Maternal mortality ratio (United Nations) in South America
South America: Maternal mortality ratio (United Nations) was 76.86 per 100,000 live births in 2023. ▲ Rising
Maternal mortality ratio in South America, 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 America is 76.86 per 100,000 live births, measured in 2023.
That represents a change of down 23.7% on the previous year and up 7.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, maternal mortality ratio in South America peaked at 141.9 per 100,000 live births in 2021 and was at its lowest, 70.65 per 100,000 live births, in 2015.
South America ranks 20th of 36 groups on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 24 years of available data.
Maternal mortality ratio (United Nations) in South America, year by year
| Year | per 100,000 live births | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 88.25 per 100,000 live births | — |
| 2001 | 87.2 per 100,000 live births | -1.2% |
| 2002 | 84.48 per 100,000 live births | -3.1% |
| 2003 | 84.96 per 100,000 live births | +0.6% |
| 2004 | 84.87 per 100,000 live births | -0.1% |
| 2005 | 84.4 per 100,000 live births | -0.6% |
| 2006 | 84.38 per 100,000 live births | -0.0% |
| 2007 | 83 per 100,000 live births | -1.6% |
| 2008 | 81.89 per 100,000 live births | -1.3% |
| 2009 | 80.52 per 100,000 live births | -1.7% |
| 2010 | 77.18 per 100,000 live births | -4.1% |
| 2011 | 72.96 per 100,000 live births | -5.5% |
| 2012 | 71.46 per 100,000 live births | -2.1% |
| 2013 | 71.3 per 100,000 live births | -0.2% |
| 2014 | 71.73 per 100,000 live births | +0.6% |
| 2015 | 70.65 per 100,000 live births | -1.5% |
| 2016 | 73.03 per 100,000 live births | +3.4% |
| 2017 | 74.01 per 100,000 live births | +1.4% |
| 2018 | 74.81 per 100,000 live births | +1.1% |
| 2019 | 74.78 per 100,000 live births | -0.0% |
| 2020 | 95.69 per 100,000 live births | +28.0% |
| 2021 | 141.9 per 100,000 live births | +48.3% |
| 2022 | 100.78 per 100,000 live births | -29.0% |
| 2023 | 76.86 per 100,000 live births | -23.7% |
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Maternal mortality ratio (United Nations) in South America 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 | +48.3% | 95.69 per 100,000 live births | 141.9 per 100,000 live births |
| 2020 | +28.0% | 74.78 per 100,000 live births | 95.69 per 100,000 live births |
| 2022 | -29.0% | 141.9 per 100,000 live births | 100.78 per 100,000 live births |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 84.4 per 100,000 live births | 80.52 per 100,000 live births | 88.25 per 100,000 live births | 10 |
| 2010s | 73.19 per 100,000 live births | 70.65 per 100,000 live births | 77.18 per 100,000 live births | 10 |
| 2020s | 103.81 per 100,000 live births | 76.86 per 100,000 live births | 141.9 per 100,000 live births | 4 |
Countries ranked near South America
- 17 Mali 367.33 per 100,000 live births compare
- 18 Côte d'Ivoire 358.95 per 100,000 live births compare
- 18 Cote d'Ivoire 358.95 per 100,000 live births compare
- 20 Zimbabwe 357.62 per 100,000 live births compare
- 21 Gambia 354.35 per 100,000 live births compare
- 22 Sierra Leone 353.56 per 100,000 live births compare
- 23 Niger 350.27 per 100,000 live births compare
More health data for South America
- Tuberculosis incidence 57 per 100,000 people (2024)
- Total official development assistance to medical research and basic 83.21 million constant US$ (2024)
- Proportion of births attended by skilled health personnel 98.2% (2025)
- Malaria incidence per 1,000 population at risk 5.49 per 1,000 people (2024)
- Total official development assistance to medical research and basic 70.14 million constant US$ (2024)
- Age-standardized prevalence of current tobacco use among persons aged 13.0% (2024)
- International Health Regulations (IHR) capacity, by type of IHR 58.0% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is maternal mortality ratio in South America?
- Maternal mortality ratio in South America was 76.86 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 South America?
- The highest recorded value was 141.9 per 100,000 live births in 2021.
- What is the lowest maternal mortality ratio recorded in South America?
- The lowest recorded value was 70.65 per 100,000 live births in 2015.
- How does South America rank for maternal mortality ratio?
- South America ranks 20th out of 36 groups with data for 2023.
- Is maternal mortality ratio rising or falling in South America?
- Over the last ten years it is up 7.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South America 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).