Maternal mortality ratio in Namibia
Namibia: Maternal mortality ratio was 138.86 per 100,000 live births in 2023. ▼ Falling
Maternal mortality ratio in Namibia, 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 Namibia is 138.86 per 100,000 live births, measured in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 9.5% on the previous year and down 65.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, maternal mortality ratio in Namibia peaked at 547.37 per 100,000 live births in 2009 and was at its lowest, 126.86 per 100,000 live births, in 2022.
That places Namibia 59th 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 Namibia, year by year
| Year | per 100,000 live births | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 383.55 per 100,000 live births | — |
| 2001 | 376.06 per 100,000 live births | -2.0% |
| 2002 | 313.29 per 100,000 live births | -16.7% |
| 2003 | 289.93 per 100,000 live births | -7.5% |
| 2004 | 282.39 per 100,000 live births | -2.6% |
| 2005 | 343.79 per 100,000 live births | +21.7% |
| 2006 | 407.53 per 100,000 live births | +18.5% |
| 2007 | 488.73 per 100,000 live births | +19.9% |
| 2008 | 537.15 per 100,000 live births | +9.9% |
| 2009 | 547.37 per 100,000 live births | +1.9% |
| 2010 | 531.14 per 100,000 live births | -3.0% |
| 2011 | 497.65 per 100,000 live births | -6.3% |
| 2012 | 439.42 per 100,000 live births | -11.7% |
| 2013 | 401.56 per 100,000 live births | -8.6% |
| 2014 | 368.96 per 100,000 live births | -8.1% |
| 2015 | 306.57 per 100,000 live births | -16.9% |
| 2016 | 249.62 per 100,000 live births | -18.6% |
| 2017 | 213.12 per 100,000 live births | -14.6% |
| 2018 | 197.95 per 100,000 live births | -7.1% |
| 2019 | 174.92 per 100,000 live births | -11.6% |
| 2020 | 143.44 per 100,000 live births | -18.0% |
| 2021 | 254.25 per 100,000 live births | +77.2% |
| 2022 | 126.86 per 100,000 live births | -50.1% |
| 2023 | 138.86 per 100,000 live births | +9.5% |
Namibia compared with similar countries
- Namibia's 138.86 per 100,000 live births is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 142 per 100,000 live births, 98% of the median. (43 countries reporting)
- Namibia's 138.86 per 100,000 live births is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 258.23 per 100,000 live births, 54% of the median. (45 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Maternal mortality ratio in Namibia 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 | +77.2% | 143.44 per 100,000 live births | 254.25 per 100,000 live births |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 396.98 per 100,000 live births | 282.39 per 100,000 live births | 547.37 per 100,000 live births | 10 |
| 2010s | 338.09 per 100,000 live births | 174.92 per 100,000 live births | 531.14 per 100,000 live births | 10 |
| 2020s | 165.85 per 100,000 live births | 126.86 per 100,000 live births | 254.25 per 100,000 live births | 4 |
Countries ranked near Namibia
- 56 Bolivia (Plurinational State of) 146.37 per 100,000 live births compare
- 57 Nepal 142 per 100,000 live births compare
- 58 Indonesia 140.5 per 100,000 live births compare
- 60 Cambodia 137.39 per 100,000 live births compare
- 61 Jamaica 130.14 per 100,000 live births compare
- 62 Micronesia (Federated States of) 128.75 per 100,000 live births compare
More health data for Namibia
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.75 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.6445 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,046 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 561 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 1 (2024)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -1.83 % 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 0.0644 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -1.56 % 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 Namibia?
- Maternal mortality ratio in Namibia was 138.86 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 Namibia?
- The highest recorded value was 547.37 per 100,000 live births in 2009.
- What is the lowest maternal mortality ratio recorded in Namibia?
- The lowest recorded value was 126.86 per 100,000 live births in 2022.
- How does Namibia rank for maternal mortality ratio?
- Namibia ranks 59th out of 212 countries with data for 2023.
- Is maternal mortality ratio rising or falling in Namibia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 65.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Namibia 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).