Maternal mortality ratio in Malaysia
Malaysia: Maternal mortality ratio was 21.13 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2020. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2020)
21.13 deaths per 100,000 live births
Change on year
down 2.1%
World rank
124th
of 189 countries
All-time high
1,085 deaths per 100,000 live births
in 1933
All-time low
21.13 deaths per 100,000 live births
in 2020
Years of data
83
1933–2020
Maternal mortality ratio in Malaysia, 1933–2020
Source: UN MMEIG (2023) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in deaths per 100,000 live births.
Analysis
Malaysia recorded 21.13 deaths per 100,000 live births for maternal mortality ratio in 2020. That is the lowest value across all 83 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 2.1% on the previous year and down 17.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, maternal mortality ratio in Malaysia peaked at 1,085 deaths per 100,000 live births in 1933 and was at its lowest, 21.13 deaths per 100,000 live births, in 2020.
Malaysia ranks 124th of 189 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Maternal mortality ratio in Malaysia, year by year
| Year | deaths per 100,000 live births | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1933 | 1,085 deaths per 100,000 live births | — |
| 1934 | 974.05 deaths per 100,000 live births | -10.2% |
| 1935 | 955.73 deaths per 100,000 live births | -1.9% |
| 1936 | 1,008 deaths per 100,000 live births | +5.5% |
| 1937 | 901.67 deaths per 100,000 live births | -10.6% |
| 1938 | 854.77 deaths per 100,000 live births | -5.2% |
| 1939 | 834.09 deaths per 100,000 live births | -2.4% |
| 1940 | 765.89 deaths per 100,000 live births | -8.2% |
| 1946 | 668.08 deaths per 100,000 live births | -12.8% |
| 1947 | 700.14 deaths per 100,000 live births | +4.8% |
| 1948 | 583.01 deaths per 100,000 live births | -16.7% |
| 1949 | 533.71 deaths per 100,000 live births | -8.5% |
| 1950 | 533.91 deaths per 100,000 live births | +0.0% |
| 1951 | 569.78 deaths per 100,000 live births | +6.7% |
| 1952 | 519.98 deaths per 100,000 live births | -8.7% |
| 1953 | 471.6 deaths per 100,000 live births | -9.3% |
| 1954 | 475.87 deaths per 100,000 live births | +0.9% |
| 1955 | 418 deaths per 100,000 live births | -12.2% |
| 1956 | 396.24 deaths per 100,000 live births | -5.2% |
| 1957 | 282.16 deaths per 100,000 live births | -28.8% |
| 1958 | 277.35 deaths per 100,000 live births | -1.7% |
| 1959 | 209.61 deaths per 100,000 live births | -24.4% |
| 1960 | 242.26 deaths per 100,000 live births | +15.6% |
| 1961 | 200.31 deaths per 100,000 live births | -17.3% |
| 1962 | 230.03 deaths per 100,000 live births | +14.8% |
| 1963 | 223.37 deaths per 100,000 live births | -2.9% |
| 1964 | 206.49 deaths per 100,000 live births | -7.6% |
| 1965 | 203.59 deaths per 100,000 live births | -1.4% |
| 1966 | 180.07 deaths per 100,000 live births | -11.5% |
| 1967 | 168.21 deaths per 100,000 live births | -6.6% |
| 1968 | 169.17 deaths per 100,000 live births | +0.6% |
| 1969 | 157.55 deaths per 100,000 live births | -6.9% |
| 1970 | 148.4 deaths per 100,000 live births | -5.8% |
| 1971 | 123.8 deaths per 100,000 live births | -16.6% |
| 1972 | 107.02 deaths per 100,000 live births | -13.6% |
| 1973 | 105.12 deaths per 100,000 live births | -1.8% |
| 1974 | 96.09 deaths per 100,000 live births | -8.6% |
| 1975 | 83.31 deaths per 100,000 live births | -13.3% |
| 1976 | 77.73 deaths per 100,000 live births | -6.7% |
| 1977 | 78.79 deaths per 100,000 live births | +1.4% |
| 1978 | 84.2 deaths per 100,000 live births | +6.9% |
| 1979 | 68.68 deaths per 100,000 live births | -18.4% |
| 1980 | 62.61 deaths per 100,000 live births | -8.8% |
| 1981 | 58.85 deaths per 100,000 live births | -6.0% |
| 1982 | 50.57 deaths per 100,000 live births | -14.1% |
| 1983 | 39.63 deaths per 100,000 live births | -21.6% |
| 1984 | 39.39 deaths per 100,000 live births | -0.6% |
| 1985 | 55.13 deaths per 100,000 live births | +40.0% |
| 1986 | 54.29 deaths per 100,000 live births | -1.5% |
| 1987 | 54.29 deaths per 100,000 live births | -0.0% |
| 1988 | 49.8 deaths per 100,000 live births | -8.3% |
| 1989 | 49.66 deaths per 100,000 live births | -0.3% |
| 1990 | 48.64 deaths per 100,000 live births | -2.0% |
| 1991 | 47.34 deaths per 100,000 live births | -2.7% |
| 1992 | 46.15 deaths per 100,000 live births | -2.5% |
| 1993 | 45.25 deaths per 100,000 live births | -1.9% |
| 1994 | 43.64 deaths per 100,000 live births | -3.5% |
| 1995 | 39.79 deaths per 100,000 live births | -8.8% |
| 1996 | 40.58 deaths per 100,000 live births | +2.0% |
| 1997 | 41.26 deaths per 100,000 live births | +1.7% |
| 1998 | 42.8 deaths per 100,000 live births | +3.7% |
| 1999 | 39.96 deaths per 100,000 live births | -6.6% |
| 2000 | 39.75 deaths per 100,000 live births | -0.5% |
