Number of maternal deaths (Our World) in Afghanistan
Afghanistan: Number of maternal deaths (Our World) was 7,646 in 2023. ▼ Falling
Latest (2023)
7,646
Change on year
down 5.1%
World rank
6th
of 195 countries
All-time high
14,430
in 1998
All-time low
7,646
in 2023
Years of data
39
1985–2023
Number of maternal deaths in Afghanistan, 1985–2023
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2023, number of maternal deaths in Afghanistan stood at 7,646. That is the lowest value across all 39 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 5.1% on the previous year and down 22.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of maternal deaths in Afghanistan peaked at 14,430 in 1998 and was at its lowest, 7,646, in 2023.
That places Afghanistan 6th out of 195 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 39 years of available data.
Number of maternal deaths (Our World) in Afghanistan, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 13,181 | — |
| 1986 | 11,068 | -16.0% |
| 1987 | 10,827 | -2.2% |
| 1988 | 9,365 | -13.5% |
| 1989 | 9,328 | -0.4% |
| 1990 | 9,875 | +5.9% |
| 1991 | 9,818 | -0.6% |
| 1992 | 9,643 | -1.8% |
| 1993 | 10,228 | +6.1% |
| 1994 | 11,889 | +16.2% |
| 1995 | 12,712 | +6.9% |
| 1996 | 12,955 | +1.9% |
| 1997 | 13,229 | +2.1% |
| 1998 | 14,430 | +9.1% |
| 1999 | 13,640 | -5.5% |
| 2000 | 14,218 | +4.2% |
| 2001 | 13,196 | -7.2% |
| 2002 | 12,817 | -2.9% |
| 2003 | 12,852 | +0.3% |
| 2004 | 12,777 | -0.6% |
| 2005 | 12,156 | -4.9% |
| 2006 | 11,987 | -1.4% |
| 2007 | 11,720 | -2.2% |
| 2008 | 10,761 | -8.2% |
| 2009 | 10,716 | -0.4% |
| 2010 | 10,544 | -1.6% |
| 2011 | 10,079 | -4.4% |
| 2012 | 10,072 | -0.1% |
| 2013 | 9,917 | -1.5% |
| 2014 | 9,810 | -1.1% |
| 2015 | 9,871 | +0.6% |
| 2016 | 9,438 | -4.4% |
| 2017 | 8,971 | -4.9% |
| 2018 | 8,699 | -3.0% |
| 2019 | 8,450 | -2.9% |
| 2020 | 9,061 | +7.2% |
| 2021 | 9,598 | +5.9% |
| 2022 | 8,055 | -16.1% |
| 2023 | 7,646 | -5.1% |
Afghanistan compared with similar countries
- Afghanistan's 7,646 is above the median for low income countries, which is 1,762, 4.3× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Afghanistan's 7,646 is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 59.9, 127.7× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 10,754 | 9,328 | 13,181 | 5 |
| 1990s | 11,842 | 9,643 | 14,430 | 10 |
| 2000s | 12,320 | 10,716 | 14,218 | 10 |
| 2010s | 9,585 | 8,450 | 10,544 | 10 |
| 2020s | 8,590 | 7,646 | 9,598 | 4 |
Countries ranked near Afghanistan
More health data for Afghanistan
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.45 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 1.03 % change on previous year (2090)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 14,735 (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 19 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 1.78 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0.0002 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.077 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 1.75 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0.0002 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per capita 0.0804 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is number of maternal deaths in Afghanistan?
- Number of maternal deaths in Afghanistan was 7,646 in 2023, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest number of maternal deaths recorded in Afghanistan?
- The highest recorded value was 14,430 in 1998.
- What is the lowest number of maternal deaths recorded in Afghanistan?
- The lowest recorded value was 7,646 in 2023.
- How does Afghanistan rank for number of maternal deaths?
- Afghanistan ranks 6th out of 195 countries with data for 2023.
- Is number of maternal deaths rising or falling in Afghanistan?
- Over the last ten years it is down 22.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Afghanistan data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Number of maternal deaths. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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