Number of maternal deaths in Uganda
Uganda: Number of maternal deaths was 4,700 deaths in 2020. ▼ Falling
Latest (2020)
4,700 deaths
Change on year
down 0.3%
World rank
12th
of 185 countries
All-time high
5,802 deaths
in 1993
All-time low
4,476 deaths
in 2018
Years of data
36
1985–2020
Number of maternal deaths in Uganda, 1985–2020
Source: UN MMEIG (2023) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in deaths.
Analysis
Uganda recorded 4,700 deaths for number of maternal deaths in 2020.
That represents a change of down 0.3% on the previous year and down 9.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of maternal deaths in Uganda peaked at 5,802 deaths in 1993 and was at its lowest, 4,476 deaths, in 2018.
That places Uganda 12th out of 185 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 36 years of available data.
Number of maternal deaths in Uganda, year by year
| Year | deaths | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 5,694 deaths | — |
| 1986 | 5,632 deaths | -1.1% |
| 1987 | 5,483 deaths | -2.6% |
| 1988 | 5,349 deaths | -2.4% |
| 1989 | 5,372 deaths | +0.4% |
| 1990 | 5,445 deaths | +1.4% |
| 1991 | 5,526 deaths | +1.5% |
| 1992 | 5,576 deaths | +0.9% |
| 1993 | 5,802 deaths | +4.0% |
| 1994 | 5,759 deaths | -0.7% |
| 1995 | 5,730 deaths | -0.5% |
| 1996 | 5,623 deaths | -1.9% |
| 1997 | 5,680 deaths | +1.0% |
| 1998 | 5,405 deaths | -4.8% |
| 1999 | 5,352 deaths | -1.0% |
| 2000 | 5,394 deaths | +0.8% |
| 2001 | 5,420 deaths | +0.5% |
| 2002 | 5,525 deaths | +1.9% |
| 2003 | 5,581 deaths | +1.0% |
| 2004 | 5,623 deaths | +0.8% |
| 2005 | 5,612 deaths | -0.2% |
| 2006 | 5,448 deaths | -2.9% |
| 2007 | 5,071 deaths | -6.9% |
| 2008 | 5,252 deaths | +3.6% |
| 2009 | 5,370 deaths | +2.3% |
| 2010 | 5,197 deaths | -3.2% |
| 2011 | 5,080 deaths | -2.2% |
| 2012 | 4,798 deaths | -5.6% |
| 2013 | 4,498 deaths | -6.3% |
| 2014 | 4,844 deaths | +7.7% |
| 2015 | 4,711 deaths | -2.7% |
| 2016 | 4,655 deaths | -1.2% |
| 2017 | 4,809 deaths | +3.3% |
| 2018 | 4,476 deaths | -6.9% |
| 2019 | 4,713 deaths | +5.3% |
| 2020 | 4,700 deaths | -0.3% |
Uganda compared with similar countries
- Uganda's 4,700 deaths is above the median for low income countries, which is 2,151 deaths, 2.2× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Uganda's 4,700 deaths is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 1,625 deaths, 2.9× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 5,506 deaths | 5,349 deaths | 5,694 deaths | 5 |
| 1990s | 5,590 deaths | 5,352 deaths | 5,802 deaths | 10 |
| 2000s | 5,430 deaths | 5,071 deaths | 5,623 deaths | 10 |
| 2010s | 4,778 deaths | 4,476 deaths | 5,197 deaths | 10 |
| 2020s | 4,700 deaths | 4,700 deaths | 4,700 deaths | 1 |
Countries ranked near Uganda
More health data for Uganda
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -2.2 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 1.34 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 853.6 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 6,666 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 111 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 1.28 % 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 0.0787 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 1.34 % 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 Uganda?
- Number of maternal deaths in Uganda was 4,700 deaths in 2020, according to UN MMEIG (2023) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest number of maternal deaths recorded in Uganda?
- The highest recorded value was 5,802 deaths in 1993.
- What is the lowest number of maternal deaths recorded in Uganda?
- The lowest recorded value was 4,476 deaths in 2018.
- How does Uganda rank for number of maternal deaths?
- Uganda ranks 12th out of 185 countries with data for 2020.
- Is number of maternal deaths rising or falling in Uganda?
- Over the last ten years it is down 9.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Uganda 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.