Maternal mortality vs births attended by health staff in South Korea

South Korea: Maternal mortality vs births attended by health staff was 8.12 in 2020. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2020)
8.12
Change on year
up 27.6%
World rank
149th
of 185 countries
All-time high
39.75
in 1987
All-time low
6.08
in 2016
Years of data
36
1985–2020

Maternal mortality vs births attended by health staff in South Korea, 1985–2020

102030401985200220201985: 39.31986: 391987: 39.81988: 36.51989: 341990: 30.81991: 27.91992: 25.81993: 25.51994: 21.31995: 20.91996: 20.81997: 201998: 19.61999: 19.22000: 15.52001: 15.52002: 16.62003: 13.32004: 12.82005: 12.42006: 11.22007: 10.12008: 9.42009: 8.92010: 8.22011: 9.62012: 9.12013: 6.92014: 6.42015: 6.22016: 6.12017: 6.22018: 6.42019: 6.42020: 8.1

Source: Our World in Data.

Analysis

The most recent figure for maternal mortality vs births attended by health staff in South Korea is 8.12, measured in 2020.

The figure is up 27.6% on the previous year and down 1.5% over ten years.

Over the whole period, maternal mortality vs births attended by health staff in South Korea peaked at 39.75 in 1987 and was at its lowest, 6.08, in 2016.

South Korea ranks 149th of 185 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Maternal mortality vs births attended by health staff in South Korea, year by year

Annual values for Maternal mortality vs births attended by health staff in South Korea, 1985 to 2020.
Year Value Change
1985 39.28 —
1986 39.03 -0.6%
1987 39.75 +1.8%
1988 36.52 -8.1%
1989 34.03 -6.8%
1990 30.79 -9.5%
1991 27.9 -9.4%
1992 25.81 -7.5%
1993 25.51 -1.2%
1994 21.35 -16.3%
1995 20.91 -2.1%
1996 20.8 -0.5%
1997 19.97 -4.0%
1998 19.64 -1.7%
1999 19.16 -2.4%
2000 15.54 -18.9%
2001 15.49 -0.3%
2002 16.55 +6.9%
2003 13.26 -19.9%
2004 12.77 -3.7%
2005 12.41 -2.9%
2006 11.18 -9.9%
2007 10.1 -9.7%
2008 9.41 -6.8%
2009 8.9 -5.4%
2010 8.24 -7.4%
2011 9.6 +16.6%
2012 9.12 -5.0%
2013 6.95 -23.8%
2014 6.43 -7.5%
2015 6.2 -3.5%
2016 6.08 -1.9%
2017 6.18 +1.7%
2018 6.41 +3.7%
2019 6.36 -0.8%
2020 8.12 +27.6%

South Korea compared with similar countries

  • South Korea's 8.12 is above the median for high income countries, which is 7.63, 1.1× the median. (58 countries reporting)
  • South Korea's 8.12 is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 66.7, 12% of the median. (26 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1980s 37.72 34.03 39.75 5
1990s 23.18 19.16 30.79 10
2000s 12.56 8.9 16.55 10
2010s 7.16 6.08 9.6 10
2020s 8.12 8.12 8.12 1

Countries ranked near South Korea

  1. 146 Lithuania 8.66 compare
  2. 147 Finland 8.34 compare
  3. 148 Albania 8.28 compare
  4. 150 France 7.91 compare
  5. 151 Greece 7.65 compare
  6. 152 Qatar 7.61 compare

See the full ranking of 185 places →

More health data for South Korea

All data for South Korea →

Frequently asked questions

What is maternal mortality vs births attended by health staff in South Korea?
Maternal mortality vs births attended by health staff in South Korea was 8.12 in 2020, according to Our World in Data.
What is the highest maternal mortality vs births attended by health staff recorded in South Korea?
The highest recorded value was 39.75 in 1987.
What is the lowest maternal mortality vs births attended by health staff recorded in South Korea?
The lowest recorded value was 6.08 in 2016.
How does South Korea rank for maternal mortality vs births attended by health staff?
South Korea ranks 149th out of 185 countries with data for 2020.
Is maternal mortality vs births attended by health staff rising or falling in South Korea?
Over the last ten years it is down 1.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this South Korea data come from?
The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Maternal mortality vs births attended by health staff. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Maternal mortality vs births attended by health staff in South Korea. Statizoid, drawing on Our World in Data. Retrieved 11 November 2026, from https://health.statizoid.com/stat/maternal-mortality-vs-births-attended-by-health-staff/korea-rep/

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About this data

Indicator
Maternal mortality vs births attended by health staff
Source
Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
185 places, 6,660 data points, 1985–2020
Last refreshed