This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to estimate the prevalence of maternal anxiety during the antenatal and postnatal periods. The study included 102 studies involving 221,974 women from 34 countries. The prevalence of self-reported anxiety symptoms was 18.2% in the first trimester, 19.1% in the second trimester, and 24.6% in the third trimester. The overall prevalence for any anxiety disorder was 15.2%, and for generalized anxiety disorder, it was 4.1%. Postnatally, the prevalence of anxiety symptoms at 1–24 weeks was 15.0%, with a prevalence of any anxiety disorder of 9.9% and 5.7% for generalized anxiety disorder. Rates were higher in low- to middle-income countries. The findings suggest that perinatal anxiety is highly prevalent and merits clinical attention, similar to perinatal depression.This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to estimate the prevalence of maternal anxiety during the antenatal and postnatal periods. The study included 102 studies involving 221,974 women from 34 countries. The prevalence of self-reported anxiety symptoms was 18.2% in the first trimester, 19.1% in the second trimester, and 24.6% in the third trimester. The overall prevalence for any anxiety disorder was 15.2%, and for generalized anxiety disorder, it was 4.1%. Postnatally, the prevalence of anxiety symptoms at 1–24 weeks was 15.0%, with a prevalence of any anxiety disorder of 9.9% and 5.7% for generalized anxiety disorder. Rates were higher in low- to middle-income countries. The findings suggest that perinatal anxiety is highly prevalent and merits clinical attention, similar to perinatal depression.