Maternal mortality ratio in Zambia
Zambia: Maternal mortality ratio was 85 in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Maternal mortality ratio in Zambia, 1985–2023
Source: Trends in Maternal Mortality, World Health Organization (WHO).
Analysis
The most recent figure for maternal mortality ratio in Zambia is 85, measured in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 39 years on record.
That represents a change of down 4.5% on the previous year and down 60.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, maternal mortality ratio in Zambia peaked at 635 in 1988 and was at its lowest, 85, in 2023.
That places Zambia 70th out of 194 countries 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 in Zambia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 596 | — |
| 1986 | 619 | +3.9% |
| 1987 | 630 | +1.8% |
| 1988 | 635 | +0.8% |
| 1989 | 635 | +0.0% |
| 1990 | 625 | -1.6% |
| 1991 | 611 | -2.2% |
| 1992 | 581 | -4.9% |
| 1993 | 532 | -8.4% |
| 1994 | 507 | -4.7% |
| 1995 | 466 | -8.1% |
| 1996 | 433 | -7.1% |
| 1997 | 403 | -6.9% |
| 1998 | 392 | -2.7% |
| 1999 | 378 | -3.6% |
| 2000 | 340 | -10.1% |
| 2001 | 306 | -10.0% |
| 2002 | 274 | -10.5% |
| 2003 | 250 | -8.8% |
| 2004 | 260 | +4.0% |
| 2005 | 264 | +1.5% |
| 2006 | 262 | -0.8% |
| 2007 | 324 | +23.7% |
| 2008 | 394 | +21.6% |
| 2009 | 406 | +3.0% |
| 2010 | 332 | -18.2% |
| 2011 | 291 | -12.3% |
| 2012 | 256 | -12.0% |
| 2013 | 213 | -16.8% |
| 2014 | 174 | -18.3% |
| 2015 | 154 | -11.5% |
| 2016 | 158 | +2.6% |
| 2017 | 141 | -10.8% |
| 2018 | 117 | -17.0% |
| 2019 | 103 | -12.0% |
| 2020 | 99 | -3.9% |
| 2021 | 140 | +41.4% |
| 2022 | 89 | -36.4% |
| 2023 | 85 | -4.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 623 | 596 | 635 | 5 |
| 1990s | 492.8 | 378 | 625 | 10 |
| 2000s | 308 | 250 | 406 | 10 |
| 2010s | 193.9 | 103 | 332 | 10 |
| 2020s | 103.25 | 85 | 140 | 4 |
Countries ranked near Zambia
More health data for Zambia
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.09 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.7971 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 809.3 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 8,894 deaths (2100)
- Population ages 80 and above, female, per capita 0.0012 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 80 and above, male, annual growth rate 2.54 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 80 and above, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 80 and above, male, per capita 0.0006 units per person (2025)
- Pertussis - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2018)
- Pertussis - number of reported cases, per capita 0 units per person (2018)
Frequently asked questions
- What is maternal mortality ratio in Zambia?
- Maternal mortality ratio in Zambia was 85 in 2023, according to Trends in Maternal Mortality, World Health Organization (WHO).
- What is the highest maternal mortality ratio recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 635 in 1988.
- What is the lowest maternal mortality ratio recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 85 in 2023.
- How does Zambia rank for maternal mortality ratio?
- Zambia ranks 70th out of 194 countries with data for 2023.
- Is maternal mortality ratio rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 60.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Zambia 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).