| 2001 | 35.71 deaths per 100,000 live births | -10.1% |
| 2002 | 36.47 deaths per 100,000 live births | +2.1% |
| 2003 | 32.07 deaths per 100,000 live births | -12.1% |
| 2004 | 32.55 deaths per 100,000 live births | +1.5% |
| 2005 | 32.15 deaths per 100,000 live births | -1.2% |
| 2006 | 32 deaths per 100,000 live births | -0.5% |
| 2007 | 28.03 deaths per 100,000 live births | -12.4% |
| 2008 | 30.48 deaths per 100,000 live births | +8.7% |
| 2009 | 29.53 deaths per 100,000 live births | -3.1% |
| 2010 | 25.48 deaths per 100,000 live births | -13.7% |
| 2011 | 24.05 deaths per 100,000 live births | -5.6% |
| 2012 | 23.55 deaths per 100,000 live births | -2.1% |
| 2013 | 23.09 deaths per 100,000 live births | -2.0% |
| 2014 | 22.53 deaths per 100,000 live births | -2.4% |
| 2015 | 22.34 deaths per 100,000 live births | -0.9% |
| 2016 | 21.94 deaths per 100,000 live births | -1.8% |
| 2017 | 21.62 deaths per 100,000 live births | -1.5% |
| 2018 | 21.52 deaths per 100,000 live births | -0.5% |
| 2019 | 21.58 deaths per 100,000 live births | +0.3% |
| 2020 | 21.13 deaths per 100,000 live births | -2.1% |
Malaysia compared with similar countries
- Malaysia's 21.13 deaths per 100,000 live births is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 51.11 deaths per 100,000 live births, 41% of the median. (56 countries reporting)
- Malaysia's 21.13 deaths per 100,000 live births is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 59.08 deaths per 100,000 live births, 36% of the median. (27 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Maternal mortality ratio in Malaysia 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | +40.0% | 39.39 deaths per 100,000 live births | 55.13 deaths per 100,000 live births |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1930s | 944.77 deaths per 100,000 live births | 834.09 deaths per 100,000 live births | 1,085 deaths per 100,000 live births | 7 |
| 1940s | 650.17 deaths per 100,000 live births | 533.71 deaths per 100,000 live births | 765.89 deaths per 100,000 live births | 5 |
| 1950s | 415.45 deaths per 100,000 live births | 209.61 deaths per 100,000 live births | 569.78 deaths per 100,000 live births | 10 |
| 1960s | 198.11 deaths per 100,000 live births | 157.55 deaths per 100,000 live births | 242.26 deaths per 100,000 live births | 10 |
| 1970s | 97.31 deaths per 100,000 live births | 68.68 deaths per 100,000 live births | 148.4 deaths per 100,000 live births | 10 |
| 1980s | 51.42 deaths per 100,000 live births | 39.39 deaths per 100,000 live births | 62.61 deaths per 100,000 live births | 10 |
| 1990s | 43.54 deaths per 100,000 live births | 39.79 deaths per 100,000 live births | 48.64 deaths per 100,000 live births | 10 |
| 2000s | 32.87 deaths per 100,000 live births | 28.03 deaths per 100,000 live births | 39.75 deaths per 100,000 live births | 10 |
| 2010s | 22.77 deaths per 100,000 live births | 21.52 deaths per 100,000 live births | 25.48 deaths per 100,000 live births | 10 |
| 2020s | 21.13 deaths per 100,000 live births | 21.13 deaths per 100,000 live births | 21.13 deaths per 100,000 live births | 1 |
Countries ranked near Malaysia
- 121 Antigua and Barbuda 21.25 deaths per 100,000 live births compare
- 122 Mayotte 21.21 deaths per 100,000 live births compare
- 123 Grenada 21.14 deaths per 100,000 live births compare
- 125 United States 21.08 deaths per 100,000 live births compare
- 126 Lebanon 20.62 deaths per 100,000 live births compare
- 127 Palestine 20.43 deaths per 100,000 live births compare
More health data for Malaysia
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -0.9119 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.2888 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,250 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 652 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 18 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -0.7207 % 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 0.0297 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -0.5991 % 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 Malaysia?
- Maternal mortality ratio in Malaysia was 21.13 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 Malaysia?
- The highest recorded value was 1,085 deaths per 100,000 live births in 1933.
- What is the lowest maternal mortality ratio recorded in Malaysia?
- The lowest recorded value was 21.13 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2020.
- How does Malaysia rank for maternal mortality ratio?
- Malaysia ranks 124th out of 189 countries with data for 2020.
- Is maternal mortality ratio rising or falling in Malaysia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 17.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Malaysia 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.