Maternal mortality ratio (modeled estimate, per 100,000 live births) in South Korea
South Korea: Maternal mortality ratio (modeled estimate, per 100,000 live births) was 4 in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Maternal mortality ratio in South Korea, 1985–2023
Source: Trends in Maternal Mortality, World Health Organization (WHO).
Analysis
South Korea recorded 4 for maternal mortality ratio in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 39 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 42.9% on the previous year and down 42.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, maternal mortality ratio in South Korea peaked at 38 in 1985 and was at its lowest, 4, in 2023.
South Korea ranks 173rd of 194 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
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 South Korea, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 38 | — |
| 1986 | 35 | -7.9% |
| 1987 | 34 | -2.9% |
| 1988 | 31 | -8.8% |
| 1989 | 29 | -6.5% |
| 1990 | 28 | -3.4% |
| 1991 | 28 | +0.0% |
| 1992 | 26 | -7.1% |
| 1993 | 24 | -7.7% |
| 1994 | 23 | -4.2% |
| 1995 | 22 | -4.3% |
| 1996 | 20 | -9.1% |
| 1997 | 19 | -5.0% |
| 1998 | 18 | -5.3% |
| 1999 | 17 | -5.6% |
| 2000 | 15 | -11.8% |
| 2001 | 14 | -6.7% |
| 2002 | 13 | -7.1% |
| 2003 | 13 | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 12 | -7.7% |
| 2005 | 11 | -8.3% |
| 2006 | 10 | -9.1% |
| 2007 | 10 | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 9 | -10.0% |
| 2009 | 9 | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 8 | -11.1% |
| 2011 | 8 | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 8 | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 7 | -12.5% |
| 2014 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 6 | -14.3% |
| 2016 | 6 | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 6 | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 5 | -16.7% |
| 2019 | 5 | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 12 | +140.0% |
| 2021 | 5 | -58.3% |
| 2022 | 7 | +40.0% |
| 2023 | 4 | -42.9% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 4 is below the median for high income countries, which is 8, 50% of the median. (64 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 4 is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 82, 5% of the median. (30 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Maternal mortality ratio (modeled estimate, per 100,000 live births) in South Korea 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +140.0% | 5 | 12 |
| 2021 | -58.3% | 12 | 5 |
| 2022 | +40.0% | 5 | 7 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 33.4 | 29 | 38 | 5 |
| 1990s | 22.5 | 17 | 28 | 10 |
| 2000s | 11.6 | 9 | 15 | 10 |
| 2010s | 6.6 | 5 | 8 | 10 |
| 2020s | 7 | 4 | 12 | 4 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
More health data for South Korea
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.43 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.1935 % change on previous year (2090)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 69 (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -2.66 % 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 0.0118 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -2.76 % 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 0.0124 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is maternal mortality ratio in South Korea?
- Maternal mortality ratio in South Korea was 4 in 2023, according to Trends in Maternal Mortality, World Health Organization (WHO).
- What is the highest maternal mortality ratio recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 38 in 1985.
- What is the lowest maternal mortality ratio recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 4 in 2023.
- How does South Korea rank for maternal mortality ratio?
- South Korea ranks 173rd out of 194 countries with data for 2023.
- Is maternal mortality ratio rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 42.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Korea 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).