Maternal mortality ratio in Sub-Saharan Africa
Sub-Saharan Africa: Maternal mortality ratio was 453.93 per 100,000 live births in 2023. βΌ Falling
Maternal mortality ratio in Sub-Saharan 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 Sub-Saharan Africa is 453.93 per 100,000 live births, measured in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 24 years on record.
The figure is down 1.7% on the previous year and down 26.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, maternal mortality ratio in Sub-Saharan Africa peaked at 747.82 per 100,000 live births in 2000 and was at its lowest, 453.93 per 100,000 live births, in 2023.
Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 3rd of 39 regions on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 24 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 686.19 per 100,000 live births | 660.97 per 100,000 live births | 747.82 per 100,000 live births | 10 |
| 2010s | 596.57 per 100,000 live births | 517.03 per 100,000 live births | 652.86 per 100,000 live births | 10 |
| 2020s | 479.24 per 100,000 live births | 453.93 per 100,000 live births | 507.81 per 100,000 live births | 4 |
Countries ranked near Sub-Saharan Africa
- 1 Central African Republic 691.74 per 100,000 live births compare
- 1 Nigeria 992.83 per 100,000 live births compare
- 2 Chad 747.54 per 100,000 live births compare
- 3 South Sudan 691.82 per 100,000 live births compare
- 4 Liberia 627.72 per 100,000 live births compare
- 5 Somalia 562.59 per 100,000 live births compare
- 6 Afghanistan 520.5 per 100,000 live births compare
More health data for Sub-Saharan Africa
- Population ages 15-64, male 370.24 million (2025)
- Age dependency ratio, old 5.7% (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, female 263.91 million (2025)
- Population, female 662.87 million (2025)
- Age dependency ratio 78.1% (2025)
- Age dependency ratio, young 71.6% (2025)
- Population, male 658.79 million (2025)
- Population ages 15-64, total 745.25 million (2025)
- Population, male 49.8% (2025)
- Population ages 15-64, female 375.01 million (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is maternal mortality ratio in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- Maternal mortality ratio in Sub-Saharan Africa was 453.93 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 Sub-Saharan Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 747.82 per 100,000 live births in 2000.
- What is the lowest maternal mortality ratio recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 453.93 per 100,000 live births in 2023.
- How does Sub-Saharan Africa rank for maternal mortality ratio?
- Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 3rd out of 39 regions with data for 2023.
- Is maternal mortality ratio rising or falling in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 26.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Sub-Saharan 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).