Maternal mortality ratio (modeled estimate, per 100,000 live births) in Costa Rica
Costa Rica: Maternal mortality ratio (modeled estimate, per 100,000 live births) was 24 in 2023. ▼ Falling
Maternal mortality ratio in Costa Rica, 1985–2023
Source: Trends in Maternal Mortality, World Health Organization (WHO).
Analysis
In 2023, maternal mortality ratio in Costa Rica stood at 24. That is the lowest value across all 39 years on record.
That represents a change of down 11.1% on the previous year and down 11.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, maternal mortality ratio in Costa Rica peaked at 44 in 2021 and was at its lowest, 24, in 2023.
Costa Rica ranks 120th of 194 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
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 Costa Rica, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 43 | — |
| 1986 | 42 | -2.3% |
| 1987 | 41 | -2.4% |
| 1988 | 40 | -2.4% |
| 1989 | 40 | +0.0% |
| 1990 | 40 | +0.0% |
| 1991 | 39 | -2.5% |
| 1992 | 39 | +0.0% |
| 1993 | 39 | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 39 | +0.0% |
| 1995 | 39 | +0.0% |
| 1996 | 39 | +0.0% |
| 1997 | 38 | -2.6% |
| 1998 | 37 | -2.6% |
| 1999 | 36 | -2.7% |
| 2000 | 36 | +0.0% |
| 2001 | 35 | -2.8% |
| 2002 | 34 | -2.9% |
| 2003 | 33 | -2.9% |
| 2004 | 33 | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 31 | -6.1% |
| 2006 | 30 | -3.2% |
| 2007 | 30 | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 30 | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 29 | -3.3% |
| 2010 | 29 | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 28 | -3.4% |
| 2012 | 27 | -3.6% |
| 2013 | 27 | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 27 | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 26 | -3.7% |
| 2016 | 27 | +3.8% |
| 2017 | 27 | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 28 | +3.7% |
| 2019 | 26 | -7.1% |
| 2020 | 34 | +30.8% |
| 2021 | 44 | +29.4% |
| 2022 | 27 | -38.6% |
| 2023 | 24 | -11.1% |
Costa Rica compared with similar countries
- Costa Rica's 24 is above the median for high income countries, which is 8, 3.0× the median. (64 countries reporting)
- Costa Rica's 24 is below the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 54.5, 44% of the median. (34 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Maternal mortality ratio (modeled estimate, per 100,000 live births) in Costa Rica 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | -38.6% | 44 | 27 |
| 2020 | +30.8% | 26 | 34 |
| 2021 | +29.4% | 34 | 44 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 41.2 | 40 | 43 | 5 |
| 1990s | 38.5 | 36 | 40 | 10 |
| 2000s | 32.1 | 29 | 36 | 10 |
| 2010s | 27.2 | 26 | 29 | 10 |
| 2020s | 32.25 | 24 | 44 | 4 |
Countries ranked near Costa Rica
More health data for Costa Rica
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -2.78 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.4617 % change on previous year (2090)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 35 (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -3.42 % 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 0.0248 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -3.37 % 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 0.0259 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is maternal mortality ratio in Costa Rica?
- Maternal mortality ratio in Costa Rica was 24 in 2023, according to Trends in Maternal Mortality, World Health Organization (WHO).
- What is the highest maternal mortality ratio recorded in Costa Rica?
- The highest recorded value was 44 in 2021.
- What is the lowest maternal mortality ratio recorded in Costa Rica?
- The lowest recorded value was 24 in 2023.
- How does Costa Rica rank for maternal mortality ratio?
- Costa Rica ranks 120th out of 194 countries with data for 2023.
- Is maternal mortality ratio rising or falling in Costa Rica?
- Over the last ten years it is down 11.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Costa Rica 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).