Maternal mortality ratio in Namibia
Namibia: Maternal mortality ratio was 214.63 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2020. ▼ Falling
Latest (2020)
214.63 deaths per 100,000 live births
Change on year
down 3.7%
World rank
45th
of 189 countries
All-time high
481.63 deaths per 100,000 live births
in 2010
All-time low
214.63 deaths per 100,000 live births
in 2020
Years of data
36
1985–2020
Maternal mortality ratio in Namibia, 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 Namibia stood at 214.63 deaths per 100,000 live births. That is the lowest value across all 36 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 3.7% on the previous year and down 55.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, maternal mortality ratio in Namibia peaked at 481.63 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2010 and was at its lowest, 214.63 deaths per 100,000 live births, in 2020.
That places Namibia 45th out of 189 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 36 years of available data.
Maternal mortality ratio in Namibia, year by year
| Year | deaths per 100,000 live births | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 328.42 deaths per 100,000 live births | — |
| 1986 | 321.4 deaths per 100,000 live births | -2.1% |
| 1987 | 304.15 deaths per 100,000 live births | -5.4% |
| 1988 | 304.73 deaths per 100,000 live births | +0.2% |
| 1989 | 270.51 deaths per 100,000 live births | -11.2% |
| 1990 | 265.96 deaths per 100,000 live births | -1.7% |
| 1991 | 279.4 deaths per 100,000 live births | +5.1% |
| 1992 | 301.18 deaths per 100,000 live births | +7.8% |
| 1993 | 304.79 deaths per 100,000 live births | +1.2% |
| 1994 | 322.72 deaths per 100,000 live births | +5.9% |
| 1995 | 335.79 deaths per 100,000 live births | +4.0% |
| 1996 | 363.34 deaths per 100,000 live births | +8.2% |
| 1997 | 376.41 deaths per 100,000 live births | +3.6% |
| 1998 | 401.13 deaths per 100,000 live births | +6.6% |
| 1999 | 415.31 deaths per 100,000 live births | +3.5% |
| 2000 | 450.28 deaths per 100,000 live births | +8.4% |
| 2001 | 449.9 deaths per 100,000 live births | -0.1% |
| 2002 | 446.5 deaths per 100,000 live births | -0.8% |
| 2003 | 450.96 deaths per 100,000 live births | +1.0% |
| 2004 | 401.83 deaths per 100,000 live births | -10.9% |
| 2005 | 418.95 deaths per 100,000 live births | +4.3% |
| 2006 | 420.31 deaths per 100,000 live births | +0.3% |
| 2007 | 427.11 deaths per 100,000 live births | +1.6% |
| 2008 | 432.95 deaths per 100,000 live births | +1.4% |
| 2009 | 459.37 deaths per 100,000 live births | +6.1% |
| 2010 | 481.63 deaths per 100,000 live births | +4.8% |
| 2011 | 414.09 deaths per 100,000 live births | -14.0% |
| 2012 | 361.99 deaths per 100,000 live births | -12.6% |
| 2013 | 333.89 deaths per 100,000 live births | -7.8% |
| 2014 | 306.28 deaths per 100,000 live births | -8.3% |
| 2015 | 299 deaths per 100,000 live births | -2.4% |
| 2016 | 246.28 deaths per 100,000 live births | -17.6% |
| 2017 | 227.91 deaths per 100,000 live births | -7.5% |
| 2018 | 217.95 deaths per 100,000 live births | -4.4% |
| 2019 | 222.96 deaths per 100,000 live births | +2.3% |
| 2020 | 214.63 deaths per 100,000 live births | -3.7% |
Namibia compared with similar countries
- Namibia's 214.63 deaths per 100,000 live births is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 191.84 deaths per 100,000 live births, 1.1× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Namibia's 214.63 deaths per 100,000 live births is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 339.15 deaths per 100,000 live births, 63% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 305.84 deaths per 100,000 live births | 270.51 deaths per 100,000 live births | 328.42 deaths per 100,000 live births | 5 |
| 1990s | 336.6 deaths per 100,000 live births | 265.96 deaths per 100,000 live births | 415.31 deaths per 100,000 live births | 10 |
| 2000s | 435.82 deaths per 100,000 live births | 401.83 deaths per 100,000 live births | 459.37 deaths per 100,000 live births | 10 |
| 2010s | 311.2 deaths per 100,000 live births | 217.95 deaths per 100,000 live births | 481.63 deaths per 100,000 live births | 10 |
| 2020s | 214.63 deaths per 100,000 live births | 214.63 deaths per 100,000 live births | 214.63 deaths per 100,000 live births | 1 |
Countries ranked near Namibia
- 42 Angola 221.91 deaths per 100,000 live births compare
- 43 Cambodia 217.98 deaths per 100,000 live births compare
- 44 Comoros 216.95 deaths per 100,000 live births compare
- 46 Equatorial Guinea 212.33 deaths per 100,000 live births compare
- 47 East Timor 203.92 deaths per 100,000 live births compare
- 48 Papua New Guinea 191.84 deaths per 100,000 live births compare
More health data for Namibia
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.75 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.6445 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,046 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 561 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 1 (2024)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -1.83 % 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 0.0644 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -1.56 % 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 Namibia?
- Maternal mortality ratio in Namibia was 214.63 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 Namibia?
- The highest recorded value was 481.63 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2010.
- What is the lowest maternal mortality ratio recorded in Namibia?
- The lowest recorded value was 214.63 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2020.
- How does Namibia rank for maternal mortality ratio?
- Namibia ranks 45th out of 189 countries with data for 2020.
- Is maternal mortality ratio rising or falling in Namibia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 55.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Namibia 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.