Maternal mortality ratio (United Nations) in Southern Africa
Southern Africa: Maternal mortality ratio (United Nations) was 136.6 per 100,000 live births in 2023. ▼ Falling
Maternal mortality ratio in Southern Africa, 2000–2023
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Measured in per 100,000 live births.
Analysis
In 2023, maternal mortality ratio in Southern Africa stood at 136.6 per 100,000 live births.
The figure is down 4.9% on the previous year and down 41.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, maternal mortality ratio in Southern Africa peaked at 332.83 per 100,000 live births in 2008 and was at its lowest, 135.77 per 100,000 live births, in 2020.
Southern Africa ranks 12th of 36 groups on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 24 years of available data.
Maternal mortality ratio (United Nations) in Southern Africa, year by year
| Year | per 100,000 live births | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 200.36 per 100,000 live births | — |
| 2001 | 216.24 per 100,000 live births | +7.9% |
| 2002 | 242.76 per 100,000 live births | +12.3% |
| 2003 | 260.89 per 100,000 live births | +7.5% |
| 2004 | 272.88 per 100,000 live births | +4.6% |
| 2005 | 296.72 per 100,000 live births | +8.7% |
| 2006 | 310.42 per 100,000 live births | +4.6% |
| 2007 | 316.96 per 100,000 live births | +2.1% |
| 2008 | 332.83 per 100,000 live births | +5.0% |
| 2009 | 320.85 per 100,000 live births | -3.6% |
| 2010 | 303.38 per 100,000 live births | -5.4% |
| 2011 | 280.88 per 100,000 live births | -7.4% |
| 2012 | 257.74 per 100,000 live births | -8.2% |
| 2013 | 231.48 per 100,000 live births | -10.2% |
| 2014 | 204.8 per 100,000 live births | -11.5% |
| 2015 | 182.06 per 100,000 live births | -11.1% |
| 2016 | 163.83 per 100,000 live births | -10.0% |
| 2017 | 150.56 per 100,000 live births | -8.1% |
| 2018 | 146.97 per 100,000 live births | -2.4% |
| 2019 | 136.8 per 100,000 live births | -6.9% |
| 2020 | 135.77 per 100,000 live births | -0.8% |
| 2021 | 214.13 per 100,000 live births | +57.7% |
| 2022 | 143.62 per 100,000 live births | -32.9% |
| 2023 | 136.6 per 100,000 live births | -4.9% |
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Maternal mortality ratio (United Nations) in Southern Africa 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 | +57.7% | 135.77 per 100,000 live births | 214.13 per 100,000 live births |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 277.09 per 100,000 live births | 200.36 per 100,000 live births | 332.83 per 100,000 live births | 10 |
| 2010s | 205.85 per 100,000 live births | 136.8 per 100,000 live births | 303.38 per 100,000 live births | 10 |
| 2020s | 157.53 per 100,000 live births | 135.77 per 100,000 live births | 214.13 per 100,000 live births | 4 |
Countries ranked near Southern Africa
- 9 Guinea-Bissau 505.37 per 100,000 live births compare
- 10 Guinea 494.12 per 100,000 live births compare
- 11 Lesotho 478.02 per 100,000 live births compare
- 12 Madagascar 445.43 per 100,000 live births compare
- 13 Democratic Republic of the Congo 427.05 per 100,000 live births compare
- 14 Burundi 391.98 per 100,000 live births compare
- 15 Mauritania 381.05 per 100,000 live births compare
More health data for Southern Africa
- Tuberculosis incidence 386 per 100,000 people (2024)
- Total official development assistance to medical research and basic 59.71 million constant US$ (2024)
- Proportion of births attended by skilled health personnel 97.6% (2025)
- Malaria incidence per 1,000 population at risk 1.72 per 1,000 people (2024)
- Total official development assistance to medical research and basic 58.64 million constant US$ (2024)
- Age-standardized prevalence of current tobacco use among persons aged 22.2% (2024)
- International Health Regulations (IHR) capacity, by type of IHR 51.0% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is maternal mortality ratio in Southern Africa?
- Maternal mortality ratio in Southern Africa was 136.6 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 Southern Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 332.83 per 100,000 live births in 2008.
- What is the lowest maternal mortality ratio recorded in Southern Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 135.77 per 100,000 live births in 2020.
- How does Southern Africa rank for maternal mortality ratio?
- Southern Africa ranks 12th out of 36 groups with data for 2023.
- Is maternal mortality ratio rising or falling in Southern Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 41.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Southern 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 · JSON — 24 observations, free to reuse under UN SDG Global Database (open, attribution requested).