What is maternal mortality ratio in Zambia?

Maternal mortality ratio in Zambia was 134.66 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 Zambia?

The highest recorded value was 607.3 deaths per 100,000 live births in 1991.

What is the lowest maternal mortality ratio recorded in Zambia?

The lowest recorded value was 128.84 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2019.

How does Zambia rank for maternal mortality ratio?

Zambia ranks 57th out of 189 countries with data for 2020.

Is maternal mortality ratio rising or falling in Zambia?

Over the last ten years it is down 49.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.

Where does this Zambia 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.

Maternal mortality ratio in Zambia

Name: Maternal mortality ratio in Zambia
Creator: UN MMEIG (2023) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data
License: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)

Zambia: Maternal mortality ratio was 134.66 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2020. ▼ Falling

Latest (2020)

134.66 deaths per 100,000 live births

Change on year

up 4.5%

World rank

57th

of 189 countries

All-time high

607.3 deaths per 100,000 live births

in 1991

All-time low

128.84 deaths per 100,000 live births

in 2019

Years of data

1985–2020

Maternal mortality ratio in Zambia, 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

In 2020, maternal mortality ratio in Zambia stood at 134.66 deaths per 100,000 live births.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 4.5% on the previous year and down 49.8% over ten years.

Over the whole period, maternal mortality ratio in Zambia peaked at 607.3 deaths per 100,000 live births in 1991 and was at its lowest, 128.84 deaths per 100,000 live births, in 2019.

That places Zambia 57th out of 189 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 36 years of available data.

Averages by decade

Decade	Average	Lowest	Highest	Years
1980s	571.69 deaths per 100,000 live births	555.44 deaths per 100,000 live births	588.89 deaths per 100,000 live births	5
1990s	542.2 deaths per 100,000 live births	468.42 deaths per 100,000 live births	607.3 deaths per 100,000 live births	10
2000s	329.57 deaths per 100,000 live births	295.85 deaths per 100,000 live births	418.69 deaths per 100,000 live births	10
2010s	183.27 deaths per 100,000 live births	128.84 deaths per 100,000 live births	268.49 deaths per 100,000 live births	10
2020s	134.66 deaths per 100,000 live births	134.66 deaths per 100,000 live births	134.66 deaths per 100,000 live births	1

Countries ranked near Zambia

54 Bolivia 160.91 deaths per 100,000 live births compare
55 Pakistan 154.16 deaths per 100,000 live births compare
56 Sao Tome and Principe 146.24 deaths per 100,000 live births compare
58 Belize 129.79 deaths per 100,000 live births compare
59 Mozambique 127.11 deaths per 100,000 live births compare
60 South Africa 126.83 deaths per 100,000 live births compare

See the full ranking of 189 places →

More health data for Zambia

Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 809.3 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
Number of infants who die before age 1 8,894 deaths (2100)
Deaths in armed conflicts based on where they occurred 0 deaths (2026)
Deaths in armed conflicts by region 0 deaths (2026)
Age population, age 25, male, interpolated 186,618 (2025)
Age population, age 25, female, interpolated 190,016 (2025)
Age population, age 24, male, interpolated 191,969 (2025)
Age population, age 24, female, interpolated 195,406 (2025)
Age population, age 23, male, interpolated 197,654 (2025)
Age population, age 23, female, interpolated 201,065 (2025)

All data for Zambia →

Frequently asked questions

What is maternal mortality ratio in Zambia?: Maternal mortality ratio in Zambia was 134.66 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 Zambia?: The highest recorded value was 607.3 deaths per 100,000 live births in 1991.
What is the lowest maternal mortality ratio recorded in Zambia?: The lowest recorded value was 128.84 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2019.
How does Zambia rank for maternal mortality ratio?: Zambia ranks 57th out of 189 countries with data for 2020.
Is maternal mortality ratio rising or falling in Zambia?: Over the last ten years it is down 49.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this Zambia 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.

Download this data

CSV · JSON — 36 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).

About this data

Indicator: Maternal mortality ratio
Unit: deaths per 100,000 live births
Source: UN MMEIG (2023) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data
Licence: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage: 189 places, 8,868 data points, 1751–2020
Last refreshed: 07 August 2026

The 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.