South Africa vs Zambia: The maternal mortality ratio in 1985 and 2020
South Africa
126.83 deaths per 100,000 live births
in 2020
Zambia
134.66 deaths per 100,000 live births
in 2020
South Africa rank
59th
Zambia rank
56th
The maternal mortality ratio in 1985 and 2020 over time
- South Africa
- Zambia
How they compare
Zambia currently reports 134.66 deaths per 100,000 live births against 126.83 deaths per 100,000 live births in South Africa, a difference of 7.83 deaths per 100,000 live births.
That makes Zambia's figure about 1.1 times South Africa's.
Across all 36 years both countries report, Zambia has been ahead every year.
South Africa ranks 59th and Zambia ranks 56th of 185 countries.
Zambia has averaged higher in every one of the 5 decades both report.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | South Africa | Zambia | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 161.03 deaths per 100,000 live births | 571.69 deaths per 100,000 live births | 410.67 deaths per 100,000 live births | Zambia |
| 1990s | 147.9 deaths per 100,000 live births | 542.2 deaths per 100,000 live births | 394.3 deaths per 100,000 live births | Zambia |
| 2000s | 205.95 deaths per 100,000 live births | 329.57 deaths per 100,000 live births | 123.62 deaths per 100,000 live births | Zambia |
| 2010s | 151.46 deaths per 100,000 live births | 183.27 deaths per 100,000 live births | 31.81 deaths per 100,000 live births | Zambia |
| 2020s | 126.83 deaths per 100,000 live births | 134.66 deaths per 100,000 live births | 7.83 deaths per 100,000 live births | Zambia |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher the maternal mortality ratio in 1985 and 2020, South Africa or Zambia?
- Zambia, at 134.66 deaths per 100,000 live births against 126.83 deaths per 100,000 live births in South Africa as of 2020.
- What is the difference in the maternal mortality ratio in 1985 and 2020 between South Africa and Zambia?
- 7.83 deaths per 100,000 live births, with Zambia ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for South Africa and Zambia?
- 36 years are reported by both, from 1985 to 2020.
- How do South Africa and Zambia rank globally for the maternal mortality ratio in 1985 and 2020?
- South Africa ranks 59th and Zambia ranks 56th of 185 countries.
- Where does this data come from?
- UN MMEIG (2023) – processed by Our World in Data, published as The maternal mortality ratio in 1985 and 2020. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.
Individual pages
About this data
The estimated maternal mortality ratio (MMR) is the number of maternal deaths per 100,000 live births.