Maternal mortality ratio in Eritrea
Eritrea: Maternal mortality ratio was 321.55 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2020. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2020)
321.55 deaths per 100,000 live births
Change on year
down 3.0%
World rank
27th
of 185 countries
All-time high
1,558 deaths per 100,000 live births
in 1985
All-time low
321.55 deaths per 100,000 live births
in 2020
Years of data
36
1985–2020
Maternal mortality ratio in Eritrea, 1985–2020
Source: UN MMEIG (2023) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in deaths per 100,000 live births.
Analysis
The most recent figure for maternal mortality ratio in Eritrea is 321.55 deaths per 100,000 live births, measured in 2020. That is the lowest value across all 36 years on record.
The figure is down 3.0% on the previous year and down 33.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, maternal mortality ratio in Eritrea peaked at 1,558 deaths per 100,000 live births in 1985 and was at its lowest, 321.55 deaths per 100,000 live births, in 2020.
That places Eritrea 27th out of 185 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Maternal mortality ratio in Eritrea, year by year
| Year | deaths per 100,000 live births | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 1,558 deaths per 100,000 live births | — |
| 1986 | 1,517 deaths per 100,000 live births | -2.6% |
| 1987 | 1,465 deaths per 100,000 live births | -3.4% |
| 1988 | 1,413 deaths per 100,000 live births | -3.5% |
| 1989 | 1,409 deaths per 100,000 live births | -0.3% |
| 1990 | 1,319 deaths per 100,000 live births | -6.4% |
| 1991 | 1,184 deaths per 100,000 live births | -10.2% |
| 1992 | 1,080 deaths per 100,000 live births | -8.8% |
| 1993 | 1,024 deaths per 100,000 live births | -5.2% |
| 1994 | 939.8 deaths per 100,000 live births | -8.3% |
| 1995 | 875.94 deaths per 100,000 live births | -6.8% |
| 1996 | 808 deaths per 100,000 live births | -7.8% |
| 1997 | 747.06 deaths per 100,000 live births | -7.5% |
| 1998 | 820.1 deaths per 100,000 live births | +9.8% |
| 1999 | 813.58 deaths per 100,000 live births | -0.8% |
| 2000 | 734.59 deaths per 100,000 live births | -9.7% |
| 2001 | 654.13 deaths per 100,000 live births | -11.0% |
| 2002 | 642.79 deaths per 100,000 live births | -1.7% |
| 2003 | 619.24 deaths per 100,000 live births | -3.7% |
| 2004 | 575.06 deaths per 100,000 live births | -7.1% |
| 2005 | 545.98 deaths per 100,000 live births | -5.1% |
| 2006 | 522.11 deaths per 100,000 live births | -4.4% |
| 2007 | 520.64 deaths per 100,000 live births | -0.3% |
| 2008 | 529.41 deaths per 100,000 live births | +1.7% |
| 2009 | 481.07 deaths per 100,000 live births | -9.1% |
| 2010 | 479.75 deaths per 100,000 live births | -0.3% |
| 2011 | 454.45 deaths per 100,000 live births | -5.3% |
| 2012 | 421.95 deaths per 100,000 live births | -7.2% |
| 2013 | 420.32 deaths per 100,000 live births | -0.4% |
| 2014 | 397.8 deaths per 100,000 live births | -5.4% |
| 2015 | 398.53 deaths per 100,000 live births | +0.2% |
| 2016 | 388.64 deaths per 100,000 live births | -2.5% |
| 2017 | 358.57 deaths per 100,000 live births | -7.7% |
| 2018 | 337.75 deaths per 100,000 live births | -5.8% |
| 2019 | 331.53 deaths per 100,000 live births | -1.8% |
| 2020 | 321.55 deaths per 100,000 live births | -3.0% |
Eritrea compared with similar countries
- Eritrea's 321.55 deaths per 100,000 live births is below the median for low income countries, which is 440.23 deaths per 100,000 live births, 73% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Eritrea's 321.55 deaths per 100,000 live births is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 339.15 deaths per 100,000 live births, 95% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 1,472 deaths per 100,000 live births | 1,409 deaths per 100,000 live births | 1,558 deaths per 100,000 live births | 5 |
| 1990s | 961.24 deaths per 100,000 live births | 747.06 deaths per 100,000 live births | 1,319 deaths per 100,000 live births | 10 |
| 2000s | 582.5 deaths per 100,000 live births | 481.07 deaths per 100,000 live births | 734.59 deaths per 100,000 live births | 10 |
| 2010s | 398.93 deaths per 100,000 live births | 331.53 deaths per 100,000 live births | 479.75 deaths per 100,000 live births | 10 |
| 2020s | 321.55 deaths per 100,000 live births | 321.55 deaths per 100,000 live births | 321.55 deaths per 100,000 live births | 1 |
Countries ranked near Eritrea
- 24 Malawi 380.67 deaths per 100,000 live births compare
- 25 Zimbabwe 356.76 deaths per 100,000 live births compare
- 26 Haiti 350.4 deaths per 100,000 live births compare
- 28 Uganda 284.14 deaths per 100,000 live births compare
- 29 Congo 282.39 deaths per 100,000 live births compare
- 30 Sudan 270.36 deaths per 100,000 live births compare
More health data for Eritrea
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.62 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 1.2 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 821.1 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 425 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 1.72 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2011)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.0652 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 1.73 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2011)
Frequently asked questions
- What is maternal mortality ratio in Eritrea?
- Maternal mortality ratio in Eritrea was 321.55 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2020, according to UN MMEIG (2023) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest maternal mortality ratio recorded in Eritrea?
- The highest recorded value was 1,558 deaths per 100,000 live births in 1985.
- What is the lowest maternal mortality ratio recorded in Eritrea?
- The lowest recorded value was 321.55 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2020.
- How does Eritrea rank for maternal mortality ratio?
- Eritrea ranks 27th out of 185 countries with data for 2020.
- Is maternal mortality ratio rising or falling in Eritrea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 33.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Eritrea data come from?
- The figures come from UN MMEIG (2023) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Maternal mortality ratio. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 36 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
The estimated maternal mortality ratio (MMR) is the number of maternal deaths per 100,000 live births.