Maternal mortality ratio (modeled estimate, per 100,000 live births) in Afghanistan
Afghanistan: Maternal mortality ratio (modeled estimate, per 100,000 live births) was 521 in 2023. ▼ Falling
Maternal mortality ratio in Afghanistan, 1985–2023
Source: Trends in Maternal Mortality, World Health Organization (WHO).
Analysis
Afghanistan recorded 521 for maternal mortality ratio in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 39 years on record.
That represents a change of down 5.4% on the previous year and down 33.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, maternal mortality ratio in Afghanistan peaked at 2,232 in 1985 and was at its lowest, 521, in 2023.
That places Afghanistan 7th out of 194 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 39 years of available data.
Maternal mortality ratio (modeled estimate, per 100,000 live births) in Afghanistan, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 2,232 | — |
| 1986 | 1,857 | -16.8% |
| 1987 | 1,821 | -1.9% |
| 1988 | 1,572 | -13.7% |
| 1989 | 1,520 | -3.3% |
| 1990 | 1,550 | +2.0% |
| 1991 | 1,534 | -1.0% |
| 1992 | 1,443 | -5.9% |
| 1993 | 1,347 | -6.7% |
| 1994 | 1,396 | +3.6% |
| 1995 | 1,414 | +1.3% |
| 1996 | 1,389 | -1.8% |
| 1997 | 1,376 | -0.9% |
| 1998 | 1,464 | +6.4% |
| 1999 | 1,346 | -8.1% |
| 2000 | 1,372 | +1.9% |
| 2001 | 1,311 | -4.4% |
| 2002 | 1,263 | -3.7% |
| 2003 | 1,201 | -4.9% |
| 2004 | 1,166 | -2.9% |
| 2005 | 1,108 | -5.0% |
| 2006 | 1,069 | -3.5% |
| 2007 | 1,032 | -3.5% |
| 2008 | 955 | -7.5% |
| 2009 | 925 | -3.1% |
| 2010 | 893 | -3.5% |
| 2011 | 838 | -6.2% |
| 2012 | 810 | -3.3% |
| 2013 | 778 | -4.0% |
| 2014 | 755 | -3.0% |
| 2015 | 741 | -1.9% |
| 2016 | 702 | -5.3% |
| 2017 | 659 | -6.1% |
| 2018 | 629 | -4.6% |
| 2019 | 601 | -4.5% |
| 2020 | 634 | +5.5% |
| 2021 | 660 | +4.1% |
| 2022 | 551 | -16.5% |
| 2023 | 521 | -5.4% |
Afghanistan compared with similar countries
- Afghanistan's 521 is above the median for low income countries, which is 354, 1.5× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Afghanistan's 521 is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 17, 30.6× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 1,800 | 1,520 | 2,232 | 5 |
| 1990s | 1,426 | 1,346 | 1,550 | 10 |
| 2000s | 1,140 | 925 | 1,372 | 10 |
| 2010s | 740.6 | 601 | 893 | 10 |
| 2020s | 591.5 | 521 | 660 | 4 |
Countries ranked near Afghanistan
More health data for Afghanistan
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.45 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 1.03 % change on previous year (2090)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 14,735 (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 19 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 1.78 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0.0002 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.077 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 1.75 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0.0002 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per capita 0.0804 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is maternal mortality ratio in Afghanistan?
- Maternal mortality ratio in Afghanistan was 521 in 2023, according to Trends in Maternal Mortality, World Health Organization (WHO).
- What is the highest maternal mortality ratio recorded in Afghanistan?
- The highest recorded value was 2,232 in 1985.
- What is the lowest maternal mortality ratio recorded in Afghanistan?
- The lowest recorded value was 521 in 2023.
- How does Afghanistan rank for maternal mortality ratio?
- Afghanistan ranks 7th out of 194 countries with data for 2023.
- Is maternal mortality ratio rising or falling in Afghanistan?
- Over the last ten years it is down 33.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Afghanistan data come from?
- The figures come from Trends in Maternal Mortality, World Health Organization (WHO), published as part of Maternal mortality ratio (modeled estimate, per 100,000 live births). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Maternal mortality ratio is the number of women who die from pregnancy-related causes while pregnant or within 42 days of pregnancy termination per 100,000 live births. The data are estimated with a regression model using information on the proportion of maternal deaths among non-AIDS deaths in women ages 15-49, fertility, birth attendants, and GDP measured using purchasing power parities (PPPs).