Maternal mortality ratio in Zambia
Zambia: Maternal mortality ratio was 85.45 per 100,000 live births in 2023. ▼ Falling
Latest (2023)
85.45 per 100,000 live births
Change on year
down 4.5%
World rank
77th
of 212 countries
All-time high
406.35 per 100,000 live births
in 2009
All-time low
85.45 per 100,000 live births
in 2023
Years of data
24
2000–2023
Maternal mortality ratio in Zambia, 2000–2023
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Measured in per 100,000 live births.
Analysis
In 2023, maternal mortality ratio in Zambia stood at 85.45 per 100,000 live births. That is the lowest value across all 24 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 4.5% on the previous year and down 59.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, maternal mortality ratio in Zambia peaked at 406.35 per 100,000 live births in 2009 and was at its lowest, 85.45 per 100,000 live births, in 2023.
Zambia ranks 77th of 212 countries 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 in Zambia, year by year
| Year | per 100,000 live births | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 340.18 per 100,000 live births | — |
| 2001 | 305.62 per 100,000 live births | -10.2% |
| 2002 | 273.72 per 100,000 live births | -10.4% |
| 2003 | 249.85 per 100,000 live births | -8.7% |
| 2004 | 259.57 per 100,000 live births | +3.9% |
| 2005 | 263.72 per 100,000 live births | +1.6% |
| 2006 | 262.2 per 100,000 live births | -0.6% |
| 2007 | 323.86 per 100,000 live births | +23.5% |
| 2008 | 393.55 per 100,000 live births | +21.5% |
| 2009 | 406.35 per 100,000 live births | +3.3% |
| 2010 | 331.67 per 100,000 live births | -18.4% |
| 2011 | 291.14 per 100,000 live births | -12.2% |
| 2012 | 255.91 per 100,000 live births | -12.1% |
| 2013 | 213.32 per 100,000 live births | -16.6% |
| 2014 | 173.69 per 100,000 live births | -18.6% |
| 2015 | 154.41 per 100,000 live births | -11.1% |
| 2016 | 158.09 per 100,000 live births | +2.4% |
| 2017 | 141.4 per 100,000 live births | -10.6% |
| 2018 | 117.17 per 100,000 live births | -17.1% |
| 2019 | 102.75 per 100,000 live births | -12.3% |
| 2020 | 98.63 per 100,000 live births | -4.0% |
| 2021 | 140.14 per 100,000 live births | +42.1% |
| 2022 | 89.45 per 100,000 live births | -36.2% |
| 2023 | 85.45 per 100,000 live births | -4.5% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 85.45 per 100,000 live births is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 142 per 100,000 live births, 60% of the median. (43 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 85.45 per 100,000 live births is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 258.23 per 100,000 live births, 33% of the median. (45 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 307.86 per 100,000 live births | 249.85 per 100,000 live births | 406.35 per 100,000 live births | 10 |
| 2010s | 193.96 per 100,000 live births | 102.75 per 100,000 live births | 331.67 per 100,000 live births | 10 |
| 2020s | 103.42 per 100,000 live births | 85.45 per 100,000 live births | 140.14 per 100,000 live births | 4 |
Countries ranked near Zambia
- 74 Polynesia 97.64 per 100,000 live births compare
- 75 Guatemala 93.72 per 100,000 live births compare
- 76 Palau 89.42 per 100,000 live births compare
- 78 Philippines 83.75 per 100,000 live births compare
- 79 Suriname 83.64 per 100,000 live births compare
- 80 Mozambique 82.22 per 100,000 live births compare
More health data for Zambia
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.09 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.7971 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 809.3 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 8,894 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 2 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 1.68 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.0743 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 1.69 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is maternal mortality ratio in Zambia?
- Maternal mortality ratio in Zambia was 85.45 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 Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 406.35 per 100,000 live births in 2009.
- What is the lowest maternal mortality ratio recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 85.45 per 100,000 live births in 2023.
- How does Zambia rank for maternal mortality ratio?
- Zambia ranks 77th out of 212 countries with data for 2023.
- Is maternal mortality ratio rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 59.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Zambia 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).