Maternal mortality ratio in Bhutan
Bhutan: Maternal mortality ratio was 59.95 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2020. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2020)
59.95 deaths per 100,000 live births
Change on year
down 2.7%
World rank
92nd
of 189 countries
All-time high
835.07 deaths per 100,000 live births
in 1985
All-time low
57.32 deaths per 100,000 live births
in 2018
Years of data
36
1985–2020
Maternal mortality ratio in Bhutan, 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
Bhutan recorded 59.95 deaths per 100,000 live births for maternal mortality ratio in 2020.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 2.7% on the previous year and down 48.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, maternal mortality ratio in Bhutan peaked at 835.07 deaths per 100,000 live births in 1985 and was at its lowest, 57.32 deaths per 100,000 live births, in 2018.
That places Bhutan 92nd out of 189 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Maternal mortality ratio in Bhutan, year by year
| Year | deaths per 100,000 live births | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 835.07 deaths per 100,000 live births | — |
| 1986 | 770.46 deaths per 100,000 live births | -7.7% |
| 1987 | 746.82 deaths per 100,000 live births | -3.1% |
| 1988 | 712.2 deaths per 100,000 live births | -4.6% |
| 1989 | 621.71 deaths per 100,000 live births | -12.7% |
| 1990 | 603.62 deaths per 100,000 live births | -2.9% |
| 1991 | 583.96 deaths per 100,000 live births | -3.3% |
| 1992 | 551.44 deaths per 100,000 live births | -5.6% |
| 1993 | 498.43 deaths per 100,000 live births | -9.6% |
| 1994 | 494.85 deaths per 100,000 live births | -0.7% |
| 1995 | 430.79 deaths per 100,000 live births | -12.9% |
| 1996 | 406.96 deaths per 100,000 live births | -5.5% |
| 1997 | 385.92 deaths per 100,000 live births | -5.2% |
| 1998 | 339.39 deaths per 100,000 live births | -12.1% |
| 1999 | 341.64 deaths per 100,000 live births | +0.7% |
| 2000 | 304.68 deaths per 100,000 live births | -10.8% |
| 2001 | 257.04 deaths per 100,000 live births | -15.6% |
| 2002 | 255.71 deaths per 100,000 live births | -0.5% |
| 2003 | 222.1 deaths per 100,000 live births | -13.1% |
| 2004 | 196.52 deaths per 100,000 live births | -11.5% |
| 2005 | 185.8 deaths per 100,000 live births | -5.5% |
| 2006 | 183.1 deaths per 100,000 live births | -1.5% |
| 2007 | 153.13 deaths per 100,000 live births | -16.4% |
| 2008 | 140.67 deaths per 100,000 live births | -8.1% |
| 2009 | 129.44 deaths per 100,000 live births | -8.0% |
| 2010 | 116.57 deaths per 100,000 live births | -9.9% |
| 2011 | 94.31 deaths per 100,000 live births | -19.1% |
| 2012 | 91.55 deaths per 100,000 live births | -2.9% |
| 2013 | 84.18 deaths per 100,000 live births | -8.0% |
| 2014 | 78.32 deaths per 100,000 live births | -7.0% |
| 2015 | 73.67 deaths per 100,000 live births | -5.9% |
| 2016 | 66.35 deaths per 100,000 live births | -9.9% |
| 2017 | 68.4 deaths per 100,000 live births | +3.1% |
| 2018 | 57.32 deaths per 100,000 live births | -16.2% |
| 2019 | 61.61 deaths per 100,000 live births | +7.5% |
| 2020 | 59.95 deaths per 100,000 live births | -2.7% |
Bhutan compared with similar countries
- Bhutan's 59.95 deaths per 100,000 live births is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 191.84 deaths per 100,000 live births, 31% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Bhutan's 59.95 deaths per 100,000 live births is below the median for South Asia, which is 81.3 deaths per 100,000 live births, 74% of the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 737.25 deaths per 100,000 live births | 621.71 deaths per 100,000 live births | 835.07 deaths per 100,000 live births | 5 |
| 1990s | 463.7 deaths per 100,000 live births | 339.39 deaths per 100,000 live births | 603.62 deaths per 100,000 live births | 10 |
| 2000s | 202.82 deaths per 100,000 live births | 129.44 deaths per 100,000 live births | 304.68 deaths per 100,000 live births | 10 |
| 2010s | 79.23 deaths per 100,000 live births | 57.32 deaths per 100,000 live births | 116.57 deaths per 100,000 live births | 10 |
| 2020s | 59.95 deaths per 100,000 live births | 59.95 deaths per 100,000 live births | 59.95 deaths per 100,000 live births | 1 |
Countries ranked near Bhutan
- 89 Cyprus 68.41 deaths per 100,000 live births compare
- 90 Ecuador 65.75 deaths per 100,000 live births compare
- 91 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 61.79 deaths per 100,000 live births compare
- 93 Mexico 59.13 deaths per 100,000 live births compare
- 94 Samoa 59.08 deaths per 100,000 live births compare
- 95 Maldives 56.69 deaths per 100,000 live births compare
More health data for Bhutan
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -10 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.0915 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,531 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 9 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 0.2986 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.0299 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 0.3987 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is maternal mortality ratio in Bhutan?
- Maternal mortality ratio in Bhutan was 59.95 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 Bhutan?
- The highest recorded value was 835.07 deaths per 100,000 live births in 1985.
- What is the lowest maternal mortality ratio recorded in Bhutan?
- The lowest recorded value was 57.32 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2018.
- How does Bhutan rank for maternal mortality ratio?
- Bhutan ranks 92nd out of 189 countries with data for 2020.
- Is maternal mortality ratio rising or falling in Bhutan?
- Over the last ten years it is down 48.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Bhutan 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.