What is maternal mortality ratio in Botswana?

Maternal mortality ratio in Botswana was 185.9 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 Botswana?

The highest recorded value was 260.27 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2012.

What is the lowest maternal mortality ratio recorded in Botswana?

The lowest recorded value was 107.63 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2017.

How does Botswana rank for maternal mortality ratio?

Botswana ranks 49th out of 189 countries with data for 2020.

Is maternal mortality ratio rising or falling in Botswana?

Over the last ten years it is up 19.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.

Where does this Botswana 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.

Maternal mortality ratio in Botswana

Name: Maternal mortality ratio in Botswana
Creator: UN MMEIG (2023) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data
License: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)

Botswana: Maternal mortality ratio was 185.9 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2020. ▼ Falling

Latest (2020)

185.9 deaths per 100,000 live births

Change on year

up 57.7%

World rank

49th

of 189 countries

All-time high

260.27 deaths per 100,000 live births

in 2012

All-time low

107.63 deaths per 100,000 live births

in 2017

Years of data

1985–2020

Maternal mortality ratio in Botswana, 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

Botswana recorded 185.9 deaths per 100,000 live births for maternal mortality ratio in 2020.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 57.7% on the previous year and up 19.2% over ten years.

Over the whole period, maternal mortality ratio in Botswana peaked at 260.27 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2012 and was at its lowest, 107.63 deaths per 100,000 live births, in 2017.

That places Botswana 49th out of 189 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 36 years of available data.

Averages by decade

Decade	Average	Lowest	Highest	Years
1980s	227.29 deaths per 100,000 live births	220.61 deaths per 100,000 live births	234.85 deaths per 100,000 live births	5
1990s	197.59 deaths per 100,000 live births	171.5 deaths per 100,000 live births	235.16 deaths per 100,000 live births	10
2000s	195.74 deaths per 100,000 live births	174.2 deaths per 100,000 live births	221.78 deaths per 100,000 live births	10
2010s	166.84 deaths per 100,000 live births	107.63 deaths per 100,000 live births	260.27 deaths per 100,000 live births	10
2020s	185.9 deaths per 100,000 live births	185.9 deaths per 100,000 live births	185.9 deaths per 100,000 live births	1

Countries ranked near Botswana

46 Equatorial Guinea 212.33 deaths per 100,000 live births compare
47 East Timor 203.92 deaths per 100,000 live births compare
48 Papua New Guinea 191.84 deaths per 100,000 live births compare
50 Yemen 183.4 deaths per 100,000 live births compare
51 Myanmar 178.67 deaths per 100,000 live births compare
52 Nepal 174.41 deaths per 100,000 live births compare

See the full ranking of 189 places →

More health data for Botswana

Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,150 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
Number of infants who die before age 1 281 deaths (2100)
Deaths in armed conflicts based on where they occurred 0 deaths (2026)
Deaths in armed conflicts by region 0 deaths (2026)
Age population, age 25, male, interpolated 24,110 (2025)
Age population, age 25, female, interpolated 24,286 (2025)
Age population, age 24, male, interpolated 24,367 (2025)
Age population, age 24, female, interpolated 24,401 (2025)
Age population, age 23, male, interpolated 24,535 (2025)
Age population, age 23, female, interpolated 24,604 (2025)

All data for Botswana →

Frequently asked questions

What is maternal mortality ratio in Botswana?: Maternal mortality ratio in Botswana was 185.9 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 Botswana?: The highest recorded value was 260.27 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2012.
What is the lowest maternal mortality ratio recorded in Botswana?: The lowest recorded value was 107.63 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2017.
How does Botswana rank for maternal mortality ratio?: Botswana ranks 49th out of 189 countries with data for 2020.
Is maternal mortality ratio rising or falling in Botswana?: Over the last ten years it is up 19.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this Botswana 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.

Download this data

CSV · JSON — 36 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).

About this data

Indicator: Maternal mortality ratio
Unit: deaths per 100,000 live births
Source: UN MMEIG (2023) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data
Licence: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage: 189 places, 8,868 data points, 1751–2020
Last refreshed: 07 August 2026

The 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.