Epidemiological study of maternal death in Indonesia and Sweden suggests a link between 2 unrelated data sets. The Swedish maternal death risk [50 yr ago] exhibited a pronounced J-shaped pattern by maternal age; and a similar pronounced J-shaped pattern is observed 50 yr later in Indonesia for women with prolonged/obstructed labor attended at the top referral and teaching institutions. Epidemiological documentation of northern data sets may possibly be used for teaching on factors affecting south mortality transition. The documentation of a north-south transition could accelerate the current dynamics of needed mortality decline by pointed programmatic intervention. The 2 figures are self-contained reference baselines.