Maternal mortality ratio (modeled estimate, per 100,000 live births) in South Asia (IDA & IBRD)
South Asia (IDA & IBRD): Maternal mortality ratio (modeled estimate, per 100,000 live births) was 85 in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Maternal mortality ratio in South Asia (IDA & IBRD), 1985–2023
Source: Trends in Maternal Mortality, World Health Organization (WHO).
Analysis
The most recent figure for maternal mortality ratio in South Asia (IDA & IBRD) is 85, measured in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 39 years on record.
The figure is down 10.5% on the previous year and down 46.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, maternal mortality ratio in South Asia (IDA & IBRD) peaked at 696 in 1985 and was at its lowest, 85, in 2023.
That places South Asia (IDA & IBRD) 26th out of 47 groups with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Maternal mortality ratio (modeled estimate, per 100,000 live births) in South Asia (IDA & IBRD), year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 696 | — |
| 1986 | 662 | -4.9% |
| 1987 | 633 | -4.4% |
| 1988 | 606 | -4.3% |
| 1989 | 584 | -3.6% |
| 1990 | 562 | -3.8% |
| 1991 | 547 | -2.7% |
| 1992 | 523 | -4.4% |
| 1993 | 505 | -3.4% |
| 1994 | 485 | -4.0% |
| 1995 | 467 | -3.7% |
| 1996 | 449 | -3.9% |
| 1997 | 431 | -4.0% |
| 1998 | 415 | -3.7% |
| 1999 | 398 | -4.1% |
| 2000 | 380 | -4.5% |
| 2001 | 365 | -3.9% |
| 2002 | 344 | -5.8% |
| 2003 | 326 | -5.2% |
| 2004 | 307 | -5.8% |
| 2005 | 287 | -6.5% |
| 2006 | 268 | -6.6% |
| 2007 | 250 | -6.7% |
| 2008 | 232 | -7.2% |
| 2009 | 214 | -7.8% |
| 2010 | 198 | -7.5% |
| 2011 | 183 | -7.6% |
| 2012 | 169 | -7.7% |
| 2013 | 158 | -6.5% |
| 2014 | 147 | -7.0% |
| 2015 | 138 | -6.1% |
| 2016 | 129 | -6.5% |
| 2017 | 121 | -6.2% |
| 2018 | 114 | -5.8% |
| 2019 | 108 | -5.3% |
| 2020 | 107 | -0.9% |
| 2021 | 159 | +48.6% |
| 2022 | 95 | -40.3% |
| 2023 | 85 | -10.5% |
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Maternal mortality ratio (modeled estimate, per 100,000 live births) in South Asia (IDA & IBRD) 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 | +48.6% | 107 | 159 |
| 2022 | -40.3% | 159 | 95 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 636.2 | 584 | 696 | 5 |
| 1990s | 478.2 | 398 | 562 | 10 |
| 2000s | 297.3 | 214 | 380 | 10 |
| 2010s | 146.5 | 108 | 198 | 10 |
| 2020s | 111.5 | 85 | 159 | 4 |
Countries ranked near South Asia (IDA & IBRD)
More health data for South Asia (IDA & IBRD)
- Population ages 30-34, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 40-44, female, annual growth rate 2.72 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 35-39, male, per capita 0.0391 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 35-39, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 35-39, male, annual growth rate 0.9874 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 35-39, female, per capita 0.0372 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 35-39, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 35-39, female, annual growth rate 1.05 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 30-34, male, per capita 0.0417 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 25-29, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is maternal mortality ratio in South Asia (IDA & IBRD)?
- Maternal mortality ratio in South Asia (IDA & IBRD) was 85 in 2023, according to Trends in Maternal Mortality, World Health Organization (WHO).
- What is the highest maternal mortality ratio recorded in South Asia (IDA & IBRD)?
- The highest recorded value was 696 in 1985.
- What is the lowest maternal mortality ratio recorded in South Asia (IDA & IBRD)?
- The lowest recorded value was 85 in 2023.
- How does South Asia (IDA & IBRD) rank for maternal mortality ratio?
- South Asia (IDA & IBRD) ranks 26th out of 47 groups with data for 2023.
- Is maternal mortality ratio rising or falling in South Asia (IDA & IBRD)?
- Over the last ten years it is down 46.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Asia (IDA & IBRD) 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).