Maternal mortality ratio in South Africa
South Africa: Maternal mortality ratio was 117.57 per 100,000 live births in 2023. βΌ Falling
Maternal mortality ratio in South Africa, 2000β2023
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 Africa is 117.57 per 100,000 live births, measured in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 24 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 9.0% on the previous year and down 34.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, maternal mortality ratio in South Africa peaked at 283.42 per 100,000 live births in 2006 and was at its lowest, 117.57 per 100,000 live births, in 2023.
That places South Africa 55th out of 178 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.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 244.29 per 100,000 live births | 174.75 per 100,000 live births | 283.42 per 100,000 live births | 10 |
| 2010s | 163.6 per 100,000 live births | 119.45 per 100,000 live births | 226.06 per 100,000 live births | 10 |
| 2020s | 139.06 per 100,000 live births | 117.57 per 100,000 live births | 191.17 per 100,000 live births | 4 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 52 Solomon Islands 122.59 per 100,000 live births compare
- 53 Yemen 118.4 per 100,000 live births compare
- 54 Eswatini 117.93 per 100,000 live births compare
- 56 Bangladesh 115.11 per 100,000 live births compare
- 57 Samoa 101.49 per 100,000 live births compare
- 58 Vanuatu 100.05 per 100,000 live births compare
More health data for South Africa
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -2.2 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate -0.1386 % change on previous year (2090)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates 1,152 (2090)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 3,333 (2100)
- Deaths in armed conflicts by country 0 (2026)
- Deaths in armed conflicts by region 0 (2026)
- Age population, age 25, male, interpolated 541,701 (2025)
- Age population, age 25, female, interpolated 531,146 (2025)
- Age population, age 24, male, interpolated 530,424 (2025)
- Age population, age 24, female, interpolated 516,548 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is maternal mortality ratio in South Africa?
- Maternal mortality ratio in South Africa was 117.57 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 Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 283.42 per 100,000 live births in 2006.
- What is the lowest maternal mortality ratio recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 117.57 per 100,000 live births in 2023.
- How does South Africa rank for maternal mortality ratio?
- South Africa ranks 55th out of 178 countries with data for 2023.
- Is maternal mortality ratio rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 34.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Africa 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 Β· JSON β 24 observations, free to reuse under UN SDG Global Database (open, attribution requested).