Maternal mortality ratio in South Africa
South Africa: Maternal mortality ratio was 117.57 in 2023. ▼ Falling
Latest (2023)
117.57
Change on year
down 9.0%
World rank
62nd
of 194 countries
All-time high
283.42
in 2006
All-time low
117.57
in 2023
Years of data
39
1985–2023
Maternal mortality ratio in South Africa, 1985–2023
Source: World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 117.57 for maternal mortality ratio in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 39 years on record.
The figure is down 9.0% on the previous year and down 34.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, maternal mortality ratio in South Africa peaked at 283.42 in 2006 and was at its lowest, 117.57, in 2023.
That places South Africa 62nd out of 194 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 39 years of available data.
Maternal mortality ratio in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 207.97 | — |
| 1986 | 199.75 | -4.0% |
| 1987 | 192.21 | -3.8% |
| 1988 | 184.04 | -4.3% |
| 1989 | 176.99 | -3.8% |
| 1990 | 169.69 | -4.1% |
| 1991 | 162.09 | -4.5% |
| 1992 | 152.46 | -5.9% |
| 1993 | 145.14 | -4.8% |
| 1994 | 133.47 | -8.0% |
| 1995 | 124.53 | -6.7% |
| 1996 | 150.27 | +20.7% |
| 1997 | 152.38 | +1.4% |
| 1998 | 152.44 | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 151.22 | -0.8% |
| 2000 | 174.75 | +15.6% |
| 2001 | 192.23 | +10.0% |
| 2002 | 225.21 | +17.2% |
| 2003 | 245 | +8.8% |
| 2004 | 258.88 | +5.7% |
| 2005 | 278.81 | +7.7% |
| 2006 | 283.42 | +1.7% |
| 2007 | 271.95 | -4.0% |
| 2008 | 271.63 | -0.1% |
| 2009 | 241.06 | -11.3% |
| 2010 | 226.06 | -6.2% |
| 2011 | 202.03 | -10.6% |
| 2012 | 193.81 | -4.1% |
| 2013 | 179.74 | -7.3% |
| 2014 | 162.14 | -9.8% |
| 2015 | 150.42 | -7.2% |
| 2016 | 141.17 | -6.1% |
| 2017 | 133.69 | -5.3% |
| 2018 | 127.52 | -4.6% |
| 2019 | 119.45 | -6.3% |
| 2020 | 118.29 | -1.0% |
| 2021 | 191.17 | +61.6% |
| 2022 | 129.23 | -32.4% |
| 2023 | 117.57 | -9.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 192.19 | 176.99 | 207.97 | 5 |
| 1990s | 149.37 | 124.53 | 169.69 | 10 |
| 2000s | 244.29 | 174.75 | 283.42 | 10 |
| 2010s | 163.6 | 119.45 | 226.06 | 10 |
| 2020s | 139.06 | 117.57 | 191.17 | 4 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 59 Solomon Islands 122.59 compare
- 60 Yemen 118.4 compare
- 61 Eswatini 117.93 compare
- 63 Bangladesh 115.11 compare
- 64 Lao People's Democratic Republic 112.15 compare
- 65 Samoa 101.49 compare
More health data for South Africa
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -2.2 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate -0.1386 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,152 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 3,333 deaths (2100)
- Population ages 65-69, male, annual growth rate 2.84 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 65-69, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 65-69, male, per capita 0.0116 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 70-74, female, annual growth rate 4.91 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 70-74, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 70-74, female, per capita 0.0115 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is maternal mortality ratio in South Africa?
- Maternal mortality ratio in South Africa was 117.57 in 2023, according to World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory.
- What is the highest maternal mortality ratio recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 283.42 in 2006.
- What is the lowest maternal mortality ratio recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 117.57 in 2023.
- How does South Africa rank for maternal mortality ratio?
- South Africa ranks 62nd out of 194 countries with data for 2023.
- Is maternal mortality ratio rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 34.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Africa 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).