Maternal mortality ratio in South Sudan
South Sudan: Maternal mortality ratio was 1,223 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2020. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2020)
1,223 deaths per 100,000 live births
Change on year
down 1.8%
World rank
1st
of 189 countries
All-time high
6,775 deaths per 100,000 live births
in 1987
All-time low
1,060 deaths per 100,000 live births
in 2010
Years of data
36
1985–2020
Maternal mortality ratio in South Sudan, 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 South Sudan is 1,223 deaths per 100,000 live births, measured in 2020.
That represents a change of down 1.8% on the previous year and up 15.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, maternal mortality ratio in South Sudan peaked at 6,775 deaths per 100,000 live births in 1987 and was at its lowest, 1,060 deaths per 100,000 live births, in 2010.
South Sudan ranks 1st of 189 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Maternal mortality ratio in South Sudan, year by year
| Year | deaths per 100,000 live births | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 3,292 deaths per 100,000 live births | — |
| 1986 | 3,279 deaths per 100,000 live births | -0.4% |
| 1987 | 6,775 deaths per 100,000 live births | +106.6% |
| 1988 | 4,786 deaths per 100,000 live births | -29.3% |
| 1989 | 4,184 deaths per 100,000 live births | -12.6% |
| 1990 | 4,141 deaths per 100,000 live births | -1.0% |
| 1991 | 4,133 deaths per 100,000 live births | -0.2% |
| 1992 | 6,528 deaths per 100,000 live births | +58.0% |
| 1993 | 6,591 deaths per 100,000 live births | +1.0% |
| 1994 | 1,673 deaths per 100,000 live births | -74.6% |
| 1995 | 4,106 deaths per 100,000 live births | +145.5% |
| 1996 | 4,023 deaths per 100,000 live births | -2.0% |
| 1997 | 3,838 deaths per 100,000 live births | -4.6% |
| 1998 | 6,482 deaths per 100,000 live births | +68.9% |
| 1999 | 2,028 deaths per 100,000 live births | -68.7% |
| 2000 | 1,687 deaths per 100,000 live births | -16.9% |
| 2001 | 1,654 deaths per 100,000 live births | -1.9% |
| 2002 | 1,668 deaths per 100,000 live births | +0.8% |
| 2003 | 1,404 deaths per 100,000 live births | -15.8% |
| 2004 | 1,372 deaths per 100,000 live births | -2.2% |
| 2005 | 1,332 deaths per 100,000 live births | -2.9% |
| 2006 | 1,301 deaths per 100,000 live births | -2.3% |
| 2007 | 1,187 deaths per 100,000 live births | -8.8% |
| 2008 | 1,138 deaths per 100,000 live births | -4.1% |
| 2009 | 1,118 deaths per 100,000 live births | -1.8% |
| 2010 | 1,060 deaths per 100,000 live births | -5.2% |
| 2011 | 1,062 deaths per 100,000 live births | +0.2% |
| 2012 | 1,067 deaths per 100,000 live births | +0.5% |
| 2013 | 1,131 deaths per 100,000 live births | +6.0% |
| 2014 | 1,172 deaths per 100,000 live births | +3.6% |
| 2015 | 1,225 deaths per 100,000 live births | +4.5% |
| 2016 | 1,288 deaths per 100,000 live births | +5.2% |
| 2017 | 1,252 deaths per 100,000 live births | -2.8% |
| 2018 | 1,275 deaths per 100,000 live births | +1.9% |
| 2019 | 1,245 deaths per 100,000 live births | -2.3% |
| 2020 | 1,223 deaths per 100,000 live births | -1.8% |
South Sudan compared with similar countries
- South Sudan's 1,223 deaths per 100,000 live births is above the median for low income countries, which is 440.23 deaths per 100,000 live births, 2.8× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- South Sudan's 1,223 deaths per 100,000 live births is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 339.15 deaths per 100,000 live births, 3.6× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Maternal mortality ratio in South Sudan 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | +145.5% | 1,673 deaths per 100,000 live births | 4,106 deaths per 100,000 live births |
| 1987 | +106.6% | 3,279 deaths per 100,000 live births | 6,775 deaths per 100,000 live births |
| 1994 | -74.6% | 6,591 deaths per 100,000 live births | 1,673 deaths per 100,000 live births |
| 1998 | +68.9% | 3,838 deaths per 100,000 live births | 6,482 deaths per 100,000 live births |
| 1999 | -68.7% | 6,482 deaths per 100,000 live births | 2,028 deaths per 100,000 live births |
| 1992 | +58.0% | 4,133 deaths per 100,000 live births | 6,528 deaths per 100,000 live births |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 4,463 deaths per 100,000 live births | 3,279 deaths per 100,000 live births | 6,775 deaths per 100,000 live births | 5 |
| 1990s | 4,354 deaths per 100,000 live births | 1,673 deaths per 100,000 live births | 6,591 deaths per 100,000 live births | 10 |
| 2000s | 1,386 deaths per 100,000 live births | 1,118 deaths per 100,000 live births | 1,687 deaths per 100,000 live births | 10 |
| 2010s | 1,178 deaths per 100,000 live births | 1,060 deaths per 100,000 live births | 1,288 deaths per 100,000 live births | 10 |
| 2020s | 1,223 deaths per 100,000 live births | 1,223 deaths per 100,000 live births | 1,223 deaths per 100,000 live births | 1 |
Countries ranked near South Sudan
More health data for South Sudan
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.665 % change on previous year (2090)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.47 % change on previous year (2100)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 12,029 deaths (2100)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,347 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Deaths in armed conflicts based on where they occurred 123 deaths (2026)
- Deaths in armed conflicts by region 123 deaths (2026)
- Population ages 25-29, female, per capita 0.0349 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 30-34, female, per capita 0.0265 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 30-34, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2015)
- Population ages 30-34, female, annual growth rate 1.24 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is maternal mortality ratio in South Sudan?
- Maternal mortality ratio in South Sudan was 1,223 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 South Sudan?
- The highest recorded value was 6,775 deaths per 100,000 live births in 1987.
- What is the lowest maternal mortality ratio recorded in South Sudan?
- The lowest recorded value was 1,060 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2010.
- How does South Sudan rank for maternal mortality ratio?
- South Sudan ranks 1st out of 189 countries with data for 2020.
- Is maternal mortality ratio rising or falling in South Sudan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 15.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Sudan 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.