Maternal mortality in Kenya
Kenya: Maternal mortality was 529.96 in 2020. ▼ Falling
Latest (2020)
529.96
Change on year
up 5.4%
World rank
12th
of 189 countries
All-time high
614.8
in 1986
All-time low
464.13
in 2009
Years of data
36
1985–2020
Maternal mortality in Kenya, 1985–2020
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2020, maternal mortality in Kenya stood at 529.96.
The figure is up 5.4% on the previous year and up 11.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, maternal mortality in Kenya peaked at 614.8 in 1986 and was at its lowest, 464.13, in 2009.
Kenya ranks 12th of 189 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 36 years of available data.
Maternal mortality in Kenya, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 580.11 | — |
| 1986 | 614.8 | +6.0% |
| 1987 | 612.49 | -0.4% |
| 1988 | 596.01 | -2.7% |
| 1989 | 613.45 | +2.9% |
| 1990 | 582.96 | -5.0% |
| 1991 | 565.59 | -3.0% |
| 1992 | 574.03 | +1.5% |
| 1993 | 562.83 | -2.0% |
| 1994 | 553.17 | -1.7% |
| 1995 | 563.51 | +1.9% |
| 1996 | 560.81 | -0.5% |
| 1997 | 535.78 | -4.5% |
| 1998 | 542.96 | +1.3% |
| 1999 | 547.46 | +0.8% |
| 2000 | 563.76 | +3.0% |
| 2001 | 567.14 | +0.6% |
| 2002 | 536.34 | -5.4% |
| 2003 | 525.46 | -2.0% |
| 2004 | 504.1 | -4.1% |
| 2005 | 503.44 | -0.1% |
| 2006 | 493.36 | -2.0% |
| 2007 | 494.1 | +0.1% |
| 2008 | 483.51 | -2.1% |
| 2009 | 464.13 | -4.0% |
| 2010 | 475.5 | +2.5% |
| 2011 | 472.81 | -0.6% |
| 2012 | 476.99 | +0.9% |
| 2013 | 516.21 | +8.2% |
| 2014 | 506.85 | -1.8% |
| 2015 | 482.97 | -4.7% |
| 2016 | 504.67 | +4.5% |
| 2017 | 489.94 | -2.9% |
| 2018 | 511.51 | +4.4% |
| 2019 | 502.92 | -1.7% |
| 2020 | 529.96 | +5.4% |
Kenya compared with similar countries
- Kenya's 529.96 is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 191.84, 2.8× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Kenya's 529.96 is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 339.15, 1.6× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 603.37 | 580.11 | 614.8 | 5 |
| 1990s | 558.91 | 535.78 | 582.96 | 10 |
| 2000s | 513.53 | 464.13 | 567.14 | 10 |
| 2010s | 494.04 | 472.81 | 516.21 | 10 |
| 2020s | 529.96 | 529.96 | 529.96 | 1 |
Countries ranked near Kenya
More health data for Kenya
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.44 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.6026 % change on previous year (2090)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 16,059 (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 89 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 1.28 % 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 0.0621 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 1.28 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per capita 0.063 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is maternal mortality in Kenya?
- Maternal mortality in Kenya was 529.96 in 2020, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest maternal mortality recorded in Kenya?
- The highest recorded value was 614.8 in 1986.
- What is the lowest maternal mortality recorded in Kenya?
- The lowest recorded value was 464.13 in 2009.
- How does Kenya rank for maternal mortality?
- Kenya ranks 12th out of 189 countries with data for 2020.
- Is maternal mortality rising or falling in Kenya?
- Over the last ten years it is up 11.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Kenya data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Maternal mortality. 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).