Maternal mortality ratio (modeled estimate, per 100,000 live births) in Kenya
Kenya: Maternal mortality ratio (modeled estimate, per 100,000 live births) was 149 in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Maternal mortality ratio in Kenya, 1985–2023
Source: Trends in Maternal Mortality, World Health Organization (WHO).
Analysis
Kenya recorded 149 for maternal mortality ratio in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 39 years on record.
The figure is down 3.9% on the previous year and down 27.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, maternal mortality ratio in Kenya peaked at 1,375 in 1985 and was at its lowest, 149, in 2023.
Kenya ranks 50th of 194 countries on this measure, 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 (modeled estimate, per 100,000 live births) in Kenya, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 1,375 | — |
| 1986 | 1,059 | -23.0% |
| 1987 | 960 | -9.3% |
| 1988 | 756 | -21.2% |
| 1989 | 663 | -12.3% |
| 1990 | 586 | -11.6% |
| 1991 | 493 | -15.9% |
| 1992 | 419 | -15.0% |
| 1993 | 363 | -13.4% |
| 1994 | 342 | -5.8% |
| 1995 | 308 | -9.9% |
| 1996 | 275 | -10.7% |
| 1997 | 253 | -8.0% |
| 1998 | 250 | -1.2% |
| 1999 | 217 | -13.2% |
| 2000 | 206 | -5.1% |
| 2001 | 188 | -8.7% |
| 2002 | 182 | -3.2% |
| 2003 | 177 | -2.7% |
| 2004 | 177 | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 178 | +0.6% |
| 2006 | 188 | +5.6% |
| 2007 | 198 | +5.3% |
| 2008 | 197 | -0.5% |
| 2009 | 208 | +5.6% |
| 2010 | 210 | +1.0% |
| 2011 | 209 | -0.5% |
| 2012 | 214 | +2.4% |
| 2013 | 206 | -3.7% |
| 2014 | 203 | -1.5% |
| 2015 | 203 | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 196 | -3.4% |
| 2017 | 186 | -5.1% |
| 2018 | 183 | -1.6% |
| 2019 | 176 | -3.8% |
| 2020 | 184 | +4.5% |
| 2021 | 183 | -0.5% |
| 2022 | 155 | -15.3% |
| 2023 | 149 | -3.9% |
Kenya compared with similar countries
- Kenya's 149 is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 146, 1.0× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Kenya's 149 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 257, 58% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 962.6 | 663 | 1,375 | 5 |
| 1990s | 350.6 | 217 | 586 | 10 |
| 2000s | 189.9 | 177 | 208 | 10 |
| 2010s | 198.6 | 176 | 214 | 10 |
| 2020s | 167.75 | 149 | 184 | 4 |
Countries ranked near Kenya
More health data for Kenya
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.44 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.6026 % change on previous year (2090)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 16,059 (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 89 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 1.28 % 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 0.0621 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 1.28 % 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 0.063 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is maternal mortality ratio in Kenya?
- Maternal mortality ratio in Kenya was 149 in 2023, according to Trends in Maternal Mortality, World Health Organization (WHO).
- What is the highest maternal mortality ratio recorded in Kenya?
- The highest recorded value was 1,375 in 1985.
- What is the lowest maternal mortality ratio recorded in Kenya?
- The lowest recorded value was 149 in 2023.
- How does Kenya rank for maternal mortality ratio?
- Kenya ranks 50th out of 194 countries with data for 2023.
- Is maternal mortality ratio rising or falling in Kenya?
- Over the last ten years it is down 27.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Kenya 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).