Maternal mortality ratio in Afghanistan
Afghanistan: Maternal mortality ratio was 620.41 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2020. ▼ Falling
Latest (2020)
620.41 deaths per 100,000 live births
Change on year
down 3.7%
World rank
8th
of 189 countries
All-time high
1,910 deaths per 100,000 live births
in 1985
All-time low
620.41 deaths per 100,000 live births
in 2020
Years of data
36
1985–2020
Maternal mortality ratio in Afghanistan, 1985–2020
Source: UN MMEIG (2023) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in deaths per 100,000 live births.
Analysis
The most recent figure for maternal mortality ratio in Afghanistan is 620.41 deaths per 100,000 live births, measured in 2020. That is the lowest value across all 36 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 3.7% on the previous year and down 31.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, maternal mortality ratio in Afghanistan peaked at 1,910 deaths per 100,000 live births in 1985 and was at its lowest, 620.41 deaths per 100,000 live births, in 2020.
That places Afghanistan 8th out of 189 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 36 years of available data.
Maternal mortality ratio in Afghanistan, year by year
| Year | deaths per 100,000 live births | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 1,910 deaths per 100,000 live births | — |
| 1986 | 1,603 deaths per 100,000 live births | -16.1% |
| 1987 | 1,587 deaths per 100,000 live births | -1.0% |
| 1988 | 1,414 deaths per 100,000 live births | -10.9% |
| 1989 | 1,383 deaths per 100,000 live births | -2.2% |
| 1990 | 1,378 deaths per 100,000 live births | -0.4% |
| 1991 | 1,393 deaths per 100,000 live births | +1.1% |
| 1992 | 1,452 deaths per 100,000 live births | +4.2% |
| 1993 | 1,369 deaths per 100,000 live births | -5.7% |
| 1994 | 1,375 deaths per 100,000 live births | +0.5% |
| 1995 | 1,401 deaths per 100,000 live births | +1.9% |
| 1996 | 1,376 deaths per 100,000 live births | -1.8% |
| 1997 | 1,365 deaths per 100,000 live births | -0.7% |
| 1998 | 1,459 deaths per 100,000 live births | +6.9% |
| 1999 | 1,359 deaths per 100,000 live births | -6.9% |
| 2000 | 1,346 deaths per 100,000 live births | -1.0% |
| 2001 | 1,273 deaths per 100,000 live births | -5.4% |
| 2002 | 1,277 deaths per 100,000 live births | +0.3% |
| 2003 | 1,196 deaths per 100,000 live births | -6.4% |
| 2004 | 1,115 deaths per 100,000 live births | -6.8% |
| 2005 | 1,103 deaths per 100,000 live births | -1.1% |
| 2006 | 1,044 deaths per 100,000 live births | -5.3% |
| 2007 | 1,024 deaths per 100,000 live births | -2.0% |
| 2008 | 962.32 deaths per 100,000 live births | -6.0% |
| 2009 | 913.04 deaths per 100,000 live births | -5.1% |
| 2010 | 898.67 deaths per 100,000 live births | -1.6% |
| 2011 | 883.71 deaths per 100,000 live births | -1.7% |
| 2012 | 833.48 deaths per 100,000 live births | -5.7% |
| 2013 | 820.68 deaths per 100,000 live births | -1.5% |
| 2014 | 785.35 deaths per 100,000 live births | -4.3% |
| 2015 | 775.69 deaths per 100,000 live births | -1.2% |
| 2016 | 749.82 deaths per 100,000 live births | -3.3% |
| 2017 | 681.81 deaths per 100,000 live births | -9.1% |
| 2018 | 663.43 deaths per 100,000 live births | -2.7% |
| 2019 | 644.27 deaths per 100,000 live births | -2.9% |
| 2020 | 620.41 deaths per 100,000 live births | -3.7% |
Afghanistan compared with similar countries
- Afghanistan's 620.41 deaths per 100,000 live births is above the median for low income countries, which is 440.23 deaths per 100,000 live births, 1.4× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Afghanistan's 620.41 deaths per 100,000 live births is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 22.02 deaths per 100,000 live births, 28.2× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 1,579 deaths per 100,000 live births | 1,383 deaths per 100,000 live births | 1,910 deaths per 100,000 live births | 5 |
| 1990s | 1,393 deaths per 100,000 live births | 1,359 deaths per 100,000 live births | 1,459 deaths per 100,000 live births | 10 |
| 2000s | 1,125 deaths per 100,000 live births | 913.04 deaths per 100,000 live births | 1,346 deaths per 100,000 live births | 10 |
| 2010s | 773.69 deaths per 100,000 live births | 644.27 deaths per 100,000 live births | 898.67 deaths per 100,000 live births | 10 |
| 2020s | 620.41 deaths per 100,000 live births | 620.41 deaths per 100,000 live births | 620.41 deaths per 100,000 live births | 1 |
Countries ranked near Afghanistan
- 5 Guinea-Bissau 725.09 deaths per 100,000 live births compare
- 6 Liberia 652.34 deaths per 100,000 live births compare
- 7 Somalia 620.68 deaths per 100,000 live births compare
- 9 Lesotho 566.21 deaths per 100,000 live births compare
- 10 Guinea 553.4 deaths per 100,000 live births compare
- 11 Democratic Republic of Congo 547.36 deaths per 100,000 live births compare
More health data for Afghanistan
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.45 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 1.03 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 812.4 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 14,735 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 19 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 1.78 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0.0002 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.077 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 1.75 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0.0002 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is maternal mortality ratio in Afghanistan?
- Maternal mortality ratio in Afghanistan was 620.41 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2020, according to UN MMEIG (2023) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest maternal mortality ratio recorded in Afghanistan?
- The highest recorded value was 1,910 deaths per 100,000 live births in 1985.
- What is the lowest maternal mortality ratio recorded in Afghanistan?
- The lowest recorded value was 620.41 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2020.
- How does Afghanistan rank for maternal mortality ratio?
- Afghanistan ranks 8th out of 189 countries with data for 2020.
- Is maternal mortality ratio rising or falling in Afghanistan?
- Over the last ten years it is down 31.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Afghanistan data come from?
- The figures come from UN MMEIG (2023) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Maternal mortality ratio. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Estimated number of women who die from maternal conditions per 100,000 live births, based on data from death certificates, large-scale surveys, and statistical modeling.