Maternal mortality ratio in Ghana
Ghana: Maternal mortality ratio was 263.11 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2020. ▼ Falling
Latest (2020)
263.11 deaths per 100,000 live births
Change on year
up 7.9%
World rank
34th
of 189 countries
All-time high
847.99 deaths per 100,000 live births
in 1985
All-time low
243.84 deaths per 100,000 live births
in 2019
Years of data
36
1985–2020
Maternal mortality ratio in Ghana, 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
In 2020, maternal mortality ratio in Ghana stood at 263.11 deaths per 100,000 live births.
The figure is up 7.9% on the previous year and down 21.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, maternal mortality ratio in Ghana peaked at 847.99 deaths per 100,000 live births in 1985 and was at its lowest, 243.84 deaths per 100,000 live births, in 2019.
Ghana ranks 34th 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 Ghana, year by year
| Year | deaths per 100,000 live births | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 847.99 deaths per 100,000 live births | — |
| 1986 | 815.44 deaths per 100,000 live births | -3.8% |
| 1987 | 791.39 deaths per 100,000 live births | -2.9% |
| 1988 | 769.32 deaths per 100,000 live births | -2.8% |
| 1989 | 717.23 deaths per 100,000 live births | -6.8% |
| 1990 | 708.89 deaths per 100,000 live births | -1.2% |
| 1991 | 692.83 deaths per 100,000 live births | -2.3% |
| 1992 | 653.71 deaths per 100,000 live births | -5.6% |
| 1993 | 665.45 deaths per 100,000 live births | +1.8% |
| 1994 | 648.66 deaths per 100,000 live births | -2.5% |
| 1995 | 623.15 deaths per 100,000 live births | -3.9% |
| 1996 | 579.24 deaths per 100,000 live births | -7.0% |
| 1997 | 552.19 deaths per 100,000 live births | -4.7% |
| 1998 | 534.22 deaths per 100,000 live births | -3.3% |
| 1999 | 510.05 deaths per 100,000 live births | -4.5% |
| 2000 | 498.91 deaths per 100,000 live births | -2.2% |
| 2001 | 469.95 deaths per 100,000 live births | -5.8% |
| 2002 | 443.01 deaths per 100,000 live births | -5.7% |
| 2003 | 423.52 deaths per 100,000 live births | -4.4% |
| 2004 | 420.37 deaths per 100,000 live births | -0.7% |
| 2005 | 389.75 deaths per 100,000 live births | -7.3% |
| 2006 | 364.67 deaths per 100,000 live births | -6.4% |
| 2007 | 353.89 deaths per 100,000 live births | -3.0% |
| 2008 | 353.71 deaths per 100,000 live births | -0.1% |
| 2009 | 337.19 deaths per 100,000 live births | -4.7% |
| 2010 | 336.94 deaths per 100,000 live births | -0.1% |
| 2011 | 317.46 deaths per 100,000 live births | -5.8% |
| 2012 | 305.34 deaths per 100,000 live births | -3.8% |
| 2013 | 305.31 deaths per 100,000 live births | -0.0% |
| 2014 | 286.3 deaths per 100,000 live births | -6.2% |
| 2015 | 285.77 deaths per 100,000 live births | -0.2% |
| 2016 | 258.12 deaths per 100,000 live births | -9.7% |
| 2017 | 273.89 deaths per 100,000 live births | +6.1% |
| 2018 | 272.81 deaths per 100,000 live births | -0.4% |
| 2019 | 243.84 deaths per 100,000 live births | -10.6% |
| 2020 | 263.11 deaths per 100,000 live births | +7.9% |
Ghana compared with similar countries
- Ghana's 263.11 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, 1.4× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Ghana's 263.11 deaths per 100,000 live births is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 339.15 deaths per 100,000 live births, 78% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 788.27 deaths per 100,000 live births | 717.23 deaths per 100,000 live births | 847.99 deaths per 100,000 live births | 5 |
| 1990s | 616.84 deaths per 100,000 live births | 510.05 deaths per 100,000 live births | 708.89 deaths per 100,000 live births | 10 |
| 2000s | 405.5 deaths per 100,000 live births | 337.19 deaths per 100,000 live births | 498.91 deaths per 100,000 live births | 10 |
| 2010s | 288.58 deaths per 100,000 live births | 243.84 deaths per 100,000 live births | 336.94 deaths per 100,000 live births | 10 |
| 2020s | 263.11 deaths per 100,000 live births | 263.11 deaths per 100,000 live births | 263.11 deaths per 100,000 live births | 1 |
Countries ranked near Ghana
- 31 Sudan 270.36 deaths per 100,000 live births compare
- 32 Ethiopia 266.69 deaths per 100,000 live births compare
- 33 Burkina Faso 263.75 deaths per 100,000 live births compare
- 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
More health data for Ghana
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.37 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.6224 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 986.1 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 8,361 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 2 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 0.5623 % 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 0.06 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 0.5816 % 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 Ghana?
- Maternal mortality ratio in Ghana was 263.11 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 Ghana?
- The highest recorded value was 847.99 deaths per 100,000 live births in 1985.
- What is the lowest maternal mortality ratio recorded in Ghana?
- The lowest recorded value was 243.84 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2019.
- How does Ghana rank for maternal mortality ratio?
- Ghana ranks 34th out of 189 countries with data for 2020.
- Is maternal mortality ratio rising or falling in Ghana?
- Over the last ten years it is down 21.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Ghana 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.