Maternal mortality ratio in Iran
Iran: Maternal mortality ratio was 22.02 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2020. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2020)
22.02 deaths per 100,000 live births
Change on year
up 5.5%
World rank
119th
of 189 countries
All-time high
102.34 deaths per 100,000 live births
in 1985
All-time low
17.44 deaths per 100,000 live births
in 2018
Years of data
36
1985–2020
Maternal mortality ratio in Iran, 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 Iran stood at 22.02 deaths per 100,000 live births.
The figure is up 5.5% on the previous year and down 30.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, maternal mortality ratio in Iran peaked at 102.34 deaths per 100,000 live births in 1985 and was at its lowest, 17.44 deaths per 100,000 live births, in 2018.
Iran ranks 119th of 189 countries on this measure, 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 Iran, year by year
| Year | deaths per 100,000 live births | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 102.34 deaths per 100,000 live births | — |
| 1986 | 99.76 deaths per 100,000 live births | -2.5% |
| 1987 | 98.66 deaths per 100,000 live births | -1.1% |
| 1988 | 91.93 deaths per 100,000 live births | -6.8% |
| 1989 | 81.65 deaths per 100,000 live births | -11.2% |
| 1990 | 76.61 deaths per 100,000 live births | -6.2% |
| 1991 | 72.03 deaths per 100,000 live births | -6.0% |
| 1992 | 67.3 deaths per 100,000 live births | -6.6% |
| 1993 | 61.79 deaths per 100,000 live births | -8.2% |
| 1994 | 59.86 deaths per 100,000 live births | -3.1% |
| 1995 | 59.88 deaths per 100,000 live births | +0.0% |
| 1996 | 55.49 deaths per 100,000 live births | -7.3% |
| 1997 | 53.55 deaths per 100,000 live births | -3.5% |
| 1998 | 52.05 deaths per 100,000 live births | -2.8% |
| 1999 | 45.03 deaths per 100,000 live births | -13.5% |
| 2000 | 43.5 deaths per 100,000 live births | -3.4% |
| 2001 | 42.08 deaths per 100,000 live births | -3.3% |
| 2002 | 41.01 deaths per 100,000 live births | -2.5% |
| 2003 | 40.9 deaths per 100,000 live births | -0.3% |
| 2004 | 37.96 deaths per 100,000 live births | -7.2% |
| 2005 | 30.22 deaths per 100,000 live births | -20.4% |
| 2006 | 29.51 deaths per 100,000 live births | -2.4% |
| 2007 | 28.58 deaths per 100,000 live births | -3.2% |
| 2008 | 32.81 deaths per 100,000 live births | +14.8% |
| 2009 | 36.52 deaths per 100,000 live births | +11.3% |
| 2010 | 31.57 deaths per 100,000 live births | -13.6% |
| 2011 | 25.87 deaths per 100,000 live births | -18.1% |
| 2012 | 22.78 deaths per 100,000 live births | -11.9% |
| 2013 | 23.47 deaths per 100,000 live births | +3.0% |
| 2014 | 20.9 deaths per 100,000 live births | -11.0% |
| 2015 | 20.06 deaths per 100,000 live births | -4.0% |
| 2016 | 19.82 deaths per 100,000 live births | -1.2% |
| 2017 | 18.46 deaths per 100,000 live births | -6.9% |
| 2018 | 17.44 deaths per 100,000 live births | -5.5% |
| 2019 | 20.88 deaths per 100,000 live births | +19.7% |
| 2020 | 22.02 deaths per 100,000 live births | +5.5% |
Iran compared with similar countries
- Iran's 22.02 deaths per 100,000 live births is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 51.11 deaths per 100,000 live births, 43% of the median. (56 countries reporting)
- Iran's 22.02 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, 1.0× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 94.87 deaths per 100,000 live births | 81.65 deaths per 100,000 live births | 102.34 deaths per 100,000 live births | 5 |
| 1990s | 60.36 deaths per 100,000 live births | 45.03 deaths per 100,000 live births | 76.61 deaths per 100,000 live births | 10 |
| 2000s | 36.31 deaths per 100,000 live births | 28.58 deaths per 100,000 live births | 43.5 deaths per 100,000 live births | 10 |
| 2010s | 22.12 deaths per 100,000 live births | 17.44 deaths per 100,000 live births | 31.57 deaths per 100,000 live births | 10 |
| 2020s | 22.02 deaths per 100,000 live births | 22.02 deaths per 100,000 live births | 22.02 deaths per 100,000 live births | 1 |
Countries ranked near Iran
- 116 Armenia 27.19 deaths per 100,000 live births compare
- 117 Trinidad and Tobago 26.58 deaths per 100,000 live births compare
- 118 China 23.05 deaths per 100,000 live births compare
- 120 Costa Rica 22 deaths per 100,000 live births compare
- 121 Antigua and Barbuda 21.25 deaths per 100,000 live births compare
- 122 Mayotte 21.21 deaths per 100,000 live births compare
More health data for Iran
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.38 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate -0.5627 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,361 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 1,070 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -1.88 % 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 0.0311 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -1.95 % 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 Iran?
- Maternal mortality ratio in Iran was 22.02 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 Iran?
- The highest recorded value was 102.34 deaths per 100,000 live births in 1985.
- What is the lowest maternal mortality ratio recorded in Iran?
- The lowest recorded value was 17.44 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2018.
- How does Iran rank for maternal mortality ratio?
- Iran ranks 119th out of 189 countries with data for 2020.
- Is maternal mortality ratio rising or falling in Iran?
- Over the last ten years it is down 30.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Iran 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.