Maternal mortality ratio in Nigeria
Nigeria: Maternal mortality ratio was 1,047 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2020. ▼ Falling
Latest (2020)
1,047 deaths per 100,000 live births
Change on year
down 6.7%
World rank
3rd
of 189 countries
All-time high
1,316 deaths per 100,000 live births
in 1986
All-time low
1,047 deaths per 100,000 live births
in 2020
Years of data
36
1985–2020
Maternal mortality ratio in Nigeria, 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
The most recent figure for maternal mortality ratio in Nigeria is 1,047 deaths per 100,000 live births, measured in 2020. That is the lowest value across all 36 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 6.7% on the previous year and down 6.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, maternal mortality ratio in Nigeria peaked at 1,316 deaths per 100,000 live births in 1986 and was at its lowest, 1,047 deaths per 100,000 live births, in 2020.
That places Nigeria 3rd out of 189 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 36 years of available data.
Maternal mortality ratio in Nigeria, year by year
| Year | deaths per 100,000 live births | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 1,283 deaths per 100,000 live births | — |
| 1986 | 1,316 deaths per 100,000 live births | +2.6% |
| 1987 | 1,287 deaths per 100,000 live births | -2.2% |
| 1988 | 1,261 deaths per 100,000 live births | -2.0% |
| 1989 | 1,212 deaths per 100,000 live births | -3.9% |
| 1990 | 1,209 deaths per 100,000 live births | -0.3% |
| 1991 | 1,217 deaths per 100,000 live births | +0.7% |
| 1992 | 1,209 deaths per 100,000 live births | -0.7% |
| 1993 | 1,190 deaths per 100,000 live births | -1.6% |
| 1994 | 1,223 deaths per 100,000 live births | +2.8% |
| 1995 | 1,171 deaths per 100,000 live births | -4.3% |
| 1996 | 1,174 deaths per 100,000 live births | +0.3% |
| 1997 | 1,186 deaths per 100,000 live births | +1.0% |
| 1998 | 1,220 deaths per 100,000 live births | +2.8% |
| 1999 | 1,177 deaths per 100,000 live births | -3.5% |
| 2000 | 1,148 deaths per 100,000 live births | -2.5% |
| 2001 | 1,127 deaths per 100,000 live births | -1.8% |
| 2002 | 1,112 deaths per 100,000 live births | -1.3% |
| 2003 | 1,084 deaths per 100,000 live births | -2.5% |
| 2004 | 1,088 deaths per 100,000 live births | +0.4% |
| 2005 | 1,073 deaths per 100,000 live births | -1.4% |
| 2006 | 1,071 deaths per 100,000 live births | -0.2% |
| 2007 | 1,081 deaths per 100,000 live births | +0.9% |
| 2008 | 1,099 deaths per 100,000 live births | +1.8% |
| 2009 | 1,101 deaths per 100,000 live births | +0.1% |
| 2010 | 1,123 deaths per 100,000 live births | +2.0% |
| 2011 | 1,070 deaths per 100,000 live births | -4.7% |
| 2012 | 1,087 deaths per 100,000 live births | +1.7% |
| 2013 | 1,109 deaths per 100,000 live births | +2.0% |
| 2014 | 1,135 deaths per 100,000 live births | +2.4% |
| 2015 | 1,113 deaths per 100,000 live births | -1.9% |
| 2016 | 1,129 deaths per 100,000 live births | +1.4% |
| 2017 | 1,127 deaths per 100,000 live births | -0.2% |
| 2018 | 1,135 deaths per 100,000 live births | +0.8% |
| 2019 | 1,122 deaths per 100,000 live births | -1.2% |
| 2020 | 1,047 deaths per 100,000 live births | -6.7% |
Nigeria compared with similar countries
- Nigeria's 1,047 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, 5.5× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Nigeria's 1,047 deaths per 100,000 live births is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 339.15 deaths per 100,000 live births, 3.1× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 1,272 deaths per 100,000 live births | 1,212 deaths per 100,000 live births | 1,316 deaths per 100,000 live births | 5 |
| 1990s | 1,198 deaths per 100,000 live births | 1,171 deaths per 100,000 live births | 1,223 deaths per 100,000 live births | 10 |
| 2000s | 1,098 deaths per 100,000 live births | 1,071 deaths per 100,000 live births | 1,148 deaths per 100,000 live births | 10 |
| 2010s | 1,115 deaths per 100,000 live births | 1,070 deaths per 100,000 live births | 1,135 deaths per 100,000 live births | 10 |
| 2020s | 1,047 deaths per 100,000 live births | 1,047 deaths per 100,000 live births | 1,047 deaths per 100,000 live births | 1 |
Countries ranked near Nigeria
- 1 South Sudan 1,223 deaths per 100,000 live births compare
- 2 Chad 1,063 deaths per 100,000 live births compare
- 4 Central African Republic 835.27 deaths per 100,000 live births compare
- 5 Guinea-Bissau 725.09 deaths per 100,000 live births compare
- 6 Liberia 652.34 deaths per 100,000 live births compare
More health data for Nigeria
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.08 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.8137 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,301 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 257,921 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 14 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 1.14 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.0711 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 1.17 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is maternal mortality ratio in Nigeria?
- Maternal mortality ratio in Nigeria was 1,047 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 Nigeria?
- The highest recorded value was 1,316 deaths per 100,000 live births in 1986.
- What is the lowest maternal mortality ratio recorded in Nigeria?
- The lowest recorded value was 1,047 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2020.
- How does Nigeria rank for maternal mortality ratio?
- Nigeria ranks 3rd out of 189 countries with data for 2020.
- Is maternal mortality ratio rising or falling in Nigeria?
- Over the last ten years it is down 6.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Nigeria 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.