Maternal mortality ratio in Africa (WHO region)
Africa (WHO region): Maternal mortality ratio was 442.12 in 2023. ▼ Falling
Latest (2023)
442.12
Change on year
down 1.4%
Rank
1st
of 7 groups
All-time high
1,084
in 1985
All-time low
442.12
in 2023
Years of data
39
1985–2023
Maternal mortality ratio in Africa (WHO region), 1985–2023
Source: World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory.
Analysis
The most recent figure for maternal mortality ratio in Africa (WHO region) is 442.12, measured in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 39 years on record.
That represents a change of down 1.4% on the previous year and down 26.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, maternal mortality ratio in Africa (WHO region) peaked at 1,084 in 1985 and was at its lowest, 442.12, in 2023.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 39 years of available data.
Maternal mortality ratio in Africa (WHO region), year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 1,084 | — |
| 1986 | 1,051 | -3.1% |
| 1987 | 1,077 | +2.5% |
| 1988 | 1,019 | -5.4% |
| 1989 | 990.11 | -2.9% |
| 1990 | 975.53 | -1.5% |
| 1991 | 947.21 | -2.9% |
| 1992 | 959.09 | +1.3% |
| 1993 | 937.96 | -2.2% |
| 1994 | 902.43 | -3.8% |
| 1995 | 850.19 | -5.8% |
| 1996 | 836.54 | -1.6% |
| 1997 | 815.68 | -2.5% |
| 1998 | 840.17 | +3.0% |
| 1999 | 755.64 | -10.1% |
| 2000 | 727.48 | -3.7% |
| 2001 | 710.13 | -2.4% |
| 2002 | 692.98 | -2.4% |
| 2003 | 667.77 | -3.6% |
| 2004 | 650.03 | -2.7% |
| 2005 | 641.89 | -1.3% |
| 2006 | 639.7 | -0.3% |
| 2007 | 639.05 | -0.1% |
| 2008 | 642.13 | +0.5% |
| 2009 | 640.08 | -0.3% |
| 2010 | 630.59 | -1.5% |
| 2011 | 620.3 | -1.6% |
| 2012 | 609.01 | -1.8% |
| 2013 | 601.22 | -1.3% |
| 2014 | 594.8 | -1.1% |
| 2015 | 585.78 | -1.5% |
| 2016 | 566.54 | -3.3% |
| 2017 | 547.07 | -3.4% |
| 2018 | 518.2 | -5.3% |
| 2019 | 501.23 | -3.3% |
| 2020 | 478.92 | -4.5% |
| 2021 | 492.12 | +2.8% |
| 2022 | 448.42 | -8.9% |
| 2023 | 442.12 | -1.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 1,044 | 990.11 | 1,084 | 5 |
| 1990s | 882.05 | 755.64 | 975.53 | 10 |
| 2000s | 665.12 | 639.05 | 727.48 | 10 |
| 2010s | 577.48 | 501.23 | 630.59 | 10 |
| 2020s | 465.39 | 442.12 | 492.12 | 4 |
Countries ranked near Africa (WHO region)
- 1 Nigeria 992.83 compare
- 2 Chad 747.54 compare
- 3 South Sudan 691.82 compare
- 4 Central African Republic 691.74 compare
More health data for Africa (WHO region)
- Diphtheria - number of reported cases, gaps filled 20,261 (2025)
- Total tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 20,578 (2025)
- Pertussis - number of reported cases, gaps filled 12,202 (2025)
- Measles - number of reported cases, gaps filled 179,400 (2025)
- Measles - number of reported cases, annual growth rate -8.02 % change on previous year (2025)
- Pertussis - number of reported cases, annual growth rate 160.28 % change on previous year (2025)
- Total tetanus - number of reported cases, annual growth rate 23.13 % change on previous year (2025)
- Total tetanus - number of reported cases 20,578 (2025)
- Pertussis - number of reported cases 12,202 (2025)
- Measles - number of reported cases 179,400 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is maternal mortality ratio in Africa (WHO region)?
- Maternal mortality ratio in Africa (WHO region) was 442.12 in 2023, according to World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory.
- What is the highest maternal mortality ratio recorded in Africa (WHO region)?
- The highest recorded value was 1,084 in 1985.
- What is the lowest maternal mortality ratio recorded in Africa (WHO region)?
- The lowest recorded value was 442.12 in 2023.
- How does Africa (WHO region) rank for maternal mortality ratio?
- Africa (WHO region) ranks 1st out of 7 groups with data for 2023.
- Is maternal mortality ratio rising or falling in Africa (WHO region)?
- Over the last ten years it is down 26.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Africa (WHO region) data come from?
- The figures come from World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory, published as part of Maternal mortality ratio (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-NC-SA 3.0 IGO (WHO).