Maternal mortality ratio in South Asia
South Asia: Maternal mortality ratio was 120 in 2023. ▼ Falling
Maternal mortality ratio in South Asia, 1985–2023
Source: Trends in Maternal Mortality, World Health Organization (WHO).
Analysis
The most recent figure for maternal mortality ratio in South Asia is 120, measured in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 39 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 7.7% on the previous year and down 37.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, maternal mortality ratio in South Asia peaked at 697 in 1985 and was at its lowest, 120, in 2023.
South Asia ranks 21st of 47 groups on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 39 years of available data.
Maternal mortality ratio in South Asia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 697 | — |
| 1986 | 659 | -5.5% |
| 1987 | 633 | -3.9% |
| 1988 | 607 | -4.1% |
| 1989 | 585 | -3.6% |
| 1990 | 567 | -3.1% |
| 1991 | 555 | -2.1% |
| 1992 | 534 | -3.8% |
| 1993 | 522 | -2.2% |
| 1994 | 509 | -2.5% |
| 1995 | 496 | -2.6% |
| 1996 | 481 | -3.0% |
| 1997 | 466 | -3.1% |
| 1998 | 451 | -3.2% |
| 1999 | 432 | -4.2% |
| 2000 | 415 | -3.9% |
| 2001 | 396 | -4.6% |
| 2002 | 376 | -5.1% |
| 2003 | 357 | -5.1% |
| 2004 | 338 | -5.3% |
| 2005 | 318 | -5.9% |
| 2006 | 296 | -6.9% |
| 2007 | 278 | -6.1% |
| 2008 | 259 | -6.8% |
| 2009 | 243 | -6.2% |
| 2010 | 229 | -5.8% |
| 2011 | 215 | -6.1% |
| 2012 | 203 | -5.6% |
| 2013 | 192 | -5.4% |
| 2014 | 182 | -5.2% |
| 2015 | 173 | -4.9% |
| 2016 | 163 | -5.8% |
| 2017 | 155 | -4.9% |
| 2018 | 148 | -4.5% |
| 2019 | 142 | -4.1% |
| 2020 | 145 | +2.1% |
| 2021 | 194 | +33.8% |
| 2022 | 130 | -33.0% |
| 2023 | 120 | -7.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 636.2 | 585 | 697 | 5 |
| 1990s | 501.3 | 432 | 567 | 10 |
| 2000s | 327.6 | 243 | 415 | 10 |
| 2010s | 180.2 | 142 | 229 | 10 |
| 2020s | 147.25 | 120 | 194 | 4 |
Countries ranked near South Asia
More health data for South Asia
- Population ages 80 and above, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, female, per capita 0.1181 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, female, annual growth rate -0.6893 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 80 and above, male, per capita 0.0048 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 80 and above, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 80 and above, male, annual growth rate 4.63 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 80 and above, female, per capita 0.0064 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 75-79, female, per capita 0.0067 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 75-79, male, annual growth rate 6.75 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is maternal mortality ratio in South Asia?
- Maternal mortality ratio in South Asia was 120 in 2023, according to Trends in Maternal Mortality, World Health Organization (WHO).
- What is the highest maternal mortality ratio recorded in South Asia?
- The highest recorded value was 697 in 1985.
- What is the lowest maternal mortality ratio recorded in South Asia?
- The lowest recorded value was 120 in 2023.
- How does South Asia rank for maternal mortality ratio?
- South Asia ranks 21st out of 47 groups with data for 2023.
- Is maternal mortality ratio rising or falling in South Asia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 37.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Asia 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).