Maternal mortality in North Korea
North Korea: Maternal mortality was 106.7 in 2020. ▲ Rising
Maternal mortality in North Korea, 1985–2020
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for maternal mortality in North Korea is 106.7, measured in 2020.
That represents a change of up 0.5% on the previous year and down 18.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, maternal mortality in North Korea peaked at 188.3 in 2002 and was at its lowest, 49.93, in 1993.
That places North Korea 67th out of 189 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 36 years of available data.
Maternal mortality in North Korea, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 115.05 | — |
| 1986 | 106.26 | -7.6% |
| 1987 | 100.43 | -5.5% |
| 1988 | 91.61 | -8.8% |
| 1989 | 84.68 | -7.6% |
| 1990 | 76.14 | -10.1% |
| 1991 | 76.51 | +0.5% |
| 1992 | 69.6 | -9.0% |
| 1993 | 49.93 | -28.3% |
| 1994 | 73.38 | +47.0% |
| 1995 | 158.36 | +115.8% |
| 1996 | 164.72 | +4.0% |
| 1997 | 156.01 | -5.3% |
| 1998 | 164.09 | +5.2% |
| 1999 | 174.82 | +6.5% |
| 2000 | 185.62 | +6.2% |
| 2001 | 172.25 | -7.2% |
| 2002 | 188.3 | +9.3% |
| 2003 | 123.08 | -34.6% |
| 2004 | 130.58 | +6.1% |
| 2005 | 121.89 | -6.7% |
| 2006 | 130.64 | +7.2% |
| 2007 | 137.7 | +5.4% |
| 2008 | 139.22 | +1.1% |
| 2009 | 131.39 | -5.6% |
| 2010 | 130.23 | -0.9% |
| 2011 | 120.12 | -7.8% |
| 2012 | 108.17 | -10.0% |
| 2013 | 95.9 | -11.3% |
| 2014 | 84.64 | -11.7% |
| 2015 | 108.37 | +28.0% |
| 2016 | 108.76 | +0.4% |
| 2017 | 107.65 | -1.0% |
| 2018 | 107.16 | -0.5% |
| 2019 | 106.16 | -0.9% |
| 2020 | 106.7 | +0.5% |
North Korea compared with similar countries
- North Korea's 106.7 is below the median for low income countries, which is 440.23, 24% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- North Korea's 106.7 is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 59.08, 1.8× the median. (27 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Maternal mortality in North Korea changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | +115.8% | 73.38 | 158.36 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 99.61 | 84.68 | 115.05 | 5 |
| 1990s | 116.36 | 49.93 | 174.82 | 10 |
| 2000s | 146.07 | 121.89 | 188.3 | 10 |
| 2010s | 107.71 | 84.64 | 130.23 | 10 |
| 2020s | 106.7 | 106.7 | 106.7 | 1 |
Countries ranked near North Korea
More health data for North Korea
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 767 (2100)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.16 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate -0.2456 % change on previous year (2090)
- Diphtheria - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2022)
- Measles - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Diphtheria - number of reported cases, per capita 0 units per person (2022)
- Population ages 15-64, total, annual growth rate -0.1528 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 15-64, total, per capita 0.6836 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 65 and above, female, per capita 0.073 units per person (2025)
- Pertussis - number of reported cases, per capita 0 units per person (2022)
Frequently asked questions
- What is maternal mortality in North Korea?
- Maternal mortality in North Korea was 106.7 in 2020, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest maternal mortality recorded in North Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 188.3 in 2002.
- What is the lowest maternal mortality recorded in North Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 49.93 in 1993.
- How does North Korea rank for maternal mortality?
- North Korea ranks 67th out of 189 countries with data for 2020.
- Is maternal mortality rising or falling in North Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 18.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this North Korea 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).