Somalia is the worst place, just below the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Central African Republic.

Save the Children released its 16th annual Mothers' Index, which rates 179 countries based on five indicators related to maternal health, education, income levels and the status of women.

Norway came top, followed by Finland, Iceland, Denmark and Sweden.

This year, the United States dropped from number 31 on the list to 33, behind Japan, Poland and Croatia.

American women have a one in 1,800 risk of maternal death, the worst level of risk of any developed country in the world, according to the report.

An American woman is more than ten times as likely to die in childbirth than a Polish woman.

Among the top ten, Australia is the only non-European country, at number nine.

France and Britain take the 23rd and 24th spot, below Canada at number 20.

Meanwhile, a recent survey of expat mums in Italy also revealed almost 50 percent preferred their adopted country for raising children and never planned to return to their home country to live.

Read more: Life's better in Italy, say expat mums