Maternal mortality ratio in China

China: Maternal mortality ratio was 17.8 in 2019. ▼ Falling

Latest (2019)
17.8
Change on year
down 2.7%
World rank
42nd
of 58 countries
All-time high
88.9
in 1990
All-time low
17.8
in 2019
Years of data
24
1990–2019

Maternal mortality ratio in China, 1990–2019

204060801990200420191990: 88.91995: 61.91997: 63.61999: 58.72000: 532001: 50.22002: 43.22003: 51.32004: 48.32005: 47.72006: 41.12007: 36.62008: 34.22009: 31.92010: 302011: 26.12012: 24.52013: 23.22014: 21.72015: 20.12016: 19.92017: 19.62018: 18.32019: 17.8

Source: Maternal Mortality Estimation Inter-Agency Group (MMEIG), World Health Organization (WHO), note: The country data compiled, adjusted and used in the estimation model by the Maternal Mortality Estimati.

Analysis

China recorded 17.8 for maternal mortality ratio in 2019. That is the lowest value across all 24 years on record.

That represents a change of down 2.7% on the previous year and down 44.2% over ten years.

Over the whole period, maternal mortality ratio in China peaked at 88.9 in 1990 and was at its lowest, 17.8, in 2019.

China ranks 42nd of 58 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 24 years of available data.

Maternal mortality ratio in China, year by year

Annual values for Maternal mortality ratio (national estimate, per 100,000 live births) in China, 1990 to 2019.
Year Value Change
1990 88.9
1995 61.9 -30.4%
1997 63.6 +2.7%
1999 58.7 -7.7%
2000 53 -9.7%
2001 50.2 -5.3%
2002 43.2 -13.9%
2003 51.3 +18.7%
2004 48.3 -5.8%
2005 47.7 -1.2%
2006 41.1 -13.8%
2007 36.6 -10.9%
2008 34.2 -6.6%
2009 31.9 -6.7%
2010 30 -6.0%
2011 26.1 -13.0%
2012 24.5 -6.1%
2013 23.2 -5.3%
2014 21.7 -6.5%
2015 20.1 -7.4%
2016 19.9 -1.0%
2017 19.6 -1.5%
2018 18.3 -6.6%
2019 17.8 -2.7%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 68.28 58.7 88.9 4
2000s 43.75 31.9 53 10
2010s 22.12 17.8 30 10

Countries ranked near China

  1. 39 Iran, Islamic Republic of 19.7 compare
  2. 40 Uruguay 19.1 compare
  3. 41 Lebanon 18.5
  4. 43 Oman 15.2 compare
  5. 44 Chile 14.2 compare
  6. 45 Portugal 13.1 compare
  7. 45 Türkiye 13.1 compare

See the full ranking of 58 places →

More health data for China

All data for China →

Frequently asked questions

What is maternal mortality ratio in China?
Maternal mortality ratio in China was 17.8 in 2019, according to Maternal Mortality Estimation Inter-Agency Group (MMEIG), World Health Organization (WHO), note: The country data compiled, adjusted and used in the estimation model by the Maternal Mortality Estimati.
What is the highest maternal mortality ratio recorded in China?
The highest recorded value was 88.9 in 1990.
What is the lowest maternal mortality ratio recorded in China?
The lowest recorded value was 17.8 in 2019.
How does China rank for maternal mortality ratio?
China ranks 42nd out of 58 countries with data for 2019.
Is maternal mortality ratio rising or falling in China?
Over the last ten years it is down 44.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this China data come from?
The figures come from Maternal Mortality Estimation Inter-Agency Group (MMEIG), World Health Organization (WHO), note: The country data compiled, adjusted and used in the estimation model by the Maternal Mortality Estimati, published as part of Maternal mortality ratio (national estimate, per 100,000 live births). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Maternal mortality ratio in China. Statizoid, drawing on Maternal Mortality Estimation Inter-Agency Group (MMEIG), World Health Organization (WHO), note: The country data compiled, adjusted and used in the estimation model by the Maternal Mortality Estimati. Retrieved 03 September 2026, from https://health.statizoid.com/stat/maternal-mortality-ratio-national-estimate-per-100-000-live-births/china/

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About this data

Indicator
Maternal mortality ratio (national estimate, per 100,000 live births)
Source
Maternal Mortality Estimation Inter-Agency Group (MMEIG), World Health Organization (WHO), note: The country data compiled, adjusted and used in the estimation model by the Maternal Mortality Estimati
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
58 places, 1,112 data points, 1985–2023
Last refreshed

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.