Maternal mortality ratio in Sudan
Sudan: Maternal mortality ratio was 270.36 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2020. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2020)
270.36 deaths per 100,000 live births
Change on year
down 9.3%
World rank
31st
of 189 countries
All-time high
1,634 deaths per 100,000 live births
in 1988
All-time low
270.36 deaths per 100,000 live births
in 2020
Years of data
36
1985–2020
Maternal mortality ratio in 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
Sudan recorded 270.36 deaths per 100,000 live births for maternal mortality ratio in 2020. That is the lowest value across all 36 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 9.3% on the previous year and down 29.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, maternal mortality ratio in Sudan peaked at 1,634 deaths per 100,000 live births in 1988 and was at its lowest, 270.36 deaths per 100,000 live births, in 2020.
Sudan ranks 31st of 189 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Maternal mortality ratio in Sudan, year by year
| Year | deaths per 100,000 live births | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 1,166 deaths per 100,000 live births | — |
| 1986 | 975.14 deaths per 100,000 live births | -16.3% |
| 1987 | 1,250 deaths per 100,000 live births | +28.2% |
| 1988 | 1,634 deaths per 100,000 live births | +30.7% |
| 1989 | 1,032 deaths per 100,000 live births | -36.8% |
| 1990 | 980.4 deaths per 100,000 live births | -5.0% |
| 1991 | 963.9 deaths per 100,000 live births | -1.7% |
| 1992 | 1,125 deaths per 100,000 live births | +16.7% |
| 1993 | 1,101 deaths per 100,000 live births | -2.2% |
| 1994 | 770.85 deaths per 100,000 live births | -30.0% |
| 1995 | 893.18 deaths per 100,000 live births | +15.9% |
| 1996 | 858.03 deaths per 100,000 live births | -3.9% |
| 1997 | 840.41 deaths per 100,000 live births | -2.1% |
| 1998 | 972.62 deaths per 100,000 live births | +15.7% |
| 1999 | 692.52 deaths per 100,000 live births | -28.8% |
| 2000 | 642.18 deaths per 100,000 live births | -7.3% |
| 2001 | 636 deaths per 100,000 live births | -1.0% |
| 2002 | 624.44 deaths per 100,000 live births | -1.8% |
| 2003 | 597.71 deaths per 100,000 live births | -4.3% |
| 2004 | 563.76 deaths per 100,000 live births | -5.7% |
| 2005 | 525.3 deaths per 100,000 live births | -6.8% |
| 2006 | 498.88 deaths per 100,000 live births | -5.0% |
| 2007 | 443.03 deaths per 100,000 live births | -11.2% |
| 2008 | 450.03 deaths per 100,000 live births | +1.6% |
| 2009 | 394.13 deaths per 100,000 live births | -12.4% |
| 2010 | 383.38 deaths per 100,000 live births | -2.7% |
| 2011 | 353.95 deaths per 100,000 live births | -7.7% |
| 2012 | 329.52 deaths per 100,000 live births | -6.9% |
| 2013 | 322.91 deaths per 100,000 live births | -2.0% |
| 2014 | 300.79 deaths per 100,000 live births | -6.9% |
| 2015 | 298.29 deaths per 100,000 live births | -0.8% |
| 2016 | 301.45 deaths per 100,000 live births | +1.1% |
| 2017 | 289.64 deaths per 100,000 live births | -3.9% |
| 2018 | 292.99 deaths per 100,000 live births | +1.2% |
| 2019 | 297.99 deaths per 100,000 live births | +1.7% |
| 2020 | 270.36 deaths per 100,000 live births | -9.3% |
Sudan compared with similar countries
- Sudan's 270.36 deaths per 100,000 live births is below the median for low income countries, which is 440.23 deaths per 100,000 live births, 61% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Sudan's 270.36 deaths per 100,000 live births is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 339.15 deaths per 100,000 live births, 80% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Maternal mortality ratio in 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | +30.7% | 1,250 deaths per 100,000 live births | 1,634 deaths per 100,000 live births |
| 1989 | -36.8% | 1,634 deaths per 100,000 live births | 1,032 deaths per 100,000 live births |
| 1987 | +28.2% | 975.14 deaths per 100,000 live births | 1,250 deaths per 100,000 live births |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 1,212 deaths per 100,000 live births | 975.14 deaths per 100,000 live births | 1,634 deaths per 100,000 live births | 5 |
| 1990s | 919.79 deaths per 100,000 live births | 692.52 deaths per 100,000 live births | 1,125 deaths per 100,000 live births | 10 |
| 2000s | 537.55 deaths per 100,000 live births | 394.13 deaths per 100,000 live births | 642.18 deaths per 100,000 live births | 10 |
| 2010s | 317.09 deaths per 100,000 live births | 289.64 deaths per 100,000 live births | 383.38 deaths per 100,000 live births | 10 |
| 2020s | 270.36 deaths per 100,000 live births | 270.36 deaths per 100,000 live births | 270.36 deaths per 100,000 live births | 1 |
Countries ranked near Sudan
- 28 Eritrea 321.55 deaths per 100,000 live births compare
- 29 Uganda 284.14 deaths per 100,000 live births compare
- 30 Congo 282.39 deaths per 100,000 live births compare
- 32 Ethiopia 266.69 deaths per 100,000 live births compare
- 33 Burkina Faso 263.75 deaths per 100,000 live births compare
- 34 Ghana 263.11 deaths per 100,000 live births compare
More health data for Sudan
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.63 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.6701 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 841.3 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 14,804 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 22 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 1.27 % 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 0.0737 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 1.15 % 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 Sudan?
- Maternal mortality ratio in Sudan was 270.36 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 Sudan?
- The highest recorded value was 1,634 deaths per 100,000 live births in 1988.
- What is the lowest maternal mortality ratio recorded in Sudan?
- The lowest recorded value was 270.36 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2020.
- How does Sudan rank for maternal mortality ratio?
- Sudan ranks 31st out of 189 countries with data for 2020.
- Is maternal mortality ratio rising or falling in Sudan?
- Over the last ten years it is down 29.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this 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.