Maternal mortality in Tanzania
Tanzania: Maternal mortality was 238.3 in 2020. ▼ Falling
Latest (2020)
238.3
Change on year
down 9.0%
World rank
39th
of 189 countries
All-time high
893
in 1993
All-time low
238.3
in 2020
Years of data
36
1985–2020
Maternal mortality in Tanzania, 1985–2020
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for maternal mortality in Tanzania is 238.3, measured in 2020. That is the lowest value across all 36 years on record.
That represents a change of down 9.0% on the previous year and down 51.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, maternal mortality in Tanzania peaked at 893 in 1993 and was at its lowest, 238.3, in 2020.
That places Tanzania 39th out of 189 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 36 years of available data.
Maternal mortality in Tanzania, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 843.91 | — |
| 1986 | 811.74 | -3.8% |
| 1987 | 816.99 | +0.6% |
| 1988 | 825.18 | +1.0% |
| 1989 | 834.2 | +1.1% |
| 1990 | 845.39 | +1.3% |
| 1991 | 848.7 | +0.4% |
| 1992 | 870.08 | +2.5% |
| 1993 | 893 | +2.6% |
| 1994 | 855.07 | -4.2% |
| 1995 | 863.39 | +1.0% |
| 1996 | 862.71 | -0.1% |
| 1997 | 872.15 | +1.1% |
| 1998 | 863.31 | -1.0% |
| 1999 | 791.28 | -8.3% |
| 2000 | 760.08 | -3.9% |
| 2001 | 707.27 | -6.9% |
| 2002 | 672.2 | -5.0% |
| 2003 | 625.11 | -7.0% |
| 2004 | 588.05 | -5.9% |
| 2005 | 559.39 | -4.9% |
| 2006 | 546.73 | -2.3% |
| 2007 | 566.04 | +3.5% |
| 2008 | 604.64 | +6.8% |
| 2009 | 556.2 | -8.0% |
| 2010 | 485.92 | -12.6% |
| 2011 | 458.06 | -5.7% |
| 2012 | 393.65 | -14.1% |
| 2013 | 379.7 | -3.5% |
| 2014 | 352.07 | -7.3% |
| 2015 | 329.55 | -6.4% |
| 2016 | 297.55 | -9.7% |
| 2017 | 280.37 | -5.8% |
| 2018 | 266.82 | -4.8% |
| 2019 | 261.85 | -1.9% |
| 2020 | 238.3 | -9.0% |
Tanzania compared with similar countries
- Tanzania's 238.3 is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 191.84, 1.2× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Tanzania's 238.3 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 339.15, 70% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 826.4 | 811.74 | 843.91 | 5 |
| 1990s | 856.51 | 791.28 | 893 | 10 |
| 2000s | 618.57 | 546.73 | 760.08 | 10 |
| 2010s | 350.56 | 261.85 | 485.92 | 10 |
| 2020s | 238.3 | 238.3 | 238.3 | 1 |
Countries ranked near Tanzania
More health data for Tanzania
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.03 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.7342 % change on previous year (2090)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 32,514 (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 13 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 1.86 % 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 0.0786 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 1.89 % 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 0.0805 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is maternal mortality in Tanzania?
- Maternal mortality in Tanzania was 238.3 in 2020, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest maternal mortality recorded in Tanzania?
- The highest recorded value was 893 in 1993.
- What is the lowest maternal mortality recorded in Tanzania?
- The lowest recorded value was 238.3 in 2020.
- How does Tanzania rank for maternal mortality?
- Tanzania ranks 39th out of 189 countries with data for 2020.
- Is maternal mortality rising or falling in Tanzania?
- Over the last ten years it is down 51.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Tanzania 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).