Number of maternal deaths in Nigeria
Nigeria: Number of maternal deaths was 81,747 deaths in 2020. ▲ Rising
Number of maternal deaths in Nigeria, 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 Nigeria is 81,747 deaths, measured in 2020.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 5.4% on the previous year and up 7.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of maternal deaths in Nigeria peaked at 86,380 deaths in 2019 and was at its lowest, 48,460 deaths, in 1985.
Nigeria ranks 1st of 185 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 36 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 49,641 deaths | 48,460 deaths | 50,323 deaths | 5 |
| 1990s | 55,750 deaths | 50,386 deaths | 61,001 deaths | 10 |
| 2000s | 65,732 deaths | 61,336 deaths | 73,154 deaths | 10 |
| 2010s | 80,791 deaths | 73,984 deaths | 86,380 deaths | 10 |
| 2020s | 81,747 deaths | 81,747 deaths | 81,747 deaths | 1 |
Countries ranked near Nigeria
More health data for Nigeria
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,301 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 257,921 deaths (2100)
- Deaths in armed conflicts based on where they occurred 726 deaths (2026)
- Deaths in armed conflicts by region 726 deaths (2026)
- Age population, age 25, male, interpolated 2.03 million (2025)
- Age population, age 25, female, interpolated 1.96 million (2025)
- Age population, age 24, male, interpolated 2.13 million (2025)
- Age population, age 24, female, interpolated 2.06 million (2025)
- Age population, age 23, male, interpolated 2.23 million (2025)
- Age population, age 23, female, interpolated 2.15 million (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is number of maternal deaths in Nigeria?
- Number of maternal deaths in Nigeria was 81,747 deaths in 2020, according to UN MMEIG (2023) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest number of maternal deaths recorded in Nigeria?
- The highest recorded value was 86,380 deaths in 2019.
- What is the lowest number of maternal deaths recorded in Nigeria?
- The lowest recorded value was 48,460 deaths in 1985.
- How does Nigeria rank for number of maternal deaths?
- Nigeria ranks 1st out of 185 countries with data for 2020.
- Is number of maternal deaths rising or falling in Nigeria?
- Over the last ten years it is up 7.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Nigeria 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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CSV · JSON — 36 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
The estimated number of maternal deaths in a given year.