US Gestational Hypertension Rate Climbed 73%

The US gestational hypertension rate increased 73% from 2016 to 2024, rising from 6.0% to 10.4% of mothers giving birth, according to a National Center for Health Statistics report. The number of cases increased 60%, from 235,693 to 377,267, during the same period.

The analysis used birth certificate data from all births registered in the United States from 2016 through 2024. The birth certificate category includes hypertension diagnosed during pregnancy, including pregnancy-induced hypertension and preeclampsia, and differs from the clinical definition. Among 3,628,934 births in 2024, gestational hypertension information was missing for 7,301 (0.2%).

Rates increased across every maternal age group, prepregnancy body mass index category, and plurality category examined. In 2024, the rate was highest among mothers aged 40 years or older, at 12.2%, and increased with higher prepregnancy body mass index, ranging from 5.5% among mothers with underweight to 15.4% among those with obesity. The rate was 17.0% for twin or higher-order multiple births and 10.2% for singleton births.

Rates also increased across all six race and Hispanic-origin groups. In 2024, they ranged from 7.1% among Asian non-Hispanic mothers to 13.2% among American Indian and Alaska Native non-Hispanic mothers. Increases occurred in all 50 states and the District of Columbia; 2024 rates ranged from 6.9% in New Jersey to 14.6% in Louisiana.

The report cautioned that birth certificate data may underreport or misreport gestational hypertension. Earlier evaluations found low sensitivity and moderate-to-high false discovery rates, although data-quality initiatives have since been implemented and their effects have not been assessed. Despite those limitations, the report concluded that the observed trends were consistent with known risk patterns and findings from other studies.

Source: Gregory ECW. Trends and characteristics in gestational hypertension: United States, 2016–2024. Natl Vital Stat Rep. 2026;75(4):1-14. Published July 29, 2026; doi:10.15620/cdc/252456