Maternal mortality ratio in Lesotho
Lesotho: Maternal mortality ratio was 478 in 2023. ▲ Rising
Maternal mortality ratio in Lesotho, 1985–2023
Source: Trends in Maternal Mortality, World Health Organization (WHO).
Analysis
Lesotho recorded 478 for maternal mortality ratio in 2023.
The figure is up 0.2% on the previous year and down 44.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, maternal mortality ratio in Lesotho peaked at 1,387 in 2009 and was at its lowest, 312, in 1997.
That places Lesotho 11th out of 194 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 39 years of available data.
Maternal mortality ratio in Lesotho, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 711 | — |
| 1986 | 680 | -4.4% |
| 1987 | 686 | +0.9% |
| 1988 | 680 | -0.9% |
| 1989 | 680 | +0.0% |
| 1990 | 665 | -2.2% |
| 1991 | 641 | -3.6% |
| 1992 | 601 | -6.2% |
| 1993 | 542 | -9.8% |
| 1994 | 423 | -22.0% |
| 1995 | 357 | -15.6% |
| 1996 | 319 | -10.6% |
| 1997 | 312 | -2.2% |
| 1998 | 332 | +6.4% |
| 1999 | 371 | +11.7% |
| 2000 | 413 | +11.3% |
| 2001 | 465 | +12.6% |
| 2002 | 484 | +4.1% |
| 2003 | 508 | +5.0% |
| 2004 | 499 | -1.8% |
| 2005 | 549 | +10.0% |
| 2006 | 696 | +26.8% |
| 2007 | 891 | +28.0% |
| 2008 | 1,205 | +35.2% |
| 2009 | 1,387 | +15.1% |
| 2010 | 1,311 | -5.5% |
| 2011 | 1,210 | -7.7% |
| 2012 | 1,000 | -17.4% |
| 2013 | 855 | -14.5% |
| 2014 | 707 | -17.3% |
| 2015 | 594 | -16.0% |
| 2016 | 518 | -12.8% |
| 2017 | 468 | -9.7% |
| 2018 | 491 | +4.9% |
| 2019 | 467 | -4.9% |
| 2020 | 529 | +13.3% |
| 2021 | 577 | +9.1% |
| 2022 | 477 | -17.3% |
| 2023 | 478 | +0.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 687.4 | 680 | 711 | 5 |
| 1990s | 456.3 | 312 | 665 | 10 |
| 2000s | 709.7 | 413 | 1,387 | 10 |
| 2010s | 762.1 | 467 | 1,311 | 10 |
| 2020s | 515.25 | 477 | 577 | 4 |
Countries ranked near Lesotho
- 8 Benin 518 compare
- 9 Guinea-Bissau 505 compare
- 10 Guinea 494 compare
- 12 Madagascar 445 compare
- 13 Congo, Democratic Republic of the 427 compare
- 14 Burundi 392 compare
More health data for Lesotho
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -2.05 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.4669 % change on previous year (2090)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates 1,227 (2090)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 382 (2100)
- Population ages 0-14, total, annual growth rate -0.1139 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, total, per unit of GDP 0.0003 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, total, per capita 0.341 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 15-64, female, annual growth rate 1.66 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 15-64, female, per unit of GDP 0.0003 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 15-64, female, per capita 0.3179 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is maternal mortality ratio in Lesotho?
- Maternal mortality ratio in Lesotho was 478 in 2023, according to Trends in Maternal Mortality, World Health Organization (WHO).
- What is the highest maternal mortality ratio recorded in Lesotho?
- The highest recorded value was 1,387 in 2009.
- What is the lowest maternal mortality ratio recorded in Lesotho?
- The lowest recorded value was 312 in 1997.
- How does Lesotho rank for maternal mortality ratio?
- Lesotho ranks 11th out of 194 countries with data for 2023.
- Is maternal mortality ratio rising or falling in Lesotho?
- Over the last ten years it is down 44.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Lesotho 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).