Maternal mortality in South Korea
South Korea: Maternal mortality was 8.12 in 2020. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2020)
8.12
Change on year
up 27.6%
World rank
152nd
of 189 countries
All-time high
39.75
in 1987
All-time low
6.08
in 2016
Years of data
36
1985–2020
Maternal mortality in South Korea, 1985–2020
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
South Korea recorded 8.12 for maternal mortality in 2020.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 27.6% on the previous year and down 1.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, maternal mortality in South Korea peaked at 39.75 in 1987 and was at its lowest, 6.08, in 2016.
South Korea ranks 152nd of 189 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Maternal mortality in South Korea, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 39.28 | — |
| 1986 | 39.03 | -0.6% |
| 1987 | 39.75 | +1.8% |
| 1988 | 36.52 | -8.1% |
| 1989 | 34.03 | -6.8% |
| 1990 | 30.79 | -9.5% |
| 1991 | 27.9 | -9.4% |
| 1992 | 25.81 | -7.5% |
| 1993 | 25.51 | -1.2% |
| 1994 | 21.35 | -16.3% |
| 1995 | 20.91 | -2.1% |
| 1996 | 20.8 | -0.5% |
| 1997 | 19.97 | -4.0% |
| 1998 | 19.64 | -1.7% |
| 1999 | 19.16 | -2.4% |
| 2000 | 15.54 | -18.9% |
| 2001 | 15.49 | -0.3% |
| 2002 | 16.55 | +6.9% |
| 2003 | 13.26 | -19.9% |
| 2004 | 12.77 | -3.7% |
| 2005 | 12.41 | -2.9% |
| 2006 | 11.18 | -9.9% |
| 2007 | 10.1 | -9.7% |
| 2008 | 9.41 | -6.8% |
| 2009 | 8.9 | -5.4% |
| 2010 | 8.24 | -7.4% |
| 2011 | 9.6 | +16.6% |
| 2012 | 9.12 | -5.0% |
| 2013 | 6.95 | -23.8% |
| 2014 | 6.43 | -7.5% |
| 2015 | 6.2 | -3.5% |
| 2016 | 6.08 | -1.9% |
| 2017 | 6.18 | +1.7% |
| 2018 | 6.41 | +3.7% |
| 2019 | 6.36 | -0.8% |
| 2020 | 8.12 | +27.6% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 8.12 is above the median for high income countries, which is 7.61, 1.1× the median. (59 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 8.12 is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 59.08, 14% of the median. (27 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 37.72 | 34.03 | 39.75 | 5 |
| 1990s | 23.18 | 19.16 | 30.79 | 10 |
| 2000s | 12.56 | 8.9 | 16.55 | 10 |
| 2010s | 7.16 | 6.08 | 9.6 | 10 |
| 2020s | 8.12 | 8.12 | 8.12 | 1 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
More health data for South Korea
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.43 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.1935 % change on previous year (2090)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 69 (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -2.66 % 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 0.0118 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -2.76 % 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 0.0124 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is maternal mortality in South Korea?
- Maternal mortality in South Korea was 8.12 in 2020, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest maternal mortality recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 39.75 in 1987.
- What is the lowest maternal mortality recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 6.08 in 2016.
- How does South Korea rank for maternal mortality?
- South Korea ranks 152nd out of 189 countries with data for 2020.
- Is maternal mortality rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 1.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South 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).