Maternal mortality ratio (modeled estimate, per 100,000 live births) in Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe: Maternal mortality ratio (modeled estimate, per 100,000 live births) was 358 in 2023. ▲ Rising
Maternal mortality ratio in Zimbabwe, 1985–2023
Source: Trends in Maternal Mortality, World Health Organization (WHO).
Analysis
Zimbabwe recorded 358 for maternal mortality ratio in 2023.
The figure is down 2.7% on the previous year and down 31.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, maternal mortality ratio in Zimbabwe peaked at 573 in 1985 and was at its lowest, 331, in 1993.
That places Zimbabwe 18th out of 194 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 39 years of available data.
Maternal mortality ratio (modeled estimate, per 100,000 live births) in Zimbabwe, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 573 | — |
| 1986 | 525 | -8.4% |
| 1987 | 480 | -8.6% |
| 1988 | 431 | -10.2% |
| 1989 | 382 | -11.4% |
| 1990 | 353 | -7.6% |
| 1991 | 332 | -5.9% |
| 1992 | 333 | +0.3% |
| 1993 | 331 | -0.6% |
| 1994 | 332 | +0.3% |
| 1995 | 332 | +0.0% |
| 1996 | 352 | +6.0% |
| 1997 | 357 | +1.4% |
| 1998 | 368 | +3.1% |
| 1999 | 399 | +8.4% |
| 2000 | 405 | +1.5% |
| 2001 | 467 | +15.3% |
| 2002 | 418 | -10.5% |
| 2003 | 455 | +8.9% |
| 2004 | 451 | -0.9% |
| 2005 | 454 | +0.7% |
| 2006 | 480 | +5.7% |
| 2007 | 519 | +8.1% |
| 2008 | 526 | +1.3% |
| 2009 | 540 | +2.7% |
| 2010 | 567 | +5.0% |
| 2011 | 564 | -0.5% |
| 2012 | 558 | -1.1% |
| 2013 | 525 | -5.9% |
| 2014 | 468 | -10.9% |
| 2015 | 428 | -8.5% |
| 2016 | 411 | -4.0% |
| 2017 | 389 | -5.4% |
| 2018 | 386 | -0.8% |
| 2019 | 388 | +0.5% |
| 2020 | 380 | -2.1% |
| 2021 | 446 | +17.4% |
| 2022 | 368 | -17.5% |
| 2023 | 358 | -2.7% |
Zimbabwe compared with similar countries
- Zimbabwe's 358 is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 146, 2.5× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Zimbabwe's 358 is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 257, 1.4× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 478.2 | 382 | 573 | 5 |
| 1990s | 348.9 | 331 | 399 | 10 |
| 2000s | 471.5 | 405 | 540 | 10 |
| 2010s | 468.4 | 386 | 567 | 10 |
| 2020s | 388 | 358 | 446 | 4 |
Countries ranked near Zimbabwe
- 15 Mauritania 381 compare
- 16 Mali 367 compare
- 17 Cote d'Ivoire 359 compare
- 19 Gambia 354 compare
- 19 Sierra Leone 354 compare
- 21 Niger 350 compare
More health data for Zimbabwe
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.39 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 1.11 % change on previous year (2090)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 4,457 (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 2 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 0.9632 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.0689 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 0.9673 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per capita 0.0701 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is maternal mortality ratio in Zimbabwe?
- Maternal mortality ratio in Zimbabwe was 358 in 2023, according to Trends in Maternal Mortality, World Health Organization (WHO).
- What is the highest maternal mortality ratio recorded in Zimbabwe?
- The highest recorded value was 573 in 1985.
- What is the lowest maternal mortality ratio recorded in Zimbabwe?
- The lowest recorded value was 331 in 1993.
- How does Zimbabwe rank for maternal mortality ratio?
- Zimbabwe ranks 18th out of 194 countries with data for 2023.
- Is maternal mortality ratio rising or falling in Zimbabwe?
- Over the last ten years it is down 31.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Zimbabwe 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).