Maternal mortality ratio in Sub-Saharan Africa
Sub-Saharan Africa: Maternal mortality ratio was 448 in 2023. ▼ Falling
Maternal mortality ratio in Sub-Saharan Africa, 1985–2023
Source: Trends in Maternal Mortality, World Health Organization (WHO).
Analysis
In 2023, maternal mortality ratio in Sub-Saharan Africa stood at 448. That is the lowest value across all 39 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 1.5% on the previous year and down 26.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, maternal mortality ratio in Sub-Saharan Africa peaked at 1,120 in 1985 and was at its lowest, 448, in 2023.
That places Sub-Saharan Africa 4th out of 47 groups with data for 2023, putting it 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, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 1,120 | — |
| 1986 | 1,083 | -3.3% |
| 1987 | 1,107 | +2.2% |
| 1988 | 1,051 | -5.1% |
| 1989 | 1,021 | -2.9% |
| 1990 | 1,004 | -1.7% |
| 1991 | 979 | -2.5% |
| 1992 | 989 | +1.0% |
| 1993 | 963 | -2.6% |
| 1994 | 925 | -3.9% |
| 1995 | 870 | -5.9% |
| 1996 | 855 | -1.7% |
| 1997 | 832 | -2.7% |
| 1998 | 855 | +2.8% |
| 1999 | 772 | -9.7% |
| 2000 | 744 | -3.6% |
| 2001 | 726 | -2.4% |
| 2002 | 709 | -2.3% |
| 2003 | 685 | -3.4% |
| 2004 | 666 | -2.8% |
| 2005 | 658 | -1.2% |
| 2006 | 656 | -0.3% |
| 2007 | 654 | -0.3% |
| 2008 | 656 | +0.3% |
| 2009 | 652 | -0.6% |
| 2010 | 643 | -1.4% |
| 2011 | 633 | -1.6% |
| 2012 | 620 | -2.1% |
| 2013 | 610 | -1.6% |
| 2014 | 604 | -1.0% |
| 2015 | 593 | -1.8% |
| 2016 | 575 | -3.0% |
| 2017 | 554 | -3.7% |
| 2018 | 526 | -5.1% |
| 2019 | 507 | -3.6% |
| 2020 | 486 | -4.1% |
| 2021 | 501 | +3.1% |
| 2022 | 455 | -9.2% |
| 2023 | 448 | -1.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 1,076 | 1,021 | 1,120 | 5 |
| 1990s | 904.4 | 772 | 1,004 | 10 |
| 2000s | 680.6 | 652 | 744 | 10 |
| 2010s | 586.5 | 507 | 643 | 10 |
| 2020s | 472.5 | 448 | 501 | 4 |
Countries ranked near Sub-Saharan Africa
- 1 Nigeria 993 compare
- 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
More health data for Sub-Saharan Africa
- Population ages 0-14, male, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 80 and above, male, per capita 0.0016 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, female, annual growth rate 1.61 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, female, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, female, per capita 0.1997 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, male, annual growth rate 1.63 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, total, annual growth rate 1.62 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, total, per capita 0.4038 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, total, per unit of GDP 0.0002 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 80 and above, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is maternal mortality ratio in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- Maternal mortality ratio in Sub-Saharan Africa was 448 in 2023, according to Trends in Maternal Mortality, World Health Organization (WHO).
- What is the highest maternal mortality ratio recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 1,120 in 1985.
- What is the lowest maternal mortality ratio recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 448 in 2023.
- How does Sub-Saharan Africa rank for maternal mortality ratio?
- Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 4th out of 47 groups with data for 2023.
- Is maternal mortality ratio rising or falling in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 26.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Sub-Saharan 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).