Maternal mortality ratio in Congo
Congo: Maternal mortality ratio was 241.09 Deaths per 100 000 live births in 2023. ▼ Falling
Latest (2023)
241.09 Deaths per 100 000 live births
Change on year
up 0.1%
World rank
31st
of 195 countries
All-time high
650.38 Deaths per 100 000 live births
in 1997
All-time low
240.8 Deaths per 100 000 live births
in 2022
Years of data
39
1985–2023
Maternal mortality ratio in Congo, 1985–2023
Source: World Health Organization – Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in Deaths per 100 000 live births.
Analysis
In 2023, maternal mortality ratio in Congo stood at 241.09 Deaths per 100 000 live births.
The figure is up 0.1% on the previous year and down 24.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, maternal mortality ratio in Congo peaked at 650.38 Deaths per 100 000 live births in 1997 and was at its lowest, 240.8 Deaths per 100 000 live births, in 2022.
That places Congo 31st out of 195 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 39 years of available data.
Maternal mortality ratio in Congo, year by year
| Year | Deaths per 100 000 live births | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 546.4 Deaths per 100 000 live births | — |
| 1986 | 534.93 Deaths per 100 000 live births | -2.1% |
| 1987 | 519.29 Deaths per 100 000 live births | -2.9% |
| 1988 | 509.88 Deaths per 100 000 live births | -1.8% |
| 1989 | 506.06 Deaths per 100 000 live births | -0.7% |
| 1990 | 504.87 Deaths per 100 000 live births | -0.2% |
| 1991 | 514.39 Deaths per 100 000 live births | +1.9% |
| 1992 | 531.45 Deaths per 100 000 live births | +3.3% |
| 1993 | 540.9 Deaths per 100 000 live births | +1.8% |
| 1994 | 550.84 Deaths per 100 000 live births | +1.8% |
| 1995 | 551.14 Deaths per 100 000 live births | +0.1% |
| 1996 | 545.28 Deaths per 100 000 live births | -1.1% |
| 1997 | 650.38 Deaths per 100 000 live births | +19.3% |
| 1998 | 597.19 Deaths per 100 000 live births | -8.2% |
| 1999 | 554.38 Deaths per 100 000 live births | -7.2% |
| 2000 | 509.5 Deaths per 100 000 live births | -8.1% |
| 2001 | 488.96 Deaths per 100 000 live births | -4.0% |
| 2002 | 464.43 Deaths per 100 000 live births | -5.0% |
| 2003 | 435.52 Deaths per 100 000 live births | -6.2% |
| 2004 | 399.88 Deaths per 100 000 live births | -8.2% |
| 2005 | 385 Deaths per 100 000 live births | -3.7% |
| 2006 | 393.71 Deaths per 100 000 live births | +2.3% |
| 2007 | 370.44 Deaths per 100 000 live births | -5.9% |
| 2008 | 394.61 Deaths per 100 000 live births | +6.5% |
| 2009 | 414.19 Deaths per 100 000 live births | +5.0% |
| 2010 | 382.46 Deaths per 100 000 live births | -7.7% |
| 2011 | 378.1 Deaths per 100 000 live births | -1.1% |
| 2012 | 374.24 Deaths per 100 000 live births | -1.0% |
| 2013 | 320.27 Deaths per 100 000 live births | -14.4% |
| 2014 | 302.34 Deaths per 100 000 live births | -5.6% |
| 2015 | 284.07 Deaths per 100 000 live births | -6.0% |
| 2016 | 262.74 Deaths per 100 000 live births | -7.5% |
| 2017 | 262.06 Deaths per 100 000 live births | -0.3% |
| 2018 | 259.05 Deaths per 100 000 live births | -1.1% |
| 2019 | 245.26 Deaths per 100 000 live births | -5.3% |
| 2020 | 247.22 Deaths per 100 000 live births | +0.8% |
| 2021 | 301.37 Deaths per 100 000 live births | +21.9% |
| 2022 | 240.8 Deaths per 100 000 live births | -20.1% |
| 2023 | 241.09 Deaths per 100 000 live births | +0.1% |
Congo compared with similar countries
- Congo's 241.09 Deaths per 100 000 live births is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 146.37 Deaths per 100 000 live births, 1.6× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Congo's 241.09 Deaths per 100 000 live births is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 267.03 Deaths per 100 000 live births, 90% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 523.31 Deaths per 100 000 live births | 506.06 Deaths per 100 000 live births | 546.4 Deaths per 100 000 live births | 5 |
| 1990s | 554.08 Deaths per 100 000 live births | 504.87 Deaths per 100 000 live births | 650.38 Deaths per 100 000 live births | 10 |
| 2000s | 425.62 Deaths per 100 000 live births | 370.44 Deaths per 100 000 live births | 509.5 Deaths per 100 000 live births | 10 |
| 2010s | 307.06 Deaths per 100 000 live births | 245.26 Deaths per 100 000 live births | 382.46 Deaths per 100 000 live births | 10 |
| 2020s | 257.62 Deaths per 100 000 live births | 240.8 Deaths per 100 000 live births | 301.37 Deaths per 100 000 live births | 4 |
Countries ranked near Congo
- 28 Cameroon 258.23 Deaths per 100 000 live births compare
- 29 Sudan 255.71 Deaths per 100 000 live births compare
- 30 Burkina Faso 241.79 Deaths per 100 000 live births compare
- 32 Senegal 237.44 Deaths per 100 000 live births compare
- 33 Ghana 234.32 Deaths per 100 000 live births compare
- 34 Gabon 232.66 Deaths per 100 000 live births compare
More health data for Congo
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -0.4813 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.9705 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 759.5 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 2,688 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 11 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 1.44 % 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 0.0695 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 1.45 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is maternal mortality ratio in Congo?
- Maternal mortality ratio in Congo was 241.09 Deaths per 100 000 live births in 2023, according to World Health Organization – Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest maternal mortality ratio recorded in Congo?
- The highest recorded value was 650.38 Deaths per 100 000 live births in 1997.
- What is the lowest maternal mortality ratio recorded in Congo?
- The lowest recorded value was 240.8 Deaths per 100 000 live births in 2022.
- How does Congo rank for maternal mortality ratio?
- Congo ranks 31st out of 195 countries with data for 2023.
- Is maternal mortality ratio rising or falling in Congo?
- Over the last ten years it is down 24.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Congo data come from?
- The figures come from World Health Organization – Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Maternal mortality ratio. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Estimated number of women who die from maternal conditions per 100,000 live births.