Maternal mortality ratio (per 100 000 live births) in World
World: Maternal mortality ratio was 197.31 in 2023. ▼ Falling
Latest (2023)
197.31
Change on year
down 2.6%
Rank
3rd
of 13 groups
All-time high
460.43
in 1985
All-time low
197.31
in 2023
Years of data
39
1985–2023
Maternal mortality ratio in World, 1985–2023
Source: World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory.
Analysis
The most recent figure for maternal mortality ratio in World is 197.31, measured in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 39 years on record.
That represents a change of down 2.6% on the previous year and down 16.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, maternal mortality ratio in World peaked at 460.43 in 1985 and was at its lowest, 197.31, in 2023.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 39 years of available data.
Maternal mortality ratio in World, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 460.43 | — |
| 1986 | 438.46 | -4.8% |
| 1987 | 429.23 | -2.1% |
| 1988 | 414.36 | -3.5% |
| 1989 | 401.21 | -3.2% |
| 1990 | 391.18 | -2.5% |
| 1991 | 394.89 | +0.9% |
| 1992 | 394.75 | -0.0% |
| 1993 | 389.1 | -1.4% |
| 1994 | 382.04 | -1.8% |
| 1995 | 371.06 | -2.9% |
| 1996 | 365.88 | -1.4% |
| 1997 | 358.16 | -2.1% |
| 1998 | 360.32 | +0.6% |
| 1999 | 339.88 | -5.7% |
| 2000 | 327.63 | -3.6% |
| 2001 | 321.18 | -2.0% |
| 2002 | 311.39 | -3.0% |
| 2003 | 300.77 | -3.4% |
| 2004 | 290.93 | -3.3% |
| 2005 | 282.96 | -2.7% |
| 2006 | 275.83 | -2.5% |
| 2007 | 269.24 | -2.4% |
| 2008 | 264.2 | -1.9% |
| 2009 | 258.49 | -2.2% |
| 2010 | 253.34 | -2.0% |
| 2011 | 247.33 | -2.4% |
| 2012 | 238.82 | -3.4% |
| 2013 | 235.36 | -1.4% |
| 2014 | 230.63 | -2.0% |
| 2015 | 227.74 | -1.3% |
| 2016 | 220.34 | -3.2% |
| 2017 | 214.71 | -2.6% |
| 2018 | 210.9 | -1.8% |
| 2019 | 207.1 | -1.8% |
| 2020 | 210.5 | +1.6% |
| 2021 | 241.94 | +14.9% |
| 2022 | 202.58 | -16.3% |
| 2023 | 197.31 | -2.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 428.74 | 401.21 | 460.43 | 5 |
| 1990s | 374.72 | 339.88 | 394.89 | 10 |
| 2000s | 290.26 | 258.49 | 327.63 | 10 |
| 2010s | 228.63 | 207.1 | 253.34 | 10 |
| 2020s | 213.08 | 197.31 | 241.94 | 4 |
Countries ranked near World
More health data for World
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 2,458 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -0.47 % 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 0.0381 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -0.6031 % 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 0.0401 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 05-09, female, annual growth rate -0.915 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 05-09, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 05-09, female, per capita 0.04 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is maternal mortality ratio in World?
- Maternal mortality ratio in World was 197.31 in 2023, according to World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory.
- What is the highest maternal mortality ratio recorded in World?
- The highest recorded value was 460.43 in 1985.
- What is the lowest maternal mortality ratio recorded in World?
- The lowest recorded value was 197.31 in 2023.
- How does World rank for maternal mortality ratio?
- World ranks 3rd out of 13 groups with data for 2023.
- Is maternal mortality ratio rising or falling in World?
- Over the last ten years it is down 16.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this World 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).