Maternal mortality ratio in South Korea
South Korea: Maternal mortality ratio was 8.12 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2020. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2020)
8.12 deaths per 100,000 live births
Change on year
up 27.6%
World rank
152nd
of 189 countries
All-time high
39.75 deaths per 100,000 live births
in 1987
All-time low
6.08 deaths per 100,000 live births
in 2016
Years of data
36
1985–2020
Maternal mortality ratio in South Korea, 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
South Korea recorded 8.12 deaths per 100,000 live births for maternal mortality ratio 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 ratio in South Korea peaked at 39.75 deaths per 100,000 live births in 1987 and was at its lowest, 6.08 deaths per 100,000 live births, 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 ratio in South Korea, year by year
| Year | deaths per 100,000 live births | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 39.28 deaths per 100,000 live births | — |
| 1986 | 39.03 deaths per 100,000 live births | -0.6% |
| 1987 | 39.75 deaths per 100,000 live births | +1.8% |
| 1988 | 36.52 deaths per 100,000 live births | -8.1% |
| 1989 | 34.03 deaths per 100,000 live births | -6.8% |
| 1990 | 30.79 deaths per 100,000 live births | -9.5% |
| 1991 | 27.9 deaths per 100,000 live births | -9.4% |
| 1992 | 25.81 deaths per 100,000 live births | -7.5% |
| 1993 | 25.51 deaths per 100,000 live births | -1.2% |
| 1994 | 21.35 deaths per 100,000 live births | -16.3% |
| 1995 | 20.91 deaths per 100,000 live births | -2.1% |
| 1996 | 20.8 deaths per 100,000 live births | -0.5% |
| 1997 | 19.97 deaths per 100,000 live births | -4.0% |
| 1998 | 19.64 deaths per 100,000 live births | -1.7% |
| 1999 | 19.16 deaths per 100,000 live births | -2.4% |
| 2000 | 15.54 deaths per 100,000 live births | -18.9% |
| 2001 | 15.49 deaths per 100,000 live births | -0.3% |
| 2002 | 16.55 deaths per 100,000 live births | +6.9% |
| 2003 | 13.26 deaths per 100,000 live births | -19.9% |
| 2004 | 12.77 deaths per 100,000 live births | -3.7% |
| 2005 | 12.41 deaths per 100,000 live births | -2.9% |
| 2006 | 11.18 deaths per 100,000 live births | -9.9% |
| 2007 | 10.1 deaths per 100,000 live births | -9.7% |
| 2008 | 9.41 deaths per 100,000 live births | -6.8% |
| 2009 | 8.9 deaths per 100,000 live births | -5.4% |
| 2010 | 8.24 deaths per 100,000 live births | -7.4% |
| 2011 | 9.6 deaths per 100,000 live births | +16.6% |
| 2012 | 9.12 deaths per 100,000 live births | -5.0% |
| 2013 | 6.95 deaths per 100,000 live births | -23.8% |
| 2014 | 6.43 deaths per 100,000 live births | -7.5% |
| 2015 | 6.2 deaths per 100,000 live births | -3.5% |
| 2016 | 6.08 deaths per 100,000 live births | -1.9% |
| 2017 | 6.18 deaths per 100,000 live births | +1.7% |
| 2018 | 6.41 deaths per 100,000 live births | +3.7% |
| 2019 | 6.36 deaths per 100,000 live births | -0.8% |
| 2020 | 8.12 deaths per 100,000 live births | +27.6% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 8.12 deaths per 100,000 live births is above the median for high income countries, which is 7.61 deaths per 100,000 live births, 1.1× the median. (59 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 8.12 deaths per 100,000 live births is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 59.08 deaths per 100,000 live births, 14% of the median. (27 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 37.72 deaths per 100,000 live births | 34.03 deaths per 100,000 live births | 39.75 deaths per 100,000 live births | 5 |
| 1990s | 23.18 deaths per 100,000 live births | 19.16 deaths per 100,000 live births | 30.79 deaths per 100,000 live births | 10 |
| 2000s | 12.56 deaths per 100,000 live births | 8.9 deaths per 100,000 live births | 16.55 deaths per 100,000 live births | 10 |
| 2010s | 7.16 deaths per 100,000 live births | 6.08 deaths per 100,000 live births | 9.6 deaths per 100,000 live births | 10 |
| 2020s | 8.12 deaths per 100,000 live births | 8.12 deaths per 100,000 live births | 8.12 deaths per 100,000 live births | 1 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
- 149 Lithuania 8.66 deaths per 100,000 live births compare
- 150 Finland 8.34 deaths per 100,000 live births compare
- 151 Albania 8.28 deaths per 100,000 live births compare
- 153 France 7.91 deaths per 100,000 live births compare
- 154 Greece 7.65 deaths per 100,000 live births compare
- 155 Qatar 7.61 deaths per 100,000 live births compare
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)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 2,072 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 69 deaths (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)
Frequently asked questions
- What is maternal mortality ratio in South Korea?
- Maternal mortality ratio in South Korea was 8.12 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 South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 39.75 deaths per 100,000 live births in 1987.
- What is the lowest maternal mortality ratio recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 6.08 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2016.
- How does South Korea rank for maternal mortality ratio?
- South Korea ranks 152nd out of 189 countries with data for 2020.
- Is maternal mortality ratio 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 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.