Share of births attended by skilled health staff in India
India: Share of births attended by skilled health staff was 89.4% in 2021. ▲ Rising
Share of births attended by skilled health staff in India, 1993–2021
Source: Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) and UNICEF, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in % of total.
Analysis
India recorded 89.4% for share of births attended by skilled health staff in 2021. That is the highest value across all 8 years on record.
That represents a change of up 70.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of births attended by skilled health staff in India peaked at 89.4% in 2021 and was at its lowest, 34.2%, in 1993.
India ranks 121st of 169 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Share of births attended by skilled health staff in India, year by year
| Year | % of total | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1993 | 34.2% | — |
| 1999 | 42.3% | +23.7% |
| 2000 | 42.5% | +0.5% |
| 2006 | 46.6% | +9.6% |
| 2008 | 52.3% | +12.2% |
| 2014 | 81.4% | +55.6% |
| 2016 | 81.4% | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 89.4% | +9.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 38.2% | 34.2% | 42.3% | 2 |
| 2000s | 47.1% | 42.5% | 52.3% | 3 |
| 2010s | 81.4% | 81.4% | 81.4% | 2 |
| 2020s | 89.4% | 89.4% | 89.4% | 1 |
Countries ranked near India
More health data for India
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -2.12 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.4372 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,332 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 44,822 deaths (2100)
- Population ages 0-14, female, annual growth rate -0.7713 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, female, per capita 0.116 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, male, annual growth rate -0.9514 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, male, per capita 0.1259 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of births attended by skilled health staff in India?
- Share of births attended by skilled health staff in India was 89.4% in 2021, according to Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) and UNICEF, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of births attended by skilled health staff recorded in India?
- The highest recorded value was 89.4% in 2021.
- What is the lowest share of births attended by skilled health staff recorded in India?
- The lowest recorded value was 34.2% in 1993.
- How does India rank for share of births attended by skilled health staff?
- India ranks 121st out of 169 countries with data for 2021.
- Is share of births attended by skilled health staff rising or falling in India?
- Over the last ten years it is up 70.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this India data come from?
- The figures come from Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) and UNICEF, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of births attended by skilled health staff. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Skilled health staff refers to professionals trained to give the necessary supervision, care, and advice to women during pregnancy, labor, and the postpartum period; to conduct deliveries on their own; and to care for newborns.