Maternal mortality ratio in World

World: Maternal mortality ratio was 197.31 in 2023. ▼ Falling

Latest (2023)
197.31
Change on year
down 2.6%
Rank
2nd
of 7 regions
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

01002003004005001985200420231985: 460.41986: 438.51987: 429.21988: 414.41989: 401.21990: 391.21991: 394.91992: 394.71993: 389.11994: 3821995: 371.11996: 365.91997: 358.21998: 360.31999: 339.92000: 327.62001: 321.22002: 311.42003: 300.82004: 290.92005: 2832006: 275.82007: 269.22008: 264.22009: 258.52010: 253.32011: 247.32012: 238.82013: 235.42014: 230.62015: 227.72016: 220.32017: 214.72018: 210.92019: 207.12020: 210.52021: 241.92022: 202.62023: 197.3

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

Annual values for Maternal mortality ratio (per 100 000 live births) in World, 1985 to 2023.
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

DecadeAverage LowestHighest 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

  1. 1 Nigeria 992.83 compare
  2. 2 Chad 747.54 compare
  3. 3 South Sudan 691.82 compare
  4. 4 Central African Republic 691.74 compare
  5. 5 Liberia 627.72 compare

See the full ranking of 202 places →

More health data for World

All data for World →

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 2nd out of 7 regions 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.

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Maternal mortality ratio in World. Statizoid, drawing on World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory. Retrieved 23 August 2026, from https://health.statizoid.com/stat/maternal-mortality-ratio-per-100-000-live-births/world/

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About this data

Indicator
Maternal mortality ratio (per 100 000 live births)
Source
World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory
Licence
CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO (WHO)
Coverage
202 places, 7,878 data points, 1985–2023
Last refreshed