INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES : Internationalagencies have recently assigned Lebanon tothe group H of countries with “no national data onmaternal mortality,” and estimated a correspondingmaternal mortality ratio (MMR) of 150 per 100,000 livebirths. The Ministry of Public Health addressed the discrepancyperceived between the reality of the maternalmortality ratio experience in Lebanon and the internationalreport by facilitating a hospital-based reproductiveage mortality study, sponsored by the World HealthOrganization Representative Office in Lebanon, aimingat providing an accurate estimate of a maternal mortalityratio for 2008. The survey allowed a detailed analysisof maternal causes of deaths. METHODS : Reproductive age deaths (15-49 years)were initially identified through hospital records. Atrained MD traveled to each hospital to ascertainwhether recorded deaths were in fact maternal deathsor not. ICD10 codes were provided by the medical controllerfor each confirmed maternal deaths.RESULTS : There were 384 RA death cases, of which13 were confirmed maternal deaths (3.39%) (numerator).In 2008, there were 84,823 live births in Lebanon(denominator). The MMR in Lebanon in 2008 was thusofficially estimated at 23/100,000 live births, with an“uncertainty range” from 15.3 to 30.6. Hemorrhagewas the leading cause of death, with double the frequencyof all other causes (pregnancy-induced hypertension,eclampsia, infection, and embolism).CONCLUSION : This specific enquiry responded to apunctual need to correct a clearly inadequate report,and it should be relayed by an on-going valid surveillancesystem. Results indicate that special attentionhas to be devoted to the management of peri-partumhemorrhage cases.