Maternal mortality in Rwanda
Rwanda: Maternal mortality was 258.93 in 2020. ◆ Volatile
Maternal mortality in Rwanda, 1985–2020
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
Rwanda recorded 258.93 for maternal mortality 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 in Rwanda peaked at 4,106 in 1994 and was at its lowest, 258.93, 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 in Rwanda, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 952.1 | — |
| 1986 | 951.9 | -0.0% |
| 1987 | 975.95 | +2.5% |
| 1988 | 1,042 | +6.8% |
| 1989 | 1,146 | +10.0% |
| 1990 | 1,207 | +5.4% |
| 1991 | 1,340 | +11.0% |
| 1992 | 1,435 | +7.1% |
| 1993 | 1,561 | +8.8% |
| 1994 | 4,106 | +162.9% |
| 1995 | 1,586 | -61.4% |
| 1996 | 1,535 | -3.2% |
| 1997 | 1,483 | -3.4% |
| 1998 | 1,327 | -10.5% |
| 1999 | 1,163 | -12.4% |
| 2000 | 1,007 | -13.5% |
| 2001 | 894.66 | -11.1% |
| 2002 | 817.93 | -8.6% |
| 2003 | 714.99 | -12.6% |
| 2004 | 598.73 | -16.3% |
| 2005 | 532.61 | -11.0% |
| 2006 | 482.73 | -9.4% |
| 2007 | 464.66 | -3.7% |
| 2008 | 432.03 | -7.0% |
| 2009 | 401.12 | -7.2% |
| 2010 | 385.79 | -3.8% |
| 2011 | 367.93 | -4.6% |
| 2012 | 328.47 | -10.7% |
| 2013 | 323.46 | -1.5% |
| 2014 | 307.01 | -5.1% |
| 2015 | 311.78 | +1.6% |
| 2016 | 291.65 | -6.5% |
| 2017 | 274.67 | -5.8% |
| 2018 | 281.36 | +2.4% |
| 2019 | 281.31 | -0.0% |
| 2020 | 258.93 | -8.0% |
Rwanda compared with similar countries
- Rwanda's 258.93 is below the median for low income countries, which is 440.23, 59% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Rwanda's 258.93 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 339.15, 76% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Maternal mortality 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 | 4,106 |
| 1995 | -61.4% | 4,106 | 1,586 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 1,014 | 951.9 | 1,146 | 5 |
| 1990s | 1,674 | 1,163 | 4,106 | 10 |
| 2000s | 634.6 | 401.12 | 1,007 | 10 |
| 2010s | 315.34 | 274.67 | 385.79 | 10 |
| 2020s | 258.93 | 258.93 | 258.93 | 1 |
Countries ranked near Rwanda
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)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 2,738 (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)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per capita 0.0663 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is maternal mortality in Rwanda?
- Maternal mortality in Rwanda was 258.93 in 2020, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest maternal mortality recorded in Rwanda?
- The highest recorded value was 4,106 in 1994.
- What is the lowest maternal mortality recorded in Rwanda?
- The lowest recorded value was 258.93 in 2020.
- How does Rwanda rank for maternal mortality?
- Rwanda ranks 37th out of 189 countries with data for 2020.
- Is maternal mortality 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 Our World in Data, published as part of Maternal mortality. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 36 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).