Maternal deaths by income group in South Africa
South Africa: Maternal deaths by income group was 1,516 in 2020. ▬ Flat
Latest (2020)
1,516
Change on year
up 3.7%
World rank
35th
of 185 countries
All-time high
2,626
in 2008
All-time low
1,461
in 2016
Years of data
36
1985–2020
Maternal deaths by income group in South Africa, 1985–2020
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 1,516 for maternal deaths by income group in 2020.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 3.7% on the previous year and down 40.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, maternal deaths by income group in South Africa peaked at 2,626 in 2008 and was at its lowest, 1,461, in 2016.
South Africa ranks 35th of 185 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
Maternal deaths by income group in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 2,023 | — |
| 1986 | 2,061 | +1.9% |
| 1987 | 2,132 | +3.5% |
| 1988 | 1,968 | -7.7% |
| 1989 | 2,049 | +4.1% |
| 1990 | 1,861 | -9.2% |
| 1991 | 1,882 | +1.1% |
| 1992 | 1,713 | -9.0% |
| 1993 | 1,680 | -1.9% |
| 1994 | 1,598 | -4.9% |
| 1995 | 1,546 | -3.2% |
| 1996 | 1,808 | +16.9% |
| 1997 | 1,685 | -6.8% |
| 1998 | 1,540 | -8.6% |
| 1999 | 1,547 | +0.5% |
| 2000 | 1,678 | +8.5% |
| 2001 | 1,621 | -3.4% |
| 2002 | 1,847 | +14.0% |
| 2003 | 2,018 | +9.3% |
| 2004 | 2,393 | +18.6% |
| 2005 | 2,370 | -1.0% |
| 2006 | 2,314 | -2.3% |
| 2007 | 2,466 | +6.6% |
| 2008 | 2,626 | +6.5% |
| 2009 | 2,611 | -0.6% |
| 2010 | 2,526 | -3.3% |
| 2011 | 2,263 | -10.4% |
| 2012 | 1,952 | -13.8% |
| 2013 | 1,802 | -7.6% |
| 2014 | 1,700 | -5.7% |
| 2015 | 1,670 | -1.8% |
| 2016 | 1,461 | -12.5% |
| 2017 | 1,561 | +6.9% |
| 2018 | 1,520 | -2.6% |
| 2019 | 1,462 | -3.8% |
| 2020 | 1,516 | +3.7% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 1,516 is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 56.07, 27.0× the median. (55 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 1,516 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 1,625, 93% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 2,047 | 1,968 | 2,132 | 5 |
| 1990s | 1,686 | 1,540 | 1,882 | 10 |
| 2000s | 2,194 | 1,621 | 2,626 | 10 |
| 2010s | 1,792 | 1,461 | 2,526 | 10 |
| 2020s | 1,516 | 1,516 | 1,516 | 1 |
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 maternal deaths by income group in South Africa?
- Maternal deaths by income group in South Africa was 1,516 in 2020, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest maternal deaths by income group recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 2,626 in 2008.
- What is the lowest maternal deaths by income group recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 1,461 in 2016.
- How does South Africa rank for maternal deaths by income group?
- South Africa ranks 35th out of 185 countries with data for 2020.
- Is maternal deaths by income group rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 40.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Maternal deaths by income group. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 36 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).