Maternal mortality ratio (modeled estimate, per 100,000 live births) in Nigeria
Nigeria: Maternal mortality ratio (modeled estimate, per 100,000 live births) was 993 in 2023. ▼ Falling
Maternal mortality ratio in Nigeria, 1985–2023
Source: Trends in Maternal Mortality, World Health Organization (WHO).
Analysis
Nigeria recorded 993 for maternal mortality ratio in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 39 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 2.3% on the previous year and down 13.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, maternal mortality ratio in Nigeria peaked at 1,363 in 1986 and was at its lowest, 993, in 2023.
That places Nigeria 1st out of 194 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top 10%.
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 Nigeria, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 1,344 | — |
| 1986 | 1,363 | +1.4% |
| 1987 | 1,351 | -0.9% |
| 1988 | 1,332 | -1.4% |
| 1989 | 1,304 | -2.1% |
| 1990 | 1,285 | -1.5% |
| 1991 | 1,282 | -0.2% |
| 1992 | 1,246 | -2.8% |
| 1993 | 1,200 | -3.7% |
| 1994 | 1,193 | -0.6% |
| 1995 | 1,186 | -0.6% |
| 1996 | 1,185 | -0.1% |
| 1997 | 1,184 | -0.1% |
| 1998 | 1,189 | +0.4% |
| 1999 | 1,165 | -2.0% |
| 2000 | 1,136 | -2.5% |
| 2001 | 1,130 | -0.5% |
| 2002 | 1,117 | -1.2% |
| 2003 | 1,090 | -2.4% |
| 2004 | 1,075 | -1.4% |
| 2005 | 1,060 | -1.4% |
| 2006 | 1,067 | +0.7% |
| 2007 | 1,063 | -0.4% |
| 2008 | 1,081 | +1.7% |
| 2009 | 1,088 | +0.6% |
| 2010 | 1,094 | +0.6% |
| 2011 | 1,108 | +1.3% |
| 2012 | 1,124 | +1.4% |
| 2013 | 1,146 | +2.0% |
| 2014 | 1,155 | +0.8% |
| 2015 | 1,168 | +1.1% |
| 2016 | 1,155 | -1.1% |
| 2017 | 1,142 | -1.1% |
| 2018 | 1,118 | -2.1% |
| 2019 | 1,091 | -2.4% |
| 2020 | 1,065 | -2.4% |
| 2021 | 1,046 | -1.8% |
| 2022 | 1,016 | -2.9% |
| 2023 | 993 | -2.3% |
Nigeria compared with similar countries
- Nigeria's 993 is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 146, 6.8× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Nigeria's 993 is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 257, 3.9× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 1,339 | 1,304 | 1,363 | 5 |
| 1990s | 1,212 | 1,165 | 1,285 | 10 |
| 2000s | 1,091 | 1,060 | 1,136 | 10 |
| 2010s | 1,130 | 1,091 | 1,168 | 10 |
| 2020s | 1,030 | 993 | 1,065 | 4 |
Countries ranked near Nigeria
- 2 Chad 748 compare
- 3 Central African Republic 692 compare
- 3 South Sudan 692 compare
More health data for Nigeria
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.08 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.8137 % change on previous year (2090)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 257,921 (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 14 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 1.14 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.0711 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 1.17 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per capita 0.0729 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is maternal mortality ratio in Nigeria?
- Maternal mortality ratio in Nigeria was 993 in 2023, according to Trends in Maternal Mortality, World Health Organization (WHO).
- What is the highest maternal mortality ratio recorded in Nigeria?
- The highest recorded value was 1,363 in 1986.
- What is the lowest maternal mortality ratio recorded in Nigeria?
- The lowest recorded value was 993 in 2023.
- How does Nigeria rank for maternal mortality ratio?
- Nigeria ranks 1st out of 194 countries with data for 2023.
- Is maternal mortality ratio rising or falling in Nigeria?
- Over the last ten years it is down 13.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Nigeria 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).