Maternal mortality ratio in Afghanistan
Afghanistan: Maternal mortality ratio was 520.5 per 100,000 live births in 2023. ▼ Falling
Latest (2023)
520.5 per 100,000 live births
Change on year
down 5.5%
World rank
7th
of 212 countries
All-time high
1,372 per 100,000 live births
in 2000
All-time low
520.5 per 100,000 live births
in 2023
Years of data
24
2000–2023
Maternal mortality ratio in Afghanistan, 2000–2023
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Measured in per 100,000 live births.
Analysis
The most recent figure for maternal mortality ratio in Afghanistan is 520.5 per 100,000 live births, measured in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 24 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 5.5% on the previous year and down 33.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, maternal mortality ratio in Afghanistan peaked at 1,372 per 100,000 live births in 2000 and was at its lowest, 520.5 per 100,000 live births, in 2023.
That places Afghanistan 7th out of 212 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 24 years of available data.
Maternal mortality ratio in Afghanistan, year by year
| Year | per 100,000 live births | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 1,372 per 100,000 live births | — |
| 2001 | 1,311 per 100,000 live births | -4.4% |
| 2002 | 1,263 per 100,000 live births | -3.7% |
| 2003 | 1,201 per 100,000 live births | -4.8% |
| 2004 | 1,166 per 100,000 live births | -2.9% |
| 2005 | 1,108 per 100,000 live births | -5.0% |
| 2006 | 1,069 per 100,000 live births | -3.5% |
| 2007 | 1,032 per 100,000 live births | -3.5% |
| 2008 | 955.24 per 100,000 live births | -7.4% |
| 2009 | 925.42 per 100,000 live births | -3.1% |
| 2010 | 892.74 per 100,000 live births | -3.5% |
| 2011 | 838.24 per 100,000 live births | -6.1% |
| 2012 | 809.75 per 100,000 live births | -3.4% |
| 2013 | 778.43 per 100,000 live births | -3.9% |
| 2014 | 754.59 per 100,000 live births | -3.1% |
| 2015 | 741.19 per 100,000 live births | -1.8% |
| 2016 | 702.24 per 100,000 live births | -5.3% |
| 2017 | 658.57 per 100,000 live births | -6.2% |
| 2018 | 629.24 per 100,000 live births | -4.5% |
| 2019 | 601.06 per 100,000 live births | -4.5% |
| 2020 | 633.62 per 100,000 live births | +5.4% |
| 2021 | 660.22 per 100,000 live births | +4.2% |
| 2022 | 550.73 per 100,000 live births | -16.6% |
| 2023 | 520.5 per 100,000 live births | -5.5% |
Afghanistan compared with similar countries
- Afghanistan's 520.5 per 100,000 live births is above the median for low income countries, which is 353.56 per 100,000 live births, 1.5× the median. (23 countries reporting)
- Afghanistan's 520.5 per 100,000 live births is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 20.37 per 100,000 live births, 25.6× the median. (21 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 1,140 per 100,000 live births | 925.42 per 100,000 live births | 1,372 per 100,000 live births | 10 |
| 2010s | 740.6 per 100,000 live births | 601.06 per 100,000 live births | 892.74 per 100,000 live births | 10 |
| 2020s | 591.27 per 100,000 live births | 520.5 per 100,000 live births | 660.22 per 100,000 live births | 4 |
Countries ranked near Afghanistan
- 4 Central African Republic 691.74 per 100,000 live births compare
- 5 Liberia 627.72 per 100,000 live births compare
- 6 Somalia 562.59 per 100,000 live births compare
- 8 Benin 518.23 per 100,000 live births compare
- 9 Guinea-Bissau 505.37 per 100,000 live births compare
- 10 Guinea 494.12 per 100,000 live births compare
More health data for Afghanistan
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.45 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 1.03 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 812.4 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 14,735 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 19 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 1.78 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0.0002 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.077 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 1.75 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0.0002 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is maternal mortality ratio in Afghanistan?
- Maternal mortality ratio in Afghanistan was 520.5 per 100,000 live births in 2023, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
- What is the highest maternal mortality ratio recorded in Afghanistan?
- The highest recorded value was 1,372 per 100,000 live births in 2000.
- What is the lowest maternal mortality ratio recorded in Afghanistan?
- The lowest recorded value was 520.5 per 100,000 live births in 2023.
- How does Afghanistan rank for maternal mortality ratio?
- Afghanistan ranks 7th out of 212 countries with data for 2023.
- Is maternal mortality ratio rising or falling in Afghanistan?
- Over the last ten years it is down 33.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Afghanistan data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database, published as part of Maternal mortality ratio. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 24 observations, free to reuse under UN SDG Global Database (open, attribution requested).