Number of maternal deaths in Congo
Congo: Number of maternal deaths was 502.65 deaths in 2020. ▼ Falling
Number of maternal deaths in 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 Congo is 502.65 deaths, measured in 2020. That is the lowest value across all 36 years on record.
That represents a change of down 2.8% on the previous year and down 24.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of maternal deaths in Congo peaked at 1,063 deaths in 1997 and was at its lowest, 502.65 deaths, in 2020.
Congo ranks 54th of 185 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 36 years of available data.
Number of maternal deaths in Congo, year by year
| Year | deaths | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 523.42 deaths | — |
| 1986 | 532.81 deaths | +1.8% |
| 1987 | 536.02 deaths | +0.6% |
| 1988 | 583.97 deaths | +8.9% |
| 1989 | 631.16 deaths | +8.1% |
| 1990 | 688.38 deaths | +9.1% |
| 1991 | 740.9 deaths | +7.6% |
| 1992 | 802.18 deaths | +8.3% |
| 1993 | 786.18 deaths | -2.0% |
| 1994 | 803.24 deaths | +2.2% |
| 1995 | 796.09 deaths | -0.9% |
| 1996 | 789.94 deaths | -0.8% |
| 1997 | 1,063 deaths | +34.6% |
| 1998 | 915.8 deaths | -13.9% |
| 1999 | 831.92 deaths | -9.2% |
| 2000 | 758.75 deaths | -8.8% |
| 2001 | 782.52 deaths | +3.1% |
| 2002 | 774.46 deaths | -1.0% |
| 2003 | 745.66 deaths | -3.7% |
| 2004 | 714.22 deaths | -4.2% |
| 2005 | 668.23 deaths | -6.4% |
| 2006 | 680.35 deaths | +1.8% |
| 2007 | 650.24 deaths | -4.4% |
| 2008 | 647.18 deaths | -0.5% |
| 2009 | 672.21 deaths | +3.9% |
| 2010 | 669.19 deaths | -0.4% |
| 2011 | 677.6 deaths | +1.3% |
| 2012 | 712.41 deaths | +5.1% |
| 2013 | 640.43 deaths | -10.1% |
| 2014 | 660.54 deaths | +3.1% |
| 2015 | 634.37 deaths | -4.0% |
| 2016 | 617.05 deaths | -2.7% |
| 2017 | 643.76 deaths | +4.3% |
| 2018 | 651.31 deaths | +1.2% |
| 2019 | 517.05 deaths | -20.6% |
| 2020 | 502.65 deaths | -2.8% |
Congo compared with similar countries
- Congo's 502.65 deaths is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 485.35 deaths, 1.0× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Congo's 502.65 deaths is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 1,625 deaths, 31% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Number of maternal deaths in Congo 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | +34.6% | 789.94 deaths | 1,063 deaths |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 561.48 deaths | 523.42 deaths | 631.16 deaths | 5 |
| 1990s | 821.8 deaths | 688.38 deaths | 1,063 deaths | 10 |
| 2000s | 709.38 deaths | 647.18 deaths | 782.52 deaths | 10 |
| 2010s | 642.37 deaths | 517.05 deaths | 712.41 deaths | 10 |
| 2020s | 502.65 deaths | 502.65 deaths | 502.65 deaths | 1 |
Countries ranked near Congo
- 51 Mauritania 695.75 deaths compare
- 52 Vietnam 677.49 deaths compare
- 53 Colombia 548.01 deaths compare
- 55 Papua New Guinea 485.35 deaths compare
- 56 Morocco 472.07 deaths compare
- 57 Guinea-Bissau 464.06 deaths compare
More health data for Congo
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -0.4813 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.9705 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 759.5 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 2,688 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 11 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 1.44 % 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 0.0695 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 1.45 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is number of maternal deaths in Congo?
- Number of maternal deaths in Congo was 502.65 deaths in 2020, according to UN MMEIG (2023) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest number of maternal deaths recorded in Congo?
- The highest recorded value was 1,063 deaths in 1997.
- What is the lowest number of maternal deaths recorded in Congo?
- The lowest recorded value was 502.65 deaths in 2020.
- How does Congo rank for number of maternal deaths?
- Congo ranks 54th out of 185 countries with data for 2020.
- Is number of maternal deaths rising or falling in Congo?
- Over the last ten years it is down 24.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this 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.