Maternal mortality in Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe: Maternal mortality was 356.76 in 2020. ▲ Rising
Maternal mortality in Zimbabwe, 1985–2020
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for maternal mortality in Zimbabwe is 356.76, measured in 2020.
The figure is down 9.3% on the previous year and down 42.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, maternal mortality in Zimbabwe peaked at 684.83 in 2008 and was at its lowest, 321.54, in 1998.
That places Zimbabwe 25th out of 189 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 36 years of available data.
Maternal mortality in Zimbabwe, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 431.54 | — |
| 1986 | 387.48 | -10.2% |
| 1987 | 366.38 | -5.4% |
| 1988 | 374.77 | +2.3% |
| 1989 | 358.35 | -4.4% |
| 1990 | 337.55 | -5.8% |
| 1991 | 346.73 | +2.7% |
| 1992 | 349.57 | +0.8% |
| 1993 | 346.98 | -0.7% |
| 1994 | 352.08 | +1.5% |
| 1995 | 364 | +3.4% |
| 1996 | 361.6 | -0.7% |
| 1997 | 323.44 | -10.6% |
| 1998 | 321.54 | -0.6% |
| 1999 | 384.57 | +19.6% |
| 2000 | 387.75 | +0.8% |
| 2001 | 589.17 | +51.9% |
| 2002 | 442.71 | -24.9% |
| 2003 | 533.9 | +20.6% |
| 2004 | 488.09 | -8.6% |
| 2005 | 533.07 | +9.2% |
| 2006 | 558.16 | +4.7% |
| 2007 | 656.42 | +17.6% |
| 2008 | 684.83 | +4.3% |
| 2009 | 669.89 | -2.2% |
| 2010 | 618.33 | -7.7% |
| 2011 | 562.12 | -9.1% |
| 2012 | 527.62 | -6.1% |
| 2013 | 495.26 | -6.1% |
| 2014 | 440.85 | -11.0% |
| 2015 | 408.12 | -7.4% |
| 2016 | 399.76 | -2.0% |
| 2017 | 366.38 | -8.3% |
| 2018 | 358.5 | -2.1% |
| 2019 | 393.18 | +9.7% |
| 2020 | 356.76 | -9.3% |
Zimbabwe compared with similar countries
- Zimbabwe's 356.76 is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 191.84, 1.9× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Zimbabwe's 356.76 is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 339.15, 1.1× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Maternal mortality in Zimbabwe 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | +51.9% | 387.75 | 589.17 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 383.7 | 358.35 | 431.54 | 5 |
| 1990s | 348.81 | 321.54 | 384.57 | 10 |
| 2000s | 554.4 | 387.75 | 684.83 | 10 |
| 2010s | 457.01 | 358.5 | 618.33 | 10 |
| 2020s | 356.76 | 356.76 | 356.76 | 1 |
Countries ranked near Zimbabwe
More health data for Zimbabwe
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.39 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 1.11 % change on previous year (2090)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 4,457 (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 2 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 0.9632 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.0689 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 0.9673 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per capita 0.0701 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is maternal mortality in Zimbabwe?
- Maternal mortality in Zimbabwe was 356.76 in 2020, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest maternal mortality recorded in Zimbabwe?
- The highest recorded value was 684.83 in 2008.
- What is the lowest maternal mortality recorded in Zimbabwe?
- The lowest recorded value was 321.54 in 1998.
- How does Zimbabwe rank for maternal mortality?
- Zimbabwe ranks 25th out of 189 countries with data for 2020.
- Is maternal mortality rising or falling in Zimbabwe?
- Over the last ten years it is down 42.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Zimbabwe 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).