Maternal mortality ratio in Malawi
Malawi: Maternal mortality ratio was 224.95 per 100,000 live births in 2023. ▼ Falling
Latest (2023)
224.95 per 100,000 live births
Change on year
down 5.9%
World rank
39th
of 212 countries
All-time high
517 per 100,000 live births
in 2010
All-time low
224.95 per 100,000 live births
in 2023
Years of data
24
2000–2023
Maternal mortality ratio in Malawi, 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 Malawi is 224.95 per 100,000 live births, measured in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 24 years on record.
The figure is down 5.9% on the previous year and down 45.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, maternal mortality ratio in Malawi peaked at 517 per 100,000 live births in 2010 and was at its lowest, 224.95 per 100,000 live births, in 2023.
Malawi ranks 39th of 212 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 24 years of available data.
Maternal mortality ratio in Malawi, year by year
| Year | per 100,000 live births | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 506.35 per 100,000 live births | — |
| 2001 | 446.77 per 100,000 live births | -11.8% |
| 2002 | 404.02 per 100,000 live births | -9.6% |
| 2003 | 345.69 per 100,000 live births | -14.4% |
| 2004 | 303.68 per 100,000 live births | -12.2% |
| 2005 | 283.46 per 100,000 live births | -6.7% |
| 2006 | 285.81 per 100,000 live births | +0.8% |
| 2007 | 333.04 per 100,000 live births | +16.5% |
| 2008 | 429.57 per 100,000 live births | +29.0% |
| 2009 | 511.69 per 100,000 live births | +19.1% |
| 2010 | 517 per 100,000 live births | +1.0% |
| 2011 | 486.06 per 100,000 live births | -6.0% |
| 2012 | 446.79 per 100,000 live births | -8.1% |
| 2013 | 410.13 per 100,000 live births | -8.2% |
| 2014 | 367.3 per 100,000 live births | -10.4% |
| 2015 | 353.83 per 100,000 live births | -3.7% |
| 2016 | 311.83 per 100,000 live births | -11.9% |
| 2017 | 283.86 per 100,000 live births | -9.0% |
| 2018 | 267.41 per 100,000 live births | -5.8% |
| 2019 | 259.55 per 100,000 live births | -2.9% |
| 2020 | 256.45 per 100,000 live births | -1.2% |
| 2021 | 285.7 per 100,000 live births | +11.4% |
| 2022 | 238.96 per 100,000 live births | -16.4% |
| 2023 | 224.95 per 100,000 live births | -5.9% |
Malawi compared with similar countries
- Malawi's 224.95 per 100,000 live births is below the median for low income countries, which is 353.56 per 100,000 live births, 64% of the median. (23 countries reporting)
- Malawi's 224.95 per 100,000 live births is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 258.23 per 100,000 live births, 87% of the median. (45 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 385.01 per 100,000 live births | 283.46 per 100,000 live births | 511.69 per 100,000 live births | 10 |
| 2010s | 370.38 per 100,000 live births | 259.55 per 100,000 live births | 517 per 100,000 live births | 10 |
| 2020s | 251.51 per 100,000 live births | 224.95 per 100,000 live births | 285.7 per 100,000 live births | 4 |
Countries ranked near Malawi
- 36 Gabon 232.66 per 100,000 live births compare
- 37 Rwanda 229.48 per 100,000 live births compare
- 38 Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of) 226.69 per 100,000 live births compare
- 40 Ethiopia 194.94 per 100,000 live births compare
- 41 Timor-Leste 192.36 per 100,000 live births compare
- 41 East Timor 192.36 per 100,000 live births compare
More health data for Malawi
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -0.8368 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.9312 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 856.3 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 6,399 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 2 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 1.61 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.0714 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 1.63 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is maternal mortality ratio in Malawi?
- Maternal mortality ratio in Malawi was 224.95 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 Malawi?
- The highest recorded value was 517 per 100,000 live births in 2010.
- What is the lowest maternal mortality ratio recorded in Malawi?
- The lowest recorded value was 224.95 per 100,000 live births in 2023.
- How does Malawi rank for maternal mortality ratio?
- Malawi ranks 39th out of 212 countries with data for 2023.
- Is maternal mortality ratio rising or falling in Malawi?
- Over the last ten years it is down 45.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Malawi 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).