Maternal mortality ratio in South Korea
South Korea: Maternal mortality ratio was 3.79 per 100,000 live births in 2023. ▼ Falling
Maternal mortality ratio in South Korea, 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 South Korea is 3.79 per 100,000 live births, measured in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 24 years on record.
That represents a change of down 42.6% on the previous year and down 47.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, maternal mortality ratio in South Korea peaked at 15.46 per 100,000 live births in 2000 and was at its lowest, 3.79 per 100,000 live births, in 2023.
South Korea ranks 194th of 212 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 24 years of available data.
Maternal mortality ratio in South Korea, year by year
| Year | per 100,000 live births | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 15.46 per 100,000 live births | — |
| 2001 | 14.03 per 100,000 live births | -9.3% |
| 2002 | 13.47 per 100,000 live births | -4.0% |
| 2003 | 13.12 per 100,000 live births | -2.6% |
| 2004 | 12.22 per 100,000 live births | -6.9% |
| 2005 | 11.35 per 100,000 live births | -7.1% |
| 2006 | 10.47 per 100,000 live births | -7.8% |
| 2007 | 10.09 per 100,000 live births | -3.7% |
| 2008 | 9.21 per 100,000 live births | -8.7% |
| 2009 | 8.62 per 100,000 live births | -6.3% |
| 2010 | 8.48 per 100,000 live births | -1.7% |
| 2011 | 8.02 per 100,000 live births | -5.4% |
| 2012 | 7.79 per 100,000 live births | -2.9% |
| 2013 | 7.15 per 100,000 live births | -8.3% |
| 2014 | 6.59 per 100,000 live births | -7.8% |
| 2015 | 6.43 per 100,000 live births | -2.4% |
| 2016 | 6.07 per 100,000 live births | -5.6% |
| 2017 | 5.6 per 100,000 live births | -7.6% |
| 2018 | 5.33 per 100,000 live births | -4.8% |
| 2019 | 4.93 per 100,000 live births | -7.6% |
| 2020 | 11.57 per 100,000 live births | +135.0% |
| 2021 | 5.2 per 100,000 live births | -55.0% |
| 2022 | 6.6 per 100,000 live births | +26.9% |
| 2023 | 3.79 per 100,000 live births | -42.6% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 3.79 per 100,000 live births is below the median for high income countries, which is 7.67 per 100,000 live births, 49% of the median. (63 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 3.79 per 100,000 live births is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 81.76 per 100,000 live births, 5% of the median. (28 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Maternal mortality ratio in South Korea 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +135.0% | 4.93 per 100,000 live births | 11.57 per 100,000 live births |
| 2021 | -55.0% | 11.57 per 100,000 live births | 5.2 per 100,000 live births |
| 2023 | -42.6% | 6.6 per 100,000 live births | 3.79 per 100,000 live births |
| 2022 | +26.9% | 5.2 per 100,000 live births | 6.6 per 100,000 live births |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 11.8 per 100,000 live births | 8.62 per 100,000 live births | 15.46 per 100,000 live births | 10 |
| 2010s | 6.64 per 100,000 live births | 4.93 per 100,000 live births | 8.48 per 100,000 live births | 10 |
| 2020s | 6.79 per 100,000 live births | 3.79 per 100,000 live births | 11.57 per 100,000 live births | 4 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
- 191 Qatar 3.92 per 100,000 live births compare
- 192 Belgium 3.84 per 100,000 live births compare
- 193 Ireland 3.79 per 100,000 live births compare
- 194 Republic of Korea 3.79 per 100,000 live births compare
- 196 Denmark 3.67 per 100,000 live births compare
- 197 Germany 3.62 per 100,000 live births compare
More health data for South Korea
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.43 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.1935 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 2,072 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 69 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -2.66 % 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 0.0118 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -2.76 % 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 South Korea?
- Maternal mortality ratio in South Korea was 3.79 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 South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 15.46 per 100,000 live births in 2000.
- What is the lowest maternal mortality ratio recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.79 per 100,000 live births in 2023.
- How does South Korea rank for maternal mortality ratio?
- South Korea ranks 194th out of 212 countries with data for 2023.
- Is maternal mortality ratio rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 47.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Korea 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).