Maternal mortality ratio in Kenya
Kenya: Maternal mortality ratio was 529.96 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2020. ▼ Falling
Maternal mortality ratio in Kenya, 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 Kenya stood at 529.96 deaths per 100,000 live births.
The figure is up 5.4% on the previous year and up 11.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, maternal mortality ratio in Kenya peaked at 614.8 deaths per 100,000 live births in 1986 and was at its lowest, 464.13 deaths per 100,000 live births, 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.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 603.37 deaths per 100,000 live births | 580.11 deaths per 100,000 live births | 614.8 deaths per 100,000 live births | 5 |
| 1990s | 558.91 deaths per 100,000 live births | 535.78 deaths per 100,000 live births | 582.96 deaths per 100,000 live births | 10 |
| 2000s | 513.53 deaths per 100,000 live births | 464.13 deaths per 100,000 live births | 567.14 deaths per 100,000 live births | 10 |
| 2010s | 494.04 deaths per 100,000 live births | 472.81 deaths per 100,000 live births | 516.21 deaths per 100,000 live births | 10 |
| 2020s | 529.96 deaths per 100,000 live births | 529.96 deaths per 100,000 live births | 529.96 deaths per 100,000 live births | 1 |
Countries ranked near Kenya
- 9 Lesotho 566.21 deaths per 100,000 live births compare
- 10 Guinea 553.4 deaths per 100,000 live births compare
- 11 Democratic Republic of Congo 547.36 deaths per 100,000 live births compare
- 13 Benin 522.61 deaths per 100,000 live births compare
- 14 Burundi 494.43 deaths per 100,000 live births compare
- 15 Cote d'Ivoire 479.91 deaths per 100,000 live births compare
More health data for Kenya
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,119 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 16,059 deaths (2100)
- Deaths in armed conflicts based on where they occurred 3 deaths (2026)
- Deaths in armed conflicts by region 3 deaths (2026)
- Age population, age 25, male, interpolated 504,714 (2025)
- Age population, age 25, female, interpolated 527,528 (2025)
- Age population, age 24, male, interpolated 526,588 (2025)
- Age population, age 24, female, interpolated 546,326 (2025)
- Age population, age 23, male, interpolated 548,338 (2025)
- Age population, age 23, female, interpolated 564,731 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is maternal mortality ratio in Kenya?
- Maternal mortality ratio in Kenya was 529.96 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 Kenya?
- The highest recorded value was 614.8 deaths per 100,000 live births in 1986.
- What is the lowest maternal mortality ratio recorded in Kenya?
- The lowest recorded value was 464.13 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2009.
- How does Kenya rank for maternal mortality ratio?
- Kenya ranks 12th out of 189 countries with data for 2020.
- Is maternal mortality ratio 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 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
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.