Maternal mortality ratio in Rwanda
Rwanda: Maternal mortality ratio was 229.48 Deaths per 100 000 live births in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
229.48 Deaths per 100 000 live births
Change on year
down 1.9%
World rank
35th
of 195 countries
All-time high
5,721 Deaths per 100 000 live births
in 1994
All-time low
229.48 Deaths per 100 000 live births
in 2023
Years of data
39
1985–2023
Maternal mortality ratio in Rwanda, 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
The most recent figure for maternal mortality ratio in Rwanda is 229.48 Deaths per 100 000 live births, measured in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 39 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 1.9% on the previous year and down 27.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, maternal mortality ratio in Rwanda peaked at 5,721 Deaths per 100 000 live births in 1994 and was at its lowest, 229.48 Deaths per 100 000 live births, in 2023.
Rwanda ranks 35th of 195 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Maternal mortality ratio in Rwanda, year by year
| Year | Deaths per 100 000 live births | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 1,116 Deaths per 100 000 live births | — |
| 1986 | 1,126 Deaths per 100 000 live births | +0.9% |
| 1987 | 1,145 Deaths per 100 000 live births | +1.7% |
| 1988 | 1,188 Deaths per 100 000 live births | +3.8% |
| 1989 | 1,238 Deaths per 100 000 live births | +4.2% |
| 1990 | 1,309 Deaths per 100 000 live births | +5.8% |
| 1991 | 1,386 Deaths per 100 000 live births | +5.9% |
| 1992 | 1,530 Deaths per 100 000 live births | +10.4% |
| 1993 | 1,619 Deaths per 100 000 live births | +5.8% |
| 1994 | 5,721 Deaths per 100 000 live births | +253.4% |
| 1995 | 1,505 Deaths per 100 000 live births | -73.7% |
| 1996 | 1,295 Deaths per 100 000 live births | -14.0% |
| 1997 | 1,318 Deaths per 100 000 live births | +1.8% |
| 1998 | 1,268 Deaths per 100 000 live births | -3.8% |
| 1999 | 1,073 Deaths per 100 000 live births | -15.4% |
| 2000 | 885.24 Deaths per 100 000 live births | -17.5% |
| 2001 | 769.04 Deaths per 100 000 live births | -13.1% |
| 2002 | 677.23 Deaths per 100 000 live births | -11.9% |
| 2003 | 551.06 Deaths per 100 000 live births | -18.6% |
| 2004 | 459.93 Deaths per 100 000 live births | -16.5% |
| 2005 | 465.37 Deaths per 100 000 live births | +1.2% |
| 2006 | 493.79 Deaths per 100 000 live births | +6.1% |
| 2007 | 493.62 Deaths per 100 000 live births | -0.0% |
| 2008 | 453.87 Deaths per 100 000 live births | -8.1% |
| 2009 | 418.32 Deaths per 100 000 live births | -7.8% |
| 2010 | 392.91 Deaths per 100 000 live births | -6.1% |
| 2011 | 358.48 Deaths per 100 000 live births | -8.8% |
| 2012 | 330.76 Deaths per 100 000 live births | -7.7% |
| 2013 | 316.51 Deaths per 100 000 live births | -4.3% |
| 2014 | 301.05 Deaths per 100 000 live births | -4.9% |
| 2015 | 291.57 Deaths per 100 000 live births | -3.1% |
| 2016 | 278.14 Deaths per 100 000 live births | -4.6% |
| 2017 | 275.06 Deaths per 100 000 live births | -1.1% |
| 2018 | 268.73 Deaths per 100 000 live births | -2.3% |
| 2019 | 261.31 Deaths per 100 000 live births | -2.8% |
| 2020 | 252.12 Deaths per 100 000 live births | -3.5% |
| 2021 | 253.97 Deaths per 100 000 live births | +0.7% |
| 2022 | 233.97 Deaths per 100 000 live births | -7.9% |
| 2023 | 229.48 Deaths per 100 000 live births | -1.9% |
Rwanda compared with similar countries
- Rwanda's 229.48 Deaths per 100 000 live births is below the median for low income countries, which is 353.56 Deaths per 100 000 live births, 65% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Rwanda's 229.48 Deaths per 100 000 live births is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 267.03 Deaths per 100 000 live births, 86% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Maternal mortality ratio in Rwanda changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | +253.4% | 1,619 Deaths per 100 000 live births | 5,721 Deaths per 100 000 live births |
| 1995 | -73.7% | 5,721 Deaths per 100 000 live births | 1,505 Deaths per 100 000 live births |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 1,163 Deaths per 100 000 live births | 1,116 Deaths per 100 000 live births | 1,238 Deaths per 100 000 live births | 5 |
| 1990s | 1,802 Deaths per 100 000 live births | 1,073 Deaths per 100 000 live births | 5,721 Deaths per 100 000 live births | 10 |
| 2000s | 566.75 Deaths per 100 000 live births | 418.32 Deaths per 100 000 live births | 885.24 Deaths per 100 000 live births | 10 |
| 2010s | 307.45 Deaths per 100 000 live births | 261.31 Deaths per 100 000 live births | 392.91 Deaths per 100 000 live births | 10 |
| 2020s | 242.39 Deaths per 100 000 live births | 229.48 Deaths per 100 000 live births | 253.97 Deaths per 100 000 live births | 4 |
Countries ranked near Rwanda
- 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
- 36 Venezuela 226.69 Deaths per 100 000 live births compare
- 37 Malawi 224.95 Deaths per 100 000 live births compare
- 38 Ethiopia 194.94 Deaths per 100 000 live births compare
More health data for Rwanda
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.08 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.891 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 860.6 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 2,738 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 1 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 0.9441 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.065 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 0.9697 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is maternal mortality ratio in Rwanda?
- Maternal mortality ratio in Rwanda was 229.48 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 Rwanda?
- The highest recorded value was 5,721 Deaths per 100 000 live births in 1994.
- What is the lowest maternal mortality ratio recorded in Rwanda?
- The lowest recorded value was 229.48 Deaths per 100 000 live births in 2023.
- How does Rwanda rank for maternal mortality ratio?
- Rwanda ranks 35th out of 195 countries with data for 2023.
- Is maternal mortality ratio rising or falling in Rwanda?
- Over the last ten years it is down 27.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Rwanda 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.