Maternal mortality ratio (modeled estimate, per 100,000 live births) in South Africa
South Africa: Maternal mortality ratio (modeled estimate, per 100,000 live births) was 118 in 2023. ▼ Falling
Maternal mortality ratio in South Africa, 1985–2023
Source: Trends in Maternal Mortality, World Health Organization (WHO).
Analysis
South Africa recorded 118 for maternal mortality ratio in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 39 years on record.
That represents a change of down 8.5% on the previous year and down 34.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, maternal mortality ratio in South Africa peaked at 283 in 2006 and was at its lowest, 118, in 2020.
That places South Africa 60th 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 South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 208 | — |
| 1986 | 200 | -3.8% |
| 1987 | 192 | -4.0% |
| 1988 | 184 | -4.2% |
| 1989 | 177 | -3.8% |
| 1990 | 170 | -4.0% |
| 1991 | 162 | -4.7% |
| 1992 | 152 | -6.2% |
| 1993 | 145 | -4.6% |
| 1994 | 133 | -8.3% |
| 1995 | 125 | -6.0% |
| 1996 | 150 | +20.0% |
| 1997 | 152 | +1.3% |
| 1998 | 152 | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 151 | -0.7% |
| 2000 | 175 | +15.9% |
| 2001 | 192 | +9.7% |
| 2002 | 225 | +17.2% |
| 2003 | 245 | +8.9% |
| 2004 | 259 | +5.7% |
| 2005 | 279 | +7.7% |
| 2006 | 283 | +1.4% |
| 2007 | 272 | -3.9% |
| 2008 | 272 | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 241 | -11.4% |
| 2010 | 226 | -6.2% |
| 2011 | 202 | -10.6% |
| 2012 | 194 | -4.0% |
| 2013 | 180 | -7.2% |
| 2014 | 162 | -10.0% |
| 2015 | 150 | -7.4% |
| 2016 | 141 | -6.0% |
| 2017 | 134 | -5.0% |
| 2018 | 128 | -4.5% |
| 2019 | 119 | -7.0% |
| 2020 | 118 | -0.8% |
| 2021 | 191 | +61.9% |
| 2022 | 129 | -32.5% |
| 2023 | 118 | -8.5% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 118 is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 43, 2.7× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 118 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 257, 46% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Maternal mortality ratio (modeled estimate, per 100,000 live births) in South Africa 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 | +61.9% | 118 | 191 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 192.2 | 177 | 208 | 5 |
| 1990s | 149.2 | 125 | 170 | 10 |
| 2000s | 244.3 | 175 | 283 | 10 |
| 2010s | 163.6 | 119 | 226 | 10 |
| 2020s | 139 | 118 | 191 | 4 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 57 Micronesia (country) 129 compare
- 58 Dominican Republic 124 compare
- 59 Solomon Islands 123 compare
- 60 Eswatini 118 compare
- 60 Yemen 118 compare
- 63 Bangladesh 115 compare
More health data for South Africa
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -2.2 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate -0.1386 % change on previous year (2090)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 3,333 (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -0.5504 % 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 0.045 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 0.0003 % 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 0.046 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is maternal mortality ratio in South Africa?
- Maternal mortality ratio in South Africa was 118 in 2023, according to Trends in Maternal Mortality, World Health Organization (WHO).
- What is the highest maternal mortality ratio recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 283 in 2006.
- What is the lowest maternal mortality ratio recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 118 in 2020.
- How does South Africa rank for maternal mortality ratio?
- South Africa ranks 60th out of 194 countries with data for 2023.
- Is maternal mortality ratio rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 34.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Africa 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).