Maternal mortality ratio (modeled estimate, per 100,000 live births) in Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone: Maternal mortality ratio (modeled estimate, per 100,000 live births) was 354 in 2023. ▼ Falling
Maternal mortality ratio in Sierra Leone, 1985–2023
Source: Trends in Maternal Mortality, World Health Organization (WHO).
Analysis
The most recent figure for maternal mortality ratio in Sierra Leone is 354, measured in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 39 years on record.
The figure is down 4.3% on the previous year and down 58.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, maternal mortality ratio in Sierra Leone peaked at 1,777 in 1995 and was at its lowest, 354, in 2023.
Sierra Leone ranks 19th of 194 countries on this measure, 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 Sierra Leone, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 1,506 | — |
| 1986 | 1,530 | +1.6% |
| 1987 | 1,533 | +0.2% |
| 1988 | 1,549 | +1.0% |
| 1989 | 1,575 | +1.7% |
| 1990 | 1,572 | -0.2% |
| 1991 | 1,699 | +8.1% |
| 1992 | 1,681 | -1.1% |
| 1993 | 1,696 | +0.9% |
| 1994 | 1,755 | +3.5% |
| 1995 | 1,777 | +1.3% |
| 1996 | 1,726 | -2.9% |
| 1997 | 1,721 | -0.3% |
| 1998 | 1,753 | +1.9% |
| 1999 | 1,731 | -1.3% |
| 2000 | 1,603 | -7.4% |
| 2001 | 1,518 | -5.3% |
| 2002 | 1,492 | -1.7% |
| 2003 | 1,433 | -4.0% |
| 2004 | 1,366 | -4.7% |
| 2005 | 1,294 | -5.3% |
| 2006 | 1,168 | -9.7% |
| 2007 | 1,132 | -3.1% |
| 2008 | 1,093 | -3.4% |
| 2009 | 1,054 | -3.6% |
| 2010 | 1,018 | -3.4% |
| 2011 | 967 | -5.0% |
| 2012 | 915 | -5.4% |
| 2013 | 842 | -8.0% |
| 2014 | 821 | -2.5% |
| 2015 | 730 | -11.1% |
| 2016 | 633 | -13.3% |
| 2017 | 578 | -8.7% |
| 2018 | 491 | -15.1% |
| 2019 | 464 | -5.5% |
| 2020 | 422 | -9.1% |
| 2021 | 403 | -4.5% |
| 2022 | 370 | -8.2% |
| 2023 | 354 | -4.3% |
Sierra Leone compared with similar countries
- Sierra Leone's 354 is above the median for low income countries, which is 354, 1.0× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Sierra Leone's 354 is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 257, 1.4× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 1,539 | 1,506 | 1,575 | 5 |
| 1990s | 1,711 | 1,572 | 1,777 | 10 |
| 2000s | 1,315 | 1,054 | 1,603 | 10 |
| 2010s | 745.9 | 464 | 1,018 | 10 |
| 2020s | 387.25 | 354 | 422 | 4 |
Countries ranked near Sierra Leone
More health data for Sierra Leone
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -2.34 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.773 % change on previous year (2090)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 4,209 (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 38 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 0.6447 % 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 0.0663 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 0.6611 % 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 0.0676 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is maternal mortality ratio in Sierra Leone?
- Maternal mortality ratio in Sierra Leone was 354 in 2023, according to Trends in Maternal Mortality, World Health Organization (WHO).
- What is the highest maternal mortality ratio recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The highest recorded value was 1,777 in 1995.
- What is the lowest maternal mortality ratio recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The lowest recorded value was 354 in 2023.
- How does Sierra Leone rank for maternal mortality ratio?
- Sierra Leone ranks 19th out of 194 countries with data for 2023.
- Is maternal mortality ratio rising or falling in Sierra Leone?
- Over the last ten years it is down 58.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Sierra Leone 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).