Maternal mortality ratio in Panama
Panama: Maternal mortality ratio was 49.52 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2020. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2020)
49.52 deaths per 100,000 live births
Change on year
down 2.9%
World rank
97th
of 189 countries
All-time high
236.81 deaths per 100,000 live births
in 1956
All-time low
44.11 deaths per 100,000 live births
in 1984
Years of data
66
1955–2020
Maternal mortality ratio in Panama, 1955–2020
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 Panama is 49.52 deaths per 100,000 live births, measured in 2020.
The figure is down 2.9% on the previous year and down 9.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, maternal mortality ratio in Panama peaked at 236.81 deaths per 100,000 live births in 1956 and was at its lowest, 44.11 deaths per 100,000 live births, in 1984.
Panama ranks 97th 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 Panama, year by year
| Year | deaths per 100,000 live births | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1955 | 195.52 deaths per 100,000 live births | — |
| 1956 | 236.81 deaths per 100,000 live births | +21.1% |
| 1957 | 206.62 deaths per 100,000 live births | -12.7% |
| 1958 | 180.23 deaths per 100,000 live births | -12.8% |
| 1959 | 212.53 deaths per 100,000 live births | +17.9% |
| 1960 | 183.83 deaths per 100,000 live births | -13.5% |
| 1961 | 183.82 deaths per 100,000 live births | -0.0% |
| 1962 | 162.12 deaths per 100,000 live births | -11.8% |
| 1963 | 155.57 deaths per 100,000 live births | -4.0% |
| 1964 | 142.7 deaths per 100,000 live births | -8.3% |
| 1965 | 138.26 deaths per 100,000 live births | -3.1% |
| 1966 | 135.78 deaths per 100,000 live births | -1.8% |
| 1967 | 132.16 deaths per 100,000 live births | -2.7% |
| 1968 | 128.85 deaths per 100,000 live births | -2.5% |
| 1969 | 129.2 deaths per 100,000 live births | +0.3% |
| 1970 | 127.36 deaths per 100,000 live births | -1.4% |
| 1971 | 110.18 deaths per 100,000 live births | -13.5% |
| 1972 | 106.04 deaths per 100,000 live births | -3.8% |
| 1973 | 93.77 deaths per 100,000 live births | -11.6% |
| 1974 | 76.26 deaths per 100,000 live births | -18.7% |
| 1975 | 86.68 deaths per 100,000 live births | +13.7% |
| 1976 | 88.35 deaths per 100,000 live births | +1.9% |
| 1977 | 62.29 deaths per 100,000 live births | -29.5% |
| 1978 | 82.72 deaths per 100,000 live births | +32.8% |
| 1979 | 63.02 deaths per 100,000 live births | -23.8% |
| 1980 | 63.89 deaths per 100,000 live births | +1.4% |
| 1981 | 54.55 deaths per 100,000 live births | -14.6% |
| 1982 | 79.54 deaths per 100,000 live births | +45.8% |
| 1983 | 52.55 deaths per 100,000 live births | -33.9% |
| 1984 | 44.11 deaths per 100,000 live births | -16.1% |
| 1985 | 87.94 deaths per 100,000 live births | +99.4% |
| 1986 | 89.86 deaths per 100,000 live births | +2.2% |
| 1987 | 84.5 deaths per 100,000 live births | -6.0% |
| 1988 | 88.33 deaths per 100,000 live births | +4.5% |
| 1989 | 94.6 deaths per 100,000 live births | +7.1% |
| 1990 | 90.14 deaths per 100,000 live births | -4.7% |
| 1991 | 83.93 deaths per 100,000 live births | -6.9% |
| 1992 | 82.44 deaths per 100,000 live births | -1.8% |
| 1993 | 79.97 deaths per 100,000 live births | -3.0% |
| 1994 | 77.3 deaths per 100,000 live births | -3.3% |
| 1995 | 75.94 deaths per 100,000 live births | -1.8% |
| 1996 | 68.64 deaths per 100,000 live births | -9.6% |
| 1997 | 67.76 deaths per 100,000 live births | -1.3% |
| 1998 | 66.35 deaths per 100,000 live births | -2.1% |
| 1999 | 64.97 deaths per 100,000 live births | -2.1% |
| 2000 | 65.52 deaths per 100,000 live births | +0.8% |
| 2001 | 63.53 deaths per 100,000 live births | -3.0% |
| 2002 | 62.12 deaths per 100,000 live births | -2.2% |
| 2003 | 61.6 deaths per 100,000 live births | -0.8% |
| 2004 | 58.95 deaths per 100,000 live births | -4.3% |
| 2005 | 53.36 deaths per 100,000 live births | -9.5% |
| 2006 | 53.76 deaths per 100,000 live births | +0.8% |
| 2007 | 53.52 deaths per 100,000 live births | -0.4% |
| 2008 | 53.48 deaths per 100,000 live births | -0.1% |
| 2009 | 53.98 deaths per 100,000 live births | +0.9% |
| 2010 | 54.91 deaths per 100,000 live births | +1.7% |
