Number of maternal deaths in Nigeria
Nigeria: Number of maternal deaths was 81,747 deaths in 2020. ▲ Rising
Latest (2020)
81,747 deaths
Change on year
down 5.4%
World rank
1st
of 185 countries
All-time high
86,380 deaths
in 2019
All-time low
48,460 deaths
in 1985
Years of data
36
1985–2020
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.
Number of maternal deaths in Nigeria, year by year
| Year | deaths | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 48,460 deaths | — |
| 1986 | 50,323 deaths | +3.8% |
| 1987 | 49,986 deaths | -0.7% |
| 1988 | 49,981 deaths | -0.0% |
| 1989 | 49,457 deaths | -1.0% |
| 1990 | 50,386 deaths | +1.9% |
| 1991 | 51,938 deaths | +3.1% |
| 1992 | 52,879 deaths | +1.8% |
| 1993 | 53,484 deaths | +1.1% |
| 1994 | 56,508 deaths | +5.7% |
| 1995 | 55,410 deaths | -1.9% |
| 1996 | 56,688 deaths | +2.3% |
| 1997 | 58,249 deaths | +2.8% |
| 1998 | 61,001 deaths | +4.7% |
| 1999 | 60,957 deaths | -0.1% |
| 2000 | 61,336 deaths | +0.6% |
| 2001 | 61,937 deaths | +1.0% |
| 2002 | 62,773 deaths | +1.3% |
| 2003 | 62,635 deaths | -0.2% |
| 2004 | 64,222 deaths | +2.5% |
| 2005 | 64,968 deaths | +1.2% |
| 2006 | 66,297 deaths | +2.0% |
| 2007 | 68,472 deaths | +3.3% |
| 2008 | 71,529 deaths | +4.5% |
| 2009 | 73,154 deaths | +2.3% |
| 2010 | 76,072 deaths | +4.0% |
| 2011 | 73,984 deaths | -2.7% |
| 2012 | 76,272 deaths | +3.1% |
| 2013 | 78,682 deaths | +3.2% |
| 2014 | 81,615 deaths | +3.7% |
| 2015 | 80,978 deaths | -0.8% |
| 2016 | 83,379 deaths | +3.0% |
| 2017 | 84,372 deaths | +1.2% |
| 2018 | 86,178 deaths | +2.1% |
| 2019 | 86,380 deaths | +0.2% |
| 2020 | 81,747 deaths | -5.4% |
Nigeria compared with similar countries
- Nigeria's 81,747 deaths is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 485.35 deaths, 168.4× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Nigeria's 81,747 deaths is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 1,625 deaths, 50.3× the median. (48 countries reporting)
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
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.08 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.8137 % change on previous year (2090)
- 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)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 14 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 1.14 % 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 0.0711 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 1.17 % 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 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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About this data
Estimated number of maternal deaths in a given year.