Maternal mortality ratio in China
China: Maternal mortality ratio was 16 in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Maternal mortality ratio in China, 1985–2023
Source: Trends in Maternal Mortality, World Health Organization (WHO).
Analysis
The most recent figure for maternal mortality ratio in China is 16, measured in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 39 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 11.1% on the previous year and down 46.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, maternal mortality ratio in China peaked at 125 in 1985 and was at its lowest, 16, in 2023.
That places China 131st out of 194 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Maternal mortality ratio in China, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 125 | — |
| 1986 | 120 | -4.0% |
| 1987 | 114 | -5.0% |
| 1988 | 108 | -5.3% |
| 1989 | 104 | -3.7% |
| 1990 | 102 | -1.9% |
| 1991 | 92 | -9.8% |
| 1992 | 86 | -6.5% |
| 1993 | 80 | -7.0% |
| 1994 | 76 | -5.0% |
| 1995 | 71 | -6.6% |
| 1996 | 67 | -5.6% |
| 1997 | 63 | -6.0% |
| 1998 | 60 | -4.8% |
| 1999 | 58 | -3.3% |
| 2000 | 56 | -3.4% |
| 2001 | 52 | -7.1% |
| 2002 | 50 | -3.8% |
| 2003 | 47 | -6.0% |
| 2004 | 45 | -4.3% |
| 2005 | 42 | -6.7% |
| 2006 | 40 | -4.8% |
| 2007 | 38 | -5.0% |
| 2008 | 38 | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 35 | -7.9% |
| 2010 | 34 | -2.9% |
| 2011 | 33 | -2.9% |
| 2012 | 32 | -3.0% |
| 2013 | 30 | -6.2% |
| 2014 | 28 | -6.7% |
| 2015 | 26 | -7.1% |
| 2016 | 25 | -3.8% |
| 2017 | 24 | -4.0% |
| 2018 | 22 | -8.3% |
| 2019 | 21 | -4.5% |
| 2020 | 20 | -4.8% |
| 2021 | 21 | +5.0% |
| 2022 | 18 | -14.3% |
| 2023 | 16 | -11.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 114.2 | 104 | 125 | 5 |
| 1990s | 75.5 | 58 | 102 | 10 |
| 2000s | 44.3 | 35 | 56 | 10 |
| 2010s | 27.5 | 21 | 34 | 10 |
| 2020s | 18.75 | 16 | 21 | 4 |
Countries ranked near China
More health data for China
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.15 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate -0.0985 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 2,029 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 4,642 deaths (2100)
- Population ages 0-14, female, annual growth rate -3.74 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, female, per capita 0.072 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, male, annual growth rate -4.07 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, male, per capita 0.0821 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is maternal mortality ratio in China?
- Maternal mortality ratio in China was 16 in 2023, according to Trends in Maternal Mortality, World Health Organization (WHO).
- What is the highest maternal mortality ratio recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 125 in 1985.
- What is the lowest maternal mortality ratio recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 16 in 2023.
- How does China rank for maternal mortality ratio?
- China ranks 131st out of 194 countries with data for 2023.
- Is maternal mortality ratio rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is down 46.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this China 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).