Maternal mortality ratio in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)
Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries): Maternal mortality ratio was 424 in 2023. ▼ Falling
Maternal mortality ratio in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries), 1985–2023
Source: Trends in Maternal Mortality, World Health Organization (WHO).
Analysis
The most recent figure for maternal mortality ratio in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) is 424, measured in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 39 years on record.
That represents a change of down 2.3% on the previous year and down 29.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, maternal mortality ratio in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) peaked at 1,090 in 1985 and was at its lowest, 424, in 2023.
Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) ranks 5th of 47 groups 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 in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries), year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 1,090 | — |
| 1986 | 1,060 | -2.8% |
| 1987 | 1,080 | +1.9% |
| 1988 | 1,030 | -4.6% |
| 1989 | 1,000 | -2.9% |
| 1990 | 986 | -1.4% |
| 1991 | 962 | -2.4% |
| 1992 | 972 | +1.0% |
| 1993 | 947 | -2.6% |
| 1994 | 910 | -3.9% |
| 1995 | 858 | -5.7% |
| 1996 | 843 | -1.7% |
| 1997 | 822 | -2.5% |
| 1998 | 844 | +2.7% |
| 1999 | 762 | -9.7% |
| 2000 | 735 | -3.5% |
| 2001 | 717 | -2.4% |
| 2002 | 699 | -2.5% |
| 2003 | 676 | -3.3% |
| 2004 | 657 | -2.8% |
| 2005 | 649 | -1.2% |
| 2006 | 646 | -0.5% |
| 2007 | 645 | -0.2% |
| 2008 | 646 | +0.2% |
| 2009 | 641 | -0.8% |
| 2010 | 632 | -1.4% |
| 2011 | 620 | -1.9% |
| 2012 | 606 | -2.3% |
| 2013 | 597 | -1.5% |
| 2014 | 589 | -1.3% |
| 2015 | 577 | -2.0% |
| 2016 | 556 | -3.6% |
| 2017 | 535 | -3.8% |
| 2018 | 507 | -5.2% |
| 2019 | 488 | -3.7% |
| 2020 | 465 | -4.7% |
| 2021 | 477 | +2.6% |
| 2022 | 434 | -9.0% |
| 2023 | 424 | -2.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 1,052 | 1,000 | 1,090 | 5 |
| 1990s | 890.6 | 762 | 986 | 10 |
| 2000s | 671.1 | 641 | 735 | 10 |
| 2010s | 570.7 | 488 | 632 | 10 |
| 2020s | 450 | 424 | 477 | 4 |
Countries ranked near Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)
- 2 Chad 748 compare
- 3 Central African Republic 692 compare
- 3 South Sudan 692 compare
- 5 Liberia 628 compare
- 6 Somalia 563 compare
- 7 Afghanistan 521 compare
- 8 Benin 518 compare
More health data for Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)
- Population ages 35-39, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 40-44, male, annual growth rate 3.14 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 40-44, female, per capita 0.024 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 40-44, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 40-44, female, annual growth rate 3.23 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 35-39, male, per capita 0.0282 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 2.8 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 35-39, female, per capita 0.0287 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 30-34, female, annual growth rate 2.69 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is maternal mortality ratio in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)?
- Maternal mortality ratio in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) was 424 in 2023, according to Trends in Maternal Mortality, World Health Organization (WHO).
- What is the highest maternal mortality ratio recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)?
- The highest recorded value was 1,090 in 1985.
- What is the lowest maternal mortality ratio recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)?
- The lowest recorded value was 424 in 2023.
- How does Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) rank for maternal mortality ratio?
- Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) ranks 5th out of 47 groups with data for 2023.
- Is maternal mortality ratio rising or falling in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)?
- Over the last ten years it is down 29.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) 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).