Maternal mortality ratio (modeled estimate, per 100,000 live births) in Botswana
Botswana: Maternal mortality ratio (modeled estimate, per 100,000 live births) was 155 in 2023. ▼ Falling
Maternal mortality ratio in Botswana, 1985–2023
Source: Trends in Maternal Mortality, World Health Organization (WHO).
Analysis
In 2023, maternal mortality ratio in Botswana stood at 155.
That represents a change of up 29.2% on the previous year and down 29.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, maternal mortality ratio in Botswana peaked at 319 in 1988 and was at its lowest, 46, in 2017.
That places Botswana 47th out of 194 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top quarter.
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 Botswana, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 313 | — |
| 1986 | 304 | -2.9% |
| 1987 | 302 | -0.7% |
| 1988 | 319 | +5.6% |
| 1989 | 300 | -6.0% |
| 1990 | 296 | -1.3% |
| 1991 | 283 | -4.4% |
| 1992 | 263 | -7.1% |
| 1993 | 230 | -12.5% |
| 1994 | 182 | -20.9% |
| 1995 | 148 | -18.7% |
| 1996 | 130 | -12.2% |
| 1997 | 123 | -5.4% |
| 1998 | 126 | +2.4% |
| 1999 | 131 | +4.0% |
| 2000 | 136 | +3.8% |
| 2001 | 138 | +1.5% |
| 2002 | 140 | +1.4% |
| 2003 | 142 | +1.4% |
| 2004 | 151 | +6.3% |
| 2005 | 166 | +9.9% |
| 2006 | 204 | +22.9% |
| 2007 | 201 | -1.5% |
| 2008 | 199 | -1.0% |
| 2009 | 213 | +7.0% |
| 2010 | 228 | +7.0% |
| 2011 | 269 | +18.0% |
| 2012 | 288 | +7.1% |
| 2013 | 221 | -23.3% |
| 2014 | 212 | -4.1% |
| 2015 | 141 | -33.5% |
| 2016 | 72 | -48.9% |
| 2017 | 46 | -36.1% |
| 2018 | 99 | +115.2% |
| 2019 | 100 | +1.0% |
| 2020 | 98 | -2.0% |
| 2021 | 165 | +68.4% |
| 2022 | 120 | -27.3% |
| 2023 | 155 | +29.2% |
Botswana compared with similar countries
- Botswana's 155 is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 43, 3.6× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- Botswana's 155 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 257, 60% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Maternal mortality ratio (modeled estimate, per 100,000 live births) in Botswana changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | +115.2% | 46 | 99 |
| 2021 | +68.4% | 98 | 165 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 307.6 | 300 | 319 | 5 |
| 1990s | 191.2 | 123 | 296 | 10 |
| 2000s | 169 | 136 | 213 | 10 |
| 2010s | 167.6 | 46 | 288 | 10 |
| 2020s | 134.5 | 98 | 165 | 4 |
Countries ranked near Botswana
More health data for Botswana
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.75 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.2265 % change on previous year (2090)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 281 (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 0.6484 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.0579 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 0.9109 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per capita 0.0591 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is maternal mortality ratio in Botswana?
- Maternal mortality ratio in Botswana was 155 in 2023, according to Trends in Maternal Mortality, World Health Organization (WHO).
- What is the highest maternal mortality ratio recorded in Botswana?
- The highest recorded value was 319 in 1988.
- What is the lowest maternal mortality ratio recorded in Botswana?
- The lowest recorded value was 46 in 2017.
- How does Botswana rank for maternal mortality ratio?
- Botswana ranks 47th out of 194 countries with data for 2023.
- Is maternal mortality ratio rising or falling in Botswana?
- Over the last ten years it is down 29.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Botswana 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).