Maternal mortality ratio in China
China: Maternal mortality ratio was 16.25 per 100,000 live births in 2023. ▼ Falling
Latest (2023)
16.25 per 100,000 live births
Change on year
down 11.2%
World rank
143rd
of 212 countries
All-time high
55.67 per 100,000 live births
in 2000
All-time low
16.25 per 100,000 live births
in 2023
Years of data
24
2000–2023
Maternal mortality ratio in China, 2000–2023
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Measured in per 100,000 live births.
Analysis
In 2023, maternal mortality ratio in China stood at 16.25 per 100,000 live births. That is the lowest value across all 24 years on record.
That represents a change of down 11.2% on the previous year and down 45.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, maternal mortality ratio in China peaked at 55.67 per 100,000 live births in 2000 and was at its lowest, 16.25 per 100,000 live births, in 2023.
That places China 143rd out of 212 countries 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 China, year by year
| Year | per 100,000 live births | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 55.67 per 100,000 live births | — |
| 2001 | 52.39 per 100,000 live births | -5.9% |
| 2002 | 49.77 per 100,000 live births | -5.0% |
| 2003 | 47.05 per 100,000 live births | -5.5% |
| 2004 | 44.65 per 100,000 live births | -5.1% |
| 2005 | 41.97 per 100,000 live births | -6.0% |
| 2006 | 39.62 per 100,000 live births | -5.6% |
| 2007 | 37.58 per 100,000 live births | -5.1% |
| 2008 | 37.97 per 100,000 live births | +1.0% |
| 2009 | 34.67 per 100,000 live births | -8.7% |
| 2010 | 33.66 per 100,000 live births | -2.9% |
| 2011 | 32.51 per 100,000 live births | -3.4% |
| 2012 | 31.71 per 100,000 live births | -2.5% |
| 2013 | 29.79 per 100,000 live births | -6.1% |
| 2014 | 28.11 per 100,000 live births | -5.6% |
| 2015 | 26.15 per 100,000 live births | -7.0% |
| 2016 | 24.78 per 100,000 live births | -5.2% |
| 2017 | 23.68 per 100,000 live births | -4.4% |
| 2018 | 21.96 per 100,000 live births | -7.3% |
| 2019 | 21.08 per 100,000 live births | -4.0% |
| 2020 | 19.82 per 100,000 live births | -6.0% |
| 2021 | 20.93 per 100,000 live births | +5.6% |
| 2022 | 18.3 per 100,000 live births | -12.6% |
| 2023 | 16.25 per 100,000 live births | -11.2% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 16.25 per 100,000 live births is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 43.96 per 100,000 live births, 37% of the median. (55 countries reporting)
- China's 16.25 per 100,000 live births is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 81.76 per 100,000 live births, 20% of the median. (28 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 44.13 per 100,000 live births | 34.67 per 100,000 live births | 55.67 per 100,000 live births | 10 |
| 2010s | 27.34 per 100,000 live births | 21.08 per 100,000 live births | 33.66 per 100,000 live births | 10 |
| 2020s | 18.83 per 100,000 live births | 16.25 per 100,000 live births | 20.93 per 100,000 live births | 4 |
Countries ranked near China
- 140 Egypt 16.95 per 100,000 live births compare
- 141 Bahrain 16.78 per 100,000 live births compare
- 142 United States 16.63 per 100,000 live births compare
- 144 State of Palestine 16.11 per 100,000 live births compare
- 145 Iran (Islamic Republic of) 15.84 per 100,000 live births compare
- 146 Uruguay 15.31 per 100,000 live births compare
More health data for China
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.15 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate -0.0985 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 2,029 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 4,642 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 10 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -8.22 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.0159 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -8.73 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is maternal mortality ratio in China?
- Maternal mortality ratio in China was 16.25 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 China?
- The highest recorded value was 55.67 per 100,000 live births in 2000.
- What is the lowest maternal mortality ratio recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 16.25 per 100,000 live births in 2023.
- How does China rank for maternal mortality ratio?
- China ranks 143rd out of 212 countries with data for 2023.
- Is maternal mortality ratio rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is down 45.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this China 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).