Number of maternal deaths in India
India: Number of maternal deaths was 23,753 deaths in 2020. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2020)
23,753 deaths
Change on year
down 13.5%
World rank
2nd
of 185 countries
All-time high
174,664 deaths
in 1985
All-time low
23,753 deaths
in 2020
Years of data
36
1985–2020
Number of maternal deaths in India, 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 India is 23,753 deaths, measured in 2020. That is the lowest value across all 36 years on record.
That represents a change of down 13.5% on the previous year and down 50.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of maternal deaths in India peaked at 174,664 deaths in 1985 and was at its lowest, 23,753 deaths, in 2020.
India ranks 2nd of 185 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Number of maternal deaths in India, year by year
| Year | deaths | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 174,664 deaths | — |
| 1986 | 169,048 deaths | -3.2% |
| 1987 | 156,209 deaths | -7.6% |
| 1988 | 151,296 deaths | -3.1% |
| 1989 | 148,655 deaths | -1.7% |
| 1990 | 137,917 deaths | -7.2% |
| 1991 | 136,029 deaths | -1.4% |
| 1992 | 135,328 deaths | -0.5% |
| 1993 | 135,197 deaths | -0.1% |
| 1994 | 125,247 deaths | -7.4% |
| 1995 | 124,563 deaths | -0.5% |
| 1996 | 124,399 deaths | -0.1% |
| 1997 | 123,672 deaths | -0.6% |
| 1998 | 114,525 deaths | -7.4% |
| 1999 | 113,174 deaths | -1.2% |
| 2000 | 110,010 deaths | -2.8% |
| 2001 | 107,087 deaths | -2.7% |
| 2002 | 94,379 deaths | -11.9% |
| 2003 | 89,428 deaths | -5.2% |
| 2004 | 84,649 deaths | -5.3% |
| 2005 | 78,993 deaths | -6.7% |
| 2006 | 67,574 deaths | -14.5% |
| 2007 | 63,246 deaths | -6.4% |
| 2008 | 59,298 deaths | -6.2% |
| 2009 | 55,602 deaths | -6.2% |
| 2010 | 47,528 deaths | -14.5% |
| 2011 | 44,756 deaths | -5.8% |
| 2012 | 42,100 deaths | -5.9% |
| 2013 | 39,703 deaths | -5.7% |
| 2014 | 33,578 deaths | -15.4% |
| 2015 | 31,699 deaths | -5.6% |
| 2016 | 30,029 deaths | -5.3% |
| 2017 | 28,780 deaths | -4.2% |
| 2018 | 27,965 deaths | -2.8% |
| 2019 | 27,448 deaths | -1.8% |
| 2020 | 23,753 deaths | -13.5% |
India compared with similar countries
- India's 23,753 deaths is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 485.35 deaths, 48.9× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- India's 23,753 deaths is above the median for South Asia, which is 570.55 deaths, 41.6× the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 159,974 deaths | 148,655 deaths | 174,664 deaths | 5 |
| 1990s | 127,005 deaths | 113,174 deaths | 137,917 deaths | 10 |
| 2000s | 81,027 deaths | 55,602 deaths | 110,010 deaths | 10 |
| 2010s | 35,359 deaths | 27,448 deaths | 47,528 deaths | 10 |
| 2020s | 23,753 deaths | 23,753 deaths | 23,753 deaths | 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)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 38 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -0.3809 % 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 0.0372 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -0.5922 % 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 India?
- Number of maternal deaths in India was 23,753 deaths in 2020, according to UN MMEIG (2023) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest number of maternal deaths recorded in India?
- The highest recorded value was 174,664 deaths in 1985.
- What is the lowest number of maternal deaths recorded in India?
- The lowest recorded value was 23,753 deaths in 2020.
- How does India rank for number of maternal deaths?
- India ranks 2nd out of 185 countries with data for 2020.
- Is number of maternal deaths rising or falling in India?
- Over the last ten years it is down 50.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this India 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.