Number of maternal deaths in Democratic Republic of Congo
Democratic Republic of Congo: Number of maternal deaths was 21,511 deaths in 2020. ▲ Rising
Latest (2020)
21,511 deaths
Change on year
up 3.6%
World rank
3rd
of 185 countries
All-time high
21,511 deaths
in 2020
All-time low
14,525 deaths
in 1998
Years of data
36
1985–2020
Number of maternal deaths in Democratic Republic of Congo, 1985–2020
Source: UN MMEIG (2023) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in deaths.
Analysis
The most recent figure for number of maternal deaths in Democratic Republic of Congo is 21,511 deaths, measured in 2020. That is the highest value across all 36 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 3.6% on the previous year and up 20.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of maternal deaths in Democratic Republic of Congo peaked at 21,511 deaths in 2020 and was at its lowest, 14,525 deaths, in 1998.
That places Democratic Republic of Congo 3rd out of 185 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 36 years of available data.
Number of maternal deaths in Democratic Republic of Congo, year by year
| Year | deaths | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 16,787 deaths | — |
| 1986 | 16,348 deaths | -2.6% |
| 1987 | 16,160 deaths | -1.1% |
| 1988 | 15,502 deaths | -4.1% |
| 1989 | 15,334 deaths | -1.1% |
| 1990 | 15,069 deaths | -1.7% |
| 1991 | 15,341 deaths | +1.8% |
| 1992 | 15,438 deaths | +0.6% |
| 1993 | 15,084 deaths | -2.3% |
| 1994 | 15,156 deaths | +0.5% |
| 1995 | 15,381 deaths | +1.5% |
| 1996 | 16,861 deaths | +9.6% |
| 1997 | 15,496 deaths | -8.1% |
| 1998 | 14,525 deaths | -6.3% |
| 1999 | 14,777 deaths | +1.7% |
| 2000 | 14,617 deaths | -1.1% |
| 2001 | 14,836 deaths | +1.5% |
| 2002 | 15,298 deaths | +3.1% |
| 2003 | 15,526 deaths | +1.5% |
| 2004 | 15,607 deaths | +0.5% |
| 2005 | 15,864 deaths | +1.6% |
| 2006 | 16,035 deaths | +1.1% |
| 2007 | 16,813 deaths | +4.8% |
| 2008 | 17,172 deaths | +2.1% |
| 2009 | 17,292 deaths | +0.7% |
| 2010 | 17,785 deaths | +2.9% |
| 2011 | 17,954 deaths | +0.9% |
| 2012 | 18,876 deaths | +5.1% |
| 2013 | 18,981 deaths | +0.6% |
| 2014 | 19,178 deaths | +1.0% |
| 2015 | 19,836 deaths | +3.4% |
| 2016 | 19,846 deaths | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 20,796 deaths | +4.8% |
| 2018 | 20,370 deaths | -2.0% |
| 2019 | 20,758 deaths | +1.9% |
| 2020 | 21,511 deaths | +3.6% |
Democratic Republic of Congo compared with similar countries
- Democratic Republic of Congo's 21,511 deaths is above the median for low income countries, which is 2,151 deaths, 10.0× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Democratic Republic of Congo's 21,511 deaths is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 1,625 deaths, 13.2× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 16,026 deaths | 15,334 deaths | 16,787 deaths | 5 |
| 1990s | 15,313 deaths | 14,525 deaths | 16,861 deaths | 10 |
| 2000s | 15,906 deaths | 14,617 deaths | 17,292 deaths | 10 |
| 2010s | 19,438 deaths | 17,785 deaths | 20,796 deaths | 10 |
| 2020s | 21,511 deaths | 21,511 deaths | 21,511 deaths | 1 |
Countries ranked near Democratic Republic of Congo
More health data for Democratic Republic of Congo
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.56 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 1.03 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 821.4 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 133,650 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 390 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 2.56 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.0895 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 2.59 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is number of maternal deaths in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- Number of maternal deaths in Democratic Republic of Congo was 21,511 deaths in 2020, according to UN MMEIG (2023) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest number of maternal deaths recorded in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- The highest recorded value was 21,511 deaths in 2020.
- What is the lowest number of maternal deaths recorded in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- The lowest recorded value was 14,525 deaths in 1998.
- How does Democratic Republic of Congo rank for number of maternal deaths?
- Democratic Republic of Congo ranks 3rd out of 185 countries with data for 2020.
- Is number of maternal deaths rising or falling in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- Over the last ten years it is up 20.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Democratic Republic of Congo data come from?
- The figures come from UN MMEIG (2023) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Number of maternal deaths. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Estimated number of maternal deaths in a given year.