Maternal mortality ratio in Eswatini
Eswatini: Maternal mortality ratio was 239.63 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2020. ▼ Falling
Latest (2020)
239.63 deaths per 100,000 live births
Change on year
up 5.1%
World rank
38th
of 189 countries
All-time high
783.43 deaths per 100,000 live births
in 2009
All-time low
218.3 deaths per 100,000 live births
in 2018
Years of data
36
1985–2020
Maternal mortality ratio in Eswatini, 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
Eswatini recorded 239.63 deaths per 100,000 live births for maternal mortality ratio in 2020.
That represents a change of up 5.1% on the previous year and down 64.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, maternal mortality ratio in Eswatini peaked at 783.43 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2009 and was at its lowest, 218.3 deaths per 100,000 live births, in 2018.
Eswatini ranks 38th of 189 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 36 years of available data.
Maternal mortality ratio in Eswatini, year by year
| Year | deaths per 100,000 live births | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 484.34 deaths per 100,000 live births | — |
| 1986 | 450.42 deaths per 100,000 live births | -7.0% |
| 1987 | 424.52 deaths per 100,000 live births | -5.8% |
| 1988 | 378.13 deaths per 100,000 live births | -10.9% |
| 1989 | 370.89 deaths per 100,000 live births | -1.9% |
| 1990 | 354.85 deaths per 100,000 live births | -4.3% |
| 1991 | 359.64 deaths per 100,000 live births | +1.4% |
| 1992 | 364.6 deaths per 100,000 live births | +1.4% |
| 1993 | 388.97 deaths per 100,000 live births | +6.7% |
| 1994 | 432.77 deaths per 100,000 live births | +11.3% |
| 1995 | 451.03 deaths per 100,000 live births | +4.2% |
| 1996 | 500.45 deaths per 100,000 live births | +11.0% |
| 1997 | 512.13 deaths per 100,000 live births | +2.3% |
| 1998 | 532.69 deaths per 100,000 live births | +4.0% |
| 1999 | 551.62 deaths per 100,000 live births | +3.6% |
| 2000 | 588.35 deaths per 100,000 live births | +6.7% |
| 2001 | 600.28 deaths per 100,000 live births | +2.0% |
| 2002 | 606.84 deaths per 100,000 live births | +1.1% |
| 2003 | 660.24 deaths per 100,000 live births | +8.8% |
| 2004 | 662.76 deaths per 100,000 live births | +0.4% |
| 2005 | 678 deaths per 100,000 live births | +2.3% |
| 2006 | 643.55 deaths per 100,000 live births | -5.1% |
| 2007 | 663.55 deaths per 100,000 live births | +3.1% |
| 2008 | 691.41 deaths per 100,000 live births | +4.2% |
| 2009 | 783.43 deaths per 100,000 live births | +13.3% |
| 2010 | 671.51 deaths per 100,000 live births | -14.3% |
| 2011 | 627.05 deaths per 100,000 live births | -6.6% |
| 2012 | 599.44 deaths per 100,000 live births | -4.4% |
| 2013 | 512.46 deaths per 100,000 live births | -14.5% |
| 2014 | 426.07 deaths per 100,000 live births | -16.9% |
| 2015 | 338.22 deaths per 100,000 live births | -20.6% |
| 2016 | 275.45 deaths per 100,000 live births | -18.6% |
| 2017 | 236.91 deaths per 100,000 live births | -14.0% |
| 2018 | 218.3 deaths per 100,000 live births | -7.9% |
| 2019 | 228 deaths per 100,000 live births | +4.4% |
| 2020 | 239.63 deaths per 100,000 live births | +5.1% |
Eswatini compared with similar countries
- Eswatini's 239.63 deaths per 100,000 live births is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 191.84 deaths per 100,000 live births, 1.2× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Eswatini's 239.63 deaths per 100,000 live births is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 339.15 deaths per 100,000 live births, 71% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 421.66 deaths per 100,000 live births | 370.89 deaths per 100,000 live births | 484.34 deaths per 100,000 live births | 5 |
| 1990s | 444.88 deaths per 100,000 live births | 354.85 deaths per 100,000 live births | 551.62 deaths per 100,000 live births | 10 |
| 2000s | 657.84 deaths per 100,000 live births | 588.35 deaths per 100,000 live births | 783.43 deaths per 100,000 live births | 10 |
| 2010s | 413.34 deaths per 100,000 live births | 218.3 deaths per 100,000 live births | 671.51 deaths per 100,000 live births | 10 |
| 2020s | 239.63 deaths per 100,000 live births | 239.63 deaths per 100,000 live births | 239.63 deaths per 100,000 live births | 1 |
Countries ranked near Eswatini
- 35 Senegal 260.88 deaths per 100,000 live births compare
- 36 Venezuela 259.19 deaths per 100,000 live births compare
- 37 Rwanda 258.93 deaths per 100,000 live births compare
- 39 Tanzania 238.3 deaths per 100,000 live births compare
- 40 Djibouti 234.49 deaths per 100,000 live births compare
- 41 Gabon 226.55 deaths per 100,000 live births compare
More health data for Eswatini
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.9 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.6228 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,406 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 206 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -0.6874 % 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 0.0553 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -0.5455 % 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 Eswatini?
- Maternal mortality ratio in Eswatini was 239.63 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 Eswatini?
- The highest recorded value was 783.43 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2009.
- What is the lowest maternal mortality ratio recorded in Eswatini?
- The lowest recorded value was 218.3 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2018.
- How does Eswatini rank for maternal mortality ratio?
- Eswatini ranks 38th out of 189 countries with data for 2020.
- Is maternal mortality ratio rising or falling in Eswatini?
- Over the last ten years it is down 64.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Eswatini 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.