Maternal mortality ratio in Africa
Africa: Maternal mortality ratio was 409.79 per 100,000 live births in 2023. ▼ Falling
Latest (2023)
409.79 per 100,000 live births
Change on year
down 1.5%
Rank
4th
of 36 groups
All-time high
674.64 per 100,000 live births
in 2000
All-time low
409.79 per 100,000 live births
in 2023
Years of data
24
2000–2023
Maternal mortality ratio in Africa, 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 Africa is 409.79 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 1.5% on the previous year and down 25.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, maternal mortality ratio in Africa peaked at 674.64 per 100,000 live births in 2000 and was at its lowest, 409.79 per 100,000 live births, in 2023.
Africa ranks 4th of 36 groups on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 24 years of available data.
Maternal mortality ratio in Africa, year by year
| Year | per 100,000 live births | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 674.64 per 100,000 live births | — |
| 2001 | 658.13 per 100,000 live births | -2.4% |
| 2002 | 642.83 per 100,000 live births | -2.3% |
| 2003 | 621.41 per 100,000 live births | -3.3% |
| 2004 | 603.4 per 100,000 live births | -2.9% |
| 2005 | 595.81 per 100,000 live births | -1.3% |
| 2006 | 592.99 per 100,000 live births | -0.5% |
| 2007 | 590.05 per 100,000 live births | -0.5% |
| 2008 | 591.89 per 100,000 live births | +0.3% |
| 2009 | 587.6 per 100,000 live births | -0.7% |
| 2010 | 578.76 per 100,000 live births | -1.5% |
| 2011 | 568.88 per 100,000 live births | -1.7% |
| 2012 | 556.03 per 100,000 live births | -2.3% |
| 2013 | 546.39 per 100,000 live births | -1.7% |
| 2014 | 540.25 per 100,000 live births | -1.1% |
| 2015 | 530.89 per 100,000 live births | -1.7% |
| 2016 | 515.98 per 100,000 live births | -2.8% |
| 2017 | 498.17 per 100,000 live births | -3.5% |
| 2018 | 475.89 per 100,000 live births | -4.5% |
| 2019 | 461 per 100,000 live births | -3.1% |
| 2020 | 443.43 per 100,000 live births | -3.8% |
| 2021 | 459.6 per 100,000 live births | +3.6% |
| 2022 | 416.12 per 100,000 live births | -9.5% |
| 2023 | 409.79 per 100,000 live births | -1.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 615.88 per 100,000 live births | 587.6 per 100,000 live births | 674.64 per 100,000 live births | 10 |
| 2010s | 527.22 per 100,000 live births | 461 per 100,000 live births | 578.76 per 100,000 live births | 10 |
| 2020s | 432.23 per 100,000 live births | 409.79 per 100,000 live births | 459.6 per 100,000 live births | 4 |
Countries ranked near Africa
- 1 Nigeria 992.83 per 100,000 live births compare
- 2 Chad 747.54 per 100,000 live births compare
- 3 South Sudan 691.82 per 100,000 live births compare
- 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
- 7 Afghanistan 520.5 per 100,000 live births compare
More health data for Africa
- Deaths 10,119 (2024)
- Fraction 0.0479 (2024)
- Tuberculosis incidence 181 per 100,000 people (2024)
- Total official development assistance to medical research and basic 5,948 million constant US$ (2024)
- Proportion of births attended by skilled health personnel 75.8% (2025)
- Malaria incidence per 1,000 population at risk 202.19 per 1,000 people (2024)
- Total official development assistance to medical research and basic 5,713 million constant US$ (2024)
- Population 0-24 60.8% (2011)
- Tuberculosis prevalence rate 262.01 per 1000,000 population, WHO (2011)
- Prevalence of undernourishment 237 population (2011)
Frequently asked questions
- What is maternal mortality ratio in Africa?
- Maternal mortality ratio in Africa was 409.79 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 Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 674.64 per 100,000 live births in 2000.
- What is the lowest maternal mortality ratio recorded in Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 409.79 per 100,000 live births in 2023.
- How does Africa rank for maternal mortality ratio?
- Africa ranks 4th out of 36 groups with data for 2023.
- Is maternal mortality ratio rising or falling in Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 25.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Africa 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).