Maternal mortality ratio in Central America
Central America: Maternal mortality ratio was 49.44 per 100,000 live births in 2023. ▼ Falling
Maternal mortality ratio in Central America, 2000–2023
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Measured in per 100,000 live births.
Analysis
In 2023, maternal mortality ratio in Central America stood at 49.44 per 100,000 live births. That is the lowest value across all 24 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 5.6% on the previous year and down 10.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, maternal mortality ratio in Central America peaked at 104.34 per 100,000 live births in 2021 and was at its lowest, 49.44 per 100,000 live births, in 2023.
That places Central America 25th out of 36 groups with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 24 years of available data.
Maternal mortality ratio in Central America, year by year
| Year | per 100,000 live births | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 76.62 per 100,000 live births | — |
| 2001 | 74.39 per 100,000 live births | -2.9% |
| 2002 | 71.64 per 100,000 live births | -3.7% |
| 2003 | 69.91 per 100,000 live births | -2.4% |
| 2004 | 68.43 per 100,000 live births | -2.1% |
| 2005 | 67.3 per 100,000 live births | -1.6% |
| 2006 | 64.69 per 100,000 live births | -3.9% |
| 2007 | 62.96 per 100,000 live births | -2.7% |
| 2008 | 63.12 per 100,000 live births | +0.3% |
| 2009 | 62.67 per 100,000 live births | -0.7% |
| 2010 | 61.64 per 100,000 live births | -1.6% |
| 2011 | 58.67 per 100,000 live births | -4.8% |
| 2012 | 56.61 per 100,000 live births | -3.5% |
| 2013 | 55.46 per 100,000 live births | -2.0% |
| 2014 | 54.49 per 100,000 live births | -1.7% |
| 2015 | 54.4 per 100,000 live births | -0.2% |
| 2016 | 54.13 per 100,000 live births | -0.5% |
| 2017 | 54.01 per 100,000 live births | -0.2% |
| 2018 | 53.55 per 100,000 live births | -0.9% |
| 2019 | 52.7 per 100,000 live births | -1.6% |
| 2020 | 67.07 per 100,000 live births | +27.3% |
| 2021 | 104.34 per 100,000 live births | +55.6% |
| 2022 | 52.4 per 100,000 live births | -49.8% |
| 2023 | 49.44 per 100,000 live births | -5.6% |
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Maternal mortality ratio in Central America 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | +55.6% | 67.07 per 100,000 live births | 104.34 per 100,000 live births |
| 2022 | -49.8% | 104.34 per 100,000 live births | 52.4 per 100,000 live births |
| 2020 | +27.3% | 52.7 per 100,000 live births | 67.07 per 100,000 live births |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 68.17 per 100,000 live births | 62.67 per 100,000 live births | 76.62 per 100,000 live births | 10 |
| 2010s | 55.56 per 100,000 live births | 52.7 per 100,000 live births | 61.64 per 100,000 live births | 10 |
| 2020s | 68.31 per 100,000 live births | 49.44 per 100,000 live births | 104.34 per 100,000 live births | 4 |
Countries ranked near Central America
- 22 Sierra Leone 353.56 per 100,000 live births compare
- 23 Niger 350.27 per 100,000 live births compare
- 24 Togo 348.9 per 100,000 live births compare
- 25 Haiti 327.56 per 100,000 live births compare
- 26 Eritrea 291.36 per 100,000 live births compare
- 27 United Republic of Tanzania 275.84 per 100,000 live births compare
- 28 Nauru 273.38 per 100,000 live births compare
- 28 Naoero 273.38 per 100,000 live births compare
More health data for Central America
- Tuberculosis incidence 33 per 100,000 people (2024)
- Total official development assistance to medical research and basic 108.5 million constant US$ (2024)
- Proportion of births attended by skilled health personnel 93.7% (2025)
- Malaria incidence per 1,000 population at risk 0.582 per 1,000 people (2024)
- Total official development assistance to medical research and basic 93.77 million constant US$ (2024)
- Age-standardized prevalence of current tobacco use among persons aged 13.9% (2024)
- International Health Regulations (IHR) capacity, by type of IHR 64.0% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is maternal mortality ratio in Central America?
- Maternal mortality ratio in Central America was 49.44 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 Central America?
- The highest recorded value was 104.34 per 100,000 live births in 2021.
- What is the lowest maternal mortality ratio recorded in Central America?
- The lowest recorded value was 49.44 per 100,000 live births in 2023.
- How does Central America rank for maternal mortality ratio?
- Central America ranks 25th out of 36 groups with data for 2023.
- Is maternal mortality ratio rising or falling in Central America?
- Over the last ten years it is down 10.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Central America 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).