Maternal mortality ratio (modeled estimate, per 100,000 live births) in Namibia
Namibia: Maternal mortality ratio (modeled estimate, per 100,000 live births) was 139 in 2023. ▼ Falling
Maternal mortality ratio in Namibia, 1985–2023
Source: Trends in Maternal Mortality, World Health Organization (WHO).
Analysis
In 2023, maternal mortality ratio in Namibia stood at 139.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 9.4% on the previous year and down 65.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, maternal mortality ratio in Namibia peaked at 547 in 2009 and was at its lowest, 127, in 2022.
That places Namibia 54th out of 194 countries with data for 2023, putting it 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 Namibia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 354 | — |
| 1986 | 348 | -1.7% |
| 1987 | 336 | -3.4% |
| 1988 | 342 | +1.8% |
| 1989 | 306 | -10.5% |
| 1990 | 325 | +6.2% |
| 1991 | 337 | +3.7% |
| 1992 | 346 | +2.7% |
| 1993 | 354 | +2.3% |
| 1994 | 367 | +3.7% |
| 1995 | 369 | +0.5% |
| 1996 | 387 | +4.9% |
| 1997 | 383 | -1.0% |
| 1998 | 396 | +3.4% |
| 1999 | 371 | -6.3% |
| 2000 | 384 | +3.5% |
| 2001 | 376 | -2.1% |
| 2002 | 313 | -16.8% |
| 2003 | 290 | -7.3% |
| 2004 | 282 | -2.8% |
| 2005 | 344 | +22.0% |
| 2006 | 408 | +18.6% |
| 2007 | 489 | +19.9% |
| 2008 | 537 | +9.8% |
| 2009 | 547 | +1.9% |
| 2010 | 531 | -2.9% |
| 2011 | 498 | -6.2% |
| 2012 | 439 | -11.8% |
| 2013 | 402 | -8.4% |
| 2014 | 369 | -8.2% |
| 2015 | 307 | -16.8% |
| 2016 | 250 | -18.6% |
| 2017 | 213 | -14.8% |
| 2018 | 198 | -7.0% |
| 2019 | 175 | -11.6% |
| 2020 | 143 | -18.3% |
| 2021 | 254 | +77.6% |
| 2022 | 127 | -50.0% |
| 2023 | 139 | +9.4% |
Namibia compared with similar countries
- Namibia's 139 is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 146, 95% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Namibia's 139 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 257, 54% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Maternal mortality ratio (modeled estimate, per 100,000 live births) in Namibia 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | +77.6% | 143 | 254 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 337.2 | 306 | 354 | 5 |
| 1990s | 363.5 | 325 | 396 | 10 |
| 2000s | 397 | 282 | 547 | 10 |
| 2010s | 338.2 | 175 | 531 | 10 |
| 2020s | 165.75 | 127 | 254 | 4 |
Countries ranked near Namibia
More health data for Namibia
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.75 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.6445 % change on previous year (2090)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 561 (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 1 (2024)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -1.83 % 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 0.0644 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -1.56 % 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 0.0646 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is maternal mortality ratio in Namibia?
- Maternal mortality ratio in Namibia was 139 in 2023, according to Trends in Maternal Mortality, World Health Organization (WHO).
- What is the highest maternal mortality ratio recorded in Namibia?
- The highest recorded value was 547 in 2009.
- What is the lowest maternal mortality ratio recorded in Namibia?
- The lowest recorded value was 127 in 2022.
- How does Namibia rank for maternal mortality ratio?
- Namibia ranks 54th out of 194 countries with data for 2023.
- Is maternal mortality ratio rising or falling in Namibia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 65.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Namibia 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).