, if there is a specific genetic condition causing recurrent losses, that specific trait could potentially be inherited, though this is less common.

In Conclusion

If you are grieving a loss right now, be gentle with yourself. There is no right or wrong way to feel, and healing doesn’t happen on a set timeline. Whether you choose to try again or take time to rest, listen to your body and your heart. You are not alone in this journey.