Maternal mortality ratio in Rwanda
Rwanda: Maternal mortality ratio was 258.93 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2020. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2020)
258.93 deaths per 100,000 live births
Change on year
down 8.0%
World rank
37th
of 189 countries
All-time high
4,106 deaths per 100,000 live births
in 1994
All-time low
258.93 deaths per 100,000 live births
in 2020
Years of data
36
1985–2020
Maternal mortality ratio in Rwanda, 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
Rwanda recorded 258.93 deaths per 100,000 live births for maternal mortality ratio in 2020. That is the lowest value across all 36 years on record.
The figure is down 8.0% on the previous year and down 32.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, maternal mortality ratio in Rwanda peaked at 4,106 deaths per 100,000 live births in 1994 and was at its lowest, 258.93 deaths per 100,000 live births, in 2020.
That places Rwanda 37th out of 189 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Maternal mortality ratio in Rwanda, year by year
| Year | deaths per 100,000 live births | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 952.1 deaths per 100,000 live births | — |
| 1986 | 951.9 deaths per 100,000 live births | -0.0% |
| 1987 | 975.95 deaths per 100,000 live births | +2.5% |
| 1988 | 1,042 deaths per 100,000 live births | +6.8% |
| 1989 | 1,146 deaths per 100,000 live births | +10.0% |
| 1990 | 1,207 deaths per 100,000 live births | +5.4% |
| 1991 | 1,340 deaths per 100,000 live births | +11.0% |
| 1992 | 1,435 deaths per 100,000 live births | +7.1% |
| 1993 | 1,561 deaths per 100,000 live births | +8.8% |
| 1994 | 4,106 deaths per 100,000 live births | +162.9% |
| 1995 | 1,586 deaths per 100,000 live births | -61.4% |
| 1996 | 1,535 deaths per 100,000 live births | -3.2% |
| 1997 | 1,483 deaths per 100,000 live births | -3.4% |
| 1998 | 1,327 deaths per 100,000 live births | -10.5% |
| 1999 | 1,163 deaths per 100,000 live births | -12.4% |
| 2000 | 1,007 deaths per 100,000 live births | -13.5% |
| 2001 | 894.66 deaths per 100,000 live births | -11.1% |
| 2002 | 817.93 deaths per 100,000 live births | -8.6% |
| 2003 | 714.99 deaths per 100,000 live births | -12.6% |
| 2004 | 598.73 deaths per 100,000 live births | -16.3% |
| 2005 | 532.61 deaths per 100,000 live births | -11.0% |
| 2006 | 482.73 deaths per 100,000 live births | -9.4% |
| 2007 | 464.66 deaths per 100,000 live births | -3.7% |
| 2008 | 432.03 deaths per 100,000 live births | -7.0% |
| 2009 | 401.12 deaths per 100,000 live births | -7.2% |
| 2010 | 385.79 deaths per 100,000 live births | -3.8% |
| 2011 | 367.93 deaths per 100,000 live births | -4.6% |
| 2012 | 328.47 deaths per 100,000 live births | -10.7% |
| 2013 | 323.46 deaths per 100,000 live births | -1.5% |
| 2014 | 307.01 deaths per 100,000 live births | -5.1% |
| 2015 | 311.78 deaths per 100,000 live births | +1.6% |
| 2016 | 291.65 deaths per 100,000 live births | -6.5% |
| 2017 | 274.67 deaths per 100,000 live births | -5.8% |
| 2018 | 281.36 deaths per 100,000 live births | +2.4% |
| 2019 | 281.31 deaths per 100,000 live births | -0.0% |
| 2020 | 258.93 deaths per 100,000 live births | -8.0% |
Rwanda compared with similar countries
- Rwanda's 258.93 deaths per 100,000 live births is below the median for low income countries, which is 440.23 deaths per 100,000 live births, 59% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Rwanda's 258.93 deaths per 100,000 live births is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 339.15 deaths per 100,000 live births, 76% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Maternal mortality ratio in Rwanda 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | +162.9% | 1,561 deaths per 100,000 live births | 4,106 deaths per 100,000 live births |
| 1995 | -61.4% | 4,106 deaths per 100,000 live births | 1,586 deaths per 100,000 live births |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 1,014 deaths per 100,000 live births | 951.9 deaths per 100,000 live births | 1,146 deaths per 100,000 live births | 5 |
| 1990s | 1,674 deaths per 100,000 live births | 1,163 deaths per 100,000 live births | 4,106 deaths per 100,000 live births | 10 |
| 2000s | 634.6 deaths per 100,000 live births | 401.12 deaths per 100,000 live births | 1,007 deaths per 100,000 live births | 10 |
| 2010s | 315.34 deaths per 100,000 live births | 274.67 deaths per 100,000 live births | 385.79 deaths per 100,000 live births | 10 |
| 2020s | 258.93 deaths per 100,000 live births | 258.93 deaths per 100,000 live births | 258.93 deaths per 100,000 live births | 1 |
Countries ranked near Rwanda
- 34 Ghana 263.11 deaths per 100,000 live births compare
- 35 Senegal 260.88 deaths per 100,000 live births compare
- 36 Venezuela 259.19 deaths per 100,000 live births compare
- 38 Eswatini 239.63 deaths per 100,000 live births compare
- 39 Tanzania 238.3 deaths per 100,000 live births compare
- 40 Djibouti 234.49 deaths per 100,000 live births compare
More health data for Rwanda
- 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 0.891 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 860.6 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 2,738 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 1 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 0.9441 % 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 0.065 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 0.9697 % 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 Rwanda?
- Maternal mortality ratio in Rwanda was 258.93 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 Rwanda?
- The highest recorded value was 4,106 deaths per 100,000 live births in 1994.
- What is the lowest maternal mortality ratio recorded in Rwanda?
- The lowest recorded value was 258.93 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2020.
- How does Rwanda rank for maternal mortality ratio?
- Rwanda ranks 37th out of 189 countries with data for 2020.
- Is maternal mortality ratio rising or falling in Rwanda?
- Over the last ten years it is down 32.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Rwanda 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.