The aim of this systematic literature review was to analyse the differences in maternal mortality in immigrant women in European countries and in the USA with respect to native-born women. We performed a literature search in PubMed and EMBASE and reviewed those papers that analysed this perinatal outcome between the native-born and foreign-born populations in these countries. The initial number of articles identified was 172 in PubMed and 159 in EMBASE. Fifteen articles were included in the review after applying the exclusion criteria. In most of the publications, maternal mortality was statistically higher in the groups of pregnant foreigners with respect to that in the native population. Maternal mortality is an important public health burden. We should implement epidemiological systems and further research to monitor and analyse social and demographic factors that have an important impact on the perinatal prognosis of pregnant women.