Maternal mortality ratio in Africa Western and Central
Africa Western and Central: Maternal mortality ratio was 650 in 2023. ▼ Falling
Maternal mortality ratio in Africa Western and Central, 1985–2023
Source: Trends in Maternal Mortality, World Health Organization (WHO).
Analysis
In 2023, maternal mortality ratio in Africa Western and Central stood at 650. That is the lowest value across all 39 years on record.
The figure is down 3.6% on the previous year and down 21.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, maternal mortality ratio in Africa Western and Central peaked at 1,140 in 1985 and was at its lowest, 650, in 2023.
Africa Western and Central ranks 1st of 47 groups on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 39 years of available data.
Maternal mortality ratio in Africa Western and Central, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 1,140 | — |
| 1986 | 1,140 | +0.0% |
| 1987 | 1,120 | -1.8% |
| 1988 | 1,100 | -1.8% |
| 1989 | 1,070 | -2.7% |
| 1990 | 1,060 | -0.9% |
| 1991 | 1,050 | -0.9% |
| 1992 | 1,020 | -2.9% |
| 1993 | 995 | -2.5% |
| 1994 | 985 | -1.0% |
| 1995 | 969 | -1.6% |
| 1996 | 960 | -0.9% |
| 1997 | 949 | -1.1% |
| 1998 | 944 | -0.5% |
| 1999 | 927 | -1.8% |
| 2000 | 907 | -2.2% |
| 2001 | 899 | -0.9% |
| 2002 | 886 | -1.4% |
| 2003 | 866 | -2.3% |
| 2004 | 851 | -1.7% |
| 2005 | 839 | -1.4% |
| 2006 | 840 | +0.1% |
| 2007 | 834 | -0.7% |
| 2008 | 840 | +0.7% |
| 2009 | 842 | +0.2% |
| 2010 | 839 | -0.4% |
| 2011 | 836 | -0.4% |
| 2012 | 834 | -0.2% |
| 2013 | 832 | -0.2% |
| 2014 | 827 | -0.6% |
| 2015 | 820 | -0.8% |
| 2016 | 799 | -2.6% |
| 2017 | 782 | -2.1% |
| 2018 | 757 | -3.2% |
| 2019 | 744 | -1.7% |
| 2020 | 720 | -3.2% |
| 2021 | 716 | -0.6% |
| 2022 | 674 | -5.9% |
| 2023 | 650 | -3.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 1,114 | 1,070 | 1,140 | 5 |
| 1990s | 985.9 | 927 | 1,060 | 10 |
| 2000s | 860.4 | 834 | 907 | 10 |
| 2010s | 807 | 744 | 839 | 10 |
| 2020s | 690 | 650 | 720 | 4 |
Countries ranked near Africa Western and Central
- 1 Nigeria 993 compare
- 2 Chad 748 compare
- 3 Central African Republic 692 compare
- 3 South Sudan 692 compare
More health data for Africa Western and Central
- Population ages 35-39, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 40-44, male, annual growth rate 2.59 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 40-44, female, per capita 0.0237 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 40-44, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 40-44, female, annual growth rate 2.75 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 35-39, male, per capita 0.0278 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 35-39, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 35-39, male, annual growth rate 2.24 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 35-39, female, per capita 0.0277 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 30-34, female, annual growth rate 2.27 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is maternal mortality ratio in Africa Western and Central?
- Maternal mortality ratio in Africa Western and Central was 650 in 2023, according to Trends in Maternal Mortality, World Health Organization (WHO).
- What is the highest maternal mortality ratio recorded in Africa Western and Central?
- The highest recorded value was 1,140 in 1985.
- What is the lowest maternal mortality ratio recorded in Africa Western and Central?
- The lowest recorded value was 650 in 2023.
- How does Africa Western and Central rank for maternal mortality ratio?
- Africa Western and Central ranks 1st out of 47 groups with data for 2023.
- Is maternal mortality ratio rising or falling in Africa Western and Central?
- Over the last ten years it is down 21.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Africa Western and Central 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
CSV · JSON — 39 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
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).