Lifetime risk of maternal death in South Africa
South Africa: Lifetime risk of maternal death was 0.2447 in 2023. ▼ Falling
Lifetime risk of maternal death in South Africa, 1985–2023
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 0.2447 for lifetime risk of maternal death in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 39 years on record.
The figure is down 10.2% on the previous year and down 40.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, lifetime risk of maternal death in South Africa peaked at 0.9398 in 1985 and was at its lowest, 0.2447, in 2023.
That places South Africa 69th out of 194 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 39 years of available data.
Lifetime risk of maternal death in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 0.9398 | — |
| 1986 | 0.8832 | -6.0% |
| 1987 | 0.8381 | -5.1% |
| 1988 | 0.7713 | -8.0% |
| 1989 | 0.7072 | -8.3% |
| 1990 | 0.6346 | -10.3% |
| 1991 | 0.5902 | -7.0% |
| 1992 | 0.5294 | -10.3% |
| 1993 | 0.4998 | -5.6% |
| 1994 | 0.4195 | -16.1% |
| 1995 | 0.3926 | -6.4% |
| 1996 | 0.4399 | +12.1% |
| 1997 | 0.4158 | -5.5% |
| 1998 | 0.3951 | -5.0% |
| 1999 | 0.3761 | -4.8% |
| 2000 | 0.3993 | +6.2% |
| 2001 | 0.421 | +5.5% |
| 2002 | 0.4704 | +11.7% |
| 2003 | 0.5102 | +8.5% |
| 2004 | 0.55 | +7.8% |
| 2005 | 0.6052 | +10.0% |
| 2006 | 0.6277 | +3.7% |
| 2007 | 0.6068 | -3.3% |
| 2008 | 0.6454 | +6.4% |
| 2009 | 0.5437 | -15.8% |
| 2010 | 0.5032 | -7.5% |
| 2011 | 0.4552 | -9.5% |
| 2012 | 0.4431 | -2.7% |
| 2013 | 0.4122 | -7.0% |
| 2014 | 0.3745 | -9.1% |
| 2015 | 0.3384 | -9.6% |
| 2016 | 0.3093 | -8.6% |
| 2017 | 0.2917 | -5.7% |
| 2018 | 0.2772 | -5.0% |
| 2019 | 0.259 | -6.6% |
| 2020 | 0.2546 | -1.7% |
| 2021 | 0.4055 | +59.3% |
| 2022 | 0.2725 | -32.8% |
| 2023 | 0.2447 | -10.2% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 0.2447 is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 0.0745, 3.3× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 0.2447 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 1.08, 23% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Lifetime risk of maternal death in South Africa changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | +59.3% | 0.2546 | 0.4055 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 0.8279 | 0.7072 | 0.9398 | 5 |
| 1990s | 0.4693 | 0.3761 | 0.6346 | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.538 | 0.3993 | 0.6454 | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.3664 | 0.259 | 0.5032 | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.2943 | 0.2447 | 0.4055 | 4 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More health data for South Africa
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -2.2 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate -0.1386 % change on previous year (2090)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 3,333 (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -0.5504 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.045 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 0.0003 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per capita 0.046 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is lifetime risk of maternal death in South Africa?
- Lifetime risk of maternal death in South Africa was 0.2447 in 2023, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest lifetime risk of maternal death recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 0.9398 in 1985.
- What is the lowest lifetime risk of maternal death recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.2447 in 2023.
- How does South Africa rank for lifetime risk of maternal death?
- South Africa ranks 69th out of 194 countries with data for 2023.
- Is lifetime risk of maternal death rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 40.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Lifetime risk of maternal death. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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