Number of maternal deaths in Afghanistan
Afghanistan: Number of maternal deaths was 7,646 Deaths in 2023. ▼ Falling
Number of maternal deaths in Afghanistan, 1985–2023
Source: World Health Organization - Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in Deaths.
Analysis
In 2023, number of maternal deaths in Afghanistan stood at 7,646 Deaths. 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 Deaths in 1998 and was at its lowest, 7,646 Deaths, 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 in Afghanistan, year by year
| Year | Deaths | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 13,181 Deaths | — |
| 1986 | 11,068 Deaths | -16.0% |
| 1987 | 10,827 Deaths | -2.2% |
| 1988 | 9,365 Deaths | -13.5% |
| 1989 | 9,328 Deaths | -0.4% |
| 1990 | 9,875 Deaths | +5.9% |
| 1991 | 9,818 Deaths | -0.6% |
| 1992 | 9,643 Deaths | -1.8% |
| 1993 | 10,228 Deaths | +6.1% |
| 1994 | 11,889 Deaths | +16.2% |
| 1995 | 12,712 Deaths | +6.9% |
| 1996 | 12,955 Deaths | +1.9% |
| 1997 | 13,229 Deaths | +2.1% |
| 1998 | 14,430 Deaths | +9.1% |
| 1999 | 13,640 Deaths | -5.5% |
| 2000 | 14,218 Deaths | +4.2% |
| 2001 | 13,196 Deaths | -7.2% |
| 2002 | 12,817 Deaths | -2.9% |
| 2003 | 12,852 Deaths | +0.3% |
| 2004 | 12,777 Deaths | -0.6% |
| 2005 | 12,156 Deaths | -4.9% |
| 2006 | 11,987 Deaths | -1.4% |
| 2007 | 11,720 Deaths | -2.2% |
| 2008 | 10,761 Deaths | -8.2% |
| 2009 | 10,716 Deaths | -0.4% |
| 2010 | 10,544 Deaths | -1.6% |
| 2011 | 10,079 Deaths | -4.4% |
| 2012 | 10,072 Deaths | -0.1% |
| 2013 | 9,917 Deaths | -1.5% |
| 2014 | 9,810 Deaths | -1.1% |
| 2015 | 9,871 Deaths | +0.6% |
| 2016 | 9,438 Deaths | -4.4% |
| 2017 | 8,971 Deaths | -4.9% |
| 2018 | 8,699 Deaths | -3.0% |
| 2019 | 8,450 Deaths | -2.9% |
| 2020 | 9,061 Deaths | +7.2% |
| 2021 | 9,598 Deaths | +5.9% |
| 2022 | 8,055 Deaths | -16.1% |
| 2023 | 7,646 Deaths | -5.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 10,754 Deaths | 9,328 Deaths | 13,181 Deaths | 5 |
| 1990s | 11,842 Deaths | 9,643 Deaths | 14,430 Deaths | 10 |
| 2000s | 12,320 Deaths | 10,716 Deaths | 14,218 Deaths | 10 |
| 2010s | 9,585 Deaths | 8,450 Deaths | 10,544 Deaths | 10 |
| 2020s | 8,590 Deaths | 7,646 Deaths | 9,598 Deaths | 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)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 812.4 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 14,735 deaths (2100)
- Population ages 0-14, female, annual growth rate 2.05 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, female, per unit of GDP 0.0005 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Population ages 0-14, female, per capita 0.2081 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, male, annual growth rate 1.99 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, male, per unit of GDP 0.0005 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Population ages 0-14, male, per capita 0.2175 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is number of maternal deaths in Afghanistan?
- Number of maternal deaths in Afghanistan was 7,646 Deaths in 2023, according to World Health Organization - Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest number of maternal deaths recorded in Afghanistan?
- The highest recorded value was 14,430 Deaths in 1998.
- What is the lowest number of maternal deaths recorded in Afghanistan?
- The lowest recorded value was 7,646 Deaths 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 World Health Organization - Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Number of maternal deaths. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Estimated annual number of women who die from maternal conditions.