Maternal mortality ratio in South Africa
South Africa: Maternal mortality ratio was 117.57 Deaths per 100 000 live births in 2023. ▼ Falling
Latest (2023)
117.57 Deaths per 100 000 live births
Change on year
down 9.0%
World rank
62nd
of 195 countries
All-time high
283.42 Deaths per 100 000 live births
in 2006
All-time low
117.57 Deaths per 100 000 live births
in 2023
Years of data
39
1985–2023
Maternal mortality ratio in South Africa, 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 South Africa stood at 117.57 Deaths per 100 000 live births. That is the lowest value across all 39 years on record.
That represents a change of 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 Deaths per 100 000 live births in 2006 and was at its lowest, 117.57 Deaths per 100 000 live births, in 2023.
That places South Africa 62nd out of 195 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 | Deaths per 100 000 live births | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 207.97 Deaths per 100 000 live births | — |
| 1986 | 199.75 Deaths per 100 000 live births | -4.0% |
| 1987 | 192.21 Deaths per 100 000 live births | -3.8% |
| 1988 | 184.04 Deaths per 100 000 live births | -4.3% |
| 1989 | 176.99 Deaths per 100 000 live births | -3.8% |
| 1990 | 169.69 Deaths per 100 000 live births | -4.1% |
| 1991 | 162.09 Deaths per 100 000 live births | -4.5% |
| 1992 | 152.46 Deaths per 100 000 live births | -5.9% |
| 1993 | 145.14 Deaths per 100 000 live births | -4.8% |
| 1994 | 133.47 Deaths per 100 000 live births | -8.0% |
| 1995 | 124.53 Deaths per 100 000 live births | -6.7% |
| 1996 | 150.27 Deaths per 100 000 live births | +20.7% |
| 1997 | 152.38 Deaths per 100 000 live births | +1.4% |
| 1998 | 152.44 Deaths per 100 000 live births | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 151.22 Deaths per 100 000 live births | -0.8% |
| 2000 | 174.75 Deaths per 100 000 live births | +15.6% |
| 2001 | 192.23 Deaths per 100 000 live births | +10.0% |
| 2002 | 225.21 Deaths per 100 000 live births | +17.2% |
| 2003 | 245 Deaths per 100 000 live births | +8.8% |
| 2004 | 258.88 Deaths per 100 000 live births | +5.7% |
| 2005 | 278.81 Deaths per 100 000 live births | +7.7% |
| 2006 | 283.42 Deaths per 100 000 live births | +1.7% |
| 2007 | 271.95 Deaths per 100 000 live births | -4.0% |
| 2008 | 271.63 Deaths per 100 000 live births | -0.1% |
| 2009 | 241.06 Deaths per 100 000 live births | -11.3% |
| 2010 | 226.06 Deaths per 100 000 live births | -6.2% |
| 2011 | 202.03 Deaths per 100 000 live births | -10.6% |
| 2012 | 193.81 Deaths per 100 000 live births | -4.1% |
| 2013 | 179.74 Deaths per 100 000 live births | -7.3% |
| 2014 | 162.14 Deaths per 100 000 live births | -9.8% |
| 2015 | 150.42 Deaths per 100 000 live births | -7.2% |
| 2016 | 141.17 Deaths per 100 000 live births | -6.1% |
| 2017 | 133.69 Deaths per 100 000 live births | -5.3% |
| 2018 | 127.52 Deaths per 100 000 live births | -4.6% |
| 2019 | 119.45 Deaths per 100 000 live births | -6.3% |
| 2020 | 118.29 Deaths per 100 000 live births | -1.0% |
| 2021 | 191.17 Deaths per 100 000 live births | +61.6% |
| 2022 | 129.23 Deaths per 100 000 live births | -32.4% |
| 2023 | 117.57 Deaths per 100 000 live births | -9.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 192.19 Deaths per 100 000 live births | 176.99 Deaths per 100 000 live births | 207.97 Deaths per 100 000 live births | 5 |
| 1990s | 149.37 Deaths per 100 000 live births | 124.53 Deaths per 100 000 live births | 169.69 Deaths per 100 000 live births | 10 |
| 2000s | 244.29 Deaths per 100 000 live births | 174.75 Deaths per 100 000 live births | 283.42 Deaths per 100 000 live births | 10 |
| 2010s | 163.6 Deaths per 100 000 live births | 119.45 Deaths per 100 000 live births | 226.06 Deaths per 100 000 live births | 10 |
| 2020s | 139.06 Deaths per 100 000 live births | 117.57 Deaths per 100 000 live births | 191.17 Deaths per 100 000 live births | 4 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 59 Solomon Islands 122.59 Deaths per 100 000 live births compare
- 60 Yemen 118.4 Deaths per 100 000 live births compare
- 61 Eswatini 117.93 Deaths per 100 000 live births compare
- 63 Bangladesh 115.11 Deaths per 100 000 live births compare
- 64 Lao People's Democratic Republic 112.15 Deaths per 100 000 live births compare
- 65 Samoa 101.49 Deaths per 100 000 live births 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 0-14, female, annual growth rate 0.4769 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, female, per capita 0.1279 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, male, annual growth rate 0.5816 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, male, per capita 0.1293 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is maternal mortality ratio in South Africa?
- Maternal mortality ratio in South Africa was 117.57 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 South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 283.42 Deaths per 100 000 live births in 2006.
- What is the lowest maternal mortality ratio recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 117.57 Deaths per 100 000 live births in 2023.
- How does South Africa rank for maternal mortality ratio?
- South Africa ranks 62nd out of 195 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 (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.