| 2011 | 53.79 deaths per 100,000 live births | -2.0% |
| 2012 | 53.35 deaths per 100,000 live births | -0.8% |
| 2013 | 51.94 deaths per 100,000 live births | -2.6% |
| 2014 | 50.36 deaths per 100,000 live births | -3.0% |
| 2015 | 48.81 deaths per 100,000 live births | -3.1% |
| 2016 | 48.59 deaths per 100,000 live births | -0.5% |
| 2017 | 49.41 deaths per 100,000 live births | +1.7% |
| 2018 | 47.08 deaths per 100,000 live births | -4.7% |
| 2019 | 51 deaths per 100,000 live births | +8.3% |
| 2020 | 49.52 deaths per 100,000 live births | -2.9% |
Panama compared with similar countries
- Panama's 49.52 deaths per 100,000 live births is above the median for high income countries, which is 7.61 deaths per 100,000 live births, 6.5× the median. (59 countries reporting)
- Panama's 49.52 deaths per 100,000 live births is below the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 71.12 deaths per 100,000 live births, 70% of the median. (33 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Maternal mortality ratio in Panama 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 | +99.4% | 44.11 deaths per 100,000 live births | 87.94 deaths per 100,000 live births |
| 1982 | +45.8% | 54.55 deaths per 100,000 live births | 79.54 deaths per 100,000 live births |
| 1978 | +32.8% | 62.29 deaths per 100,000 live births | 82.72 deaths per 100,000 live births |
| 1983 | -33.9% | 79.54 deaths per 100,000 live births | 52.55 deaths per 100,000 live births |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 206.34 deaths per 100,000 live births | 180.23 deaths per 100,000 live births | 236.81 deaths per 100,000 live births | 5 |
| 1960s | 149.23 deaths per 100,000 live births | 128.85 deaths per 100,000 live births | 183.83 deaths per 100,000 live births | 10 |
| 1970s | 89.67 deaths per 100,000 live births | 62.29 deaths per 100,000 live births | 127.36 deaths per 100,000 live births | 10 |
| 1980s | 73.99 deaths per 100,000 live births | 44.11 deaths per 100,000 live births | 94.6 deaths per 100,000 live births | 10 |
| 1990s | 75.74 deaths per 100,000 live births | 64.97 deaths per 100,000 live births | 90.14 deaths per 100,000 live births | 10 |
| 2000s | 57.98 deaths per 100,000 live births | 53.36 deaths per 100,000 live births | 65.52 deaths per 100,000 live births | 10 |
| 2010s | 50.92 deaths per 100,000 live births | 47.08 deaths per 100,000 live births | 54.91 deaths per 100,000 live births | 10 |
| 2020s | 49.52 deaths per 100,000 live births | 49.52 deaths per 100,000 live births | 49.52 deaths per 100,000 live births | 1 |
Countries ranked near Panama
- 94 Samoa 59.08 deaths per 100,000 live births compare
- 95 Maldives 56.69 deaths per 100,000 live births compare
- 96 Kyrgyzstan 50.38 deaths per 100,000 live births compare
- 98 Vietnam 45.53 deaths per 100,000 live births compare
- 99 Argentina 44.9 deaths per 100,000 live births compare
- 100 Brunei 44.24 deaths per 100,000 live births compare
More health data for Panama
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.94 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.5994 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,074 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 101 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 1 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -0.2522 % 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 0.0378 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -0.3451 % 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 Panama?
- Maternal mortality ratio in Panama was 49.52 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 Panama?
- The highest recorded value was 236.81 deaths per 100,000 live births in 1956.
- What is the lowest maternal mortality ratio recorded in Panama?
- The lowest recorded value was 44.11 deaths per 100,000 live births in 1984.
- How does Panama rank for maternal mortality ratio?
- Panama ranks 97th out of 189 countries with data for 2020.
- Is maternal mortality ratio rising or falling in Panama?
- Over the last ten years it is down 9.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Panama 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.