Number of maternal deaths (Our World) in China
China: Number of maternal deaths (Our World) was 1,446 in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
1,446
Change on year
down 16.4%
World rank
34th
of 195 countries
All-time high
31,485
in 1987
All-time low
1,446
in 2023
Years of data
39
1985–2023
Number of maternal deaths in China, 1985–2023
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for number of maternal deaths in China is 1,446, measured in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 39 years on record.
The figure is down 16.4% on the previous year and down 73.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of maternal deaths in China peaked at 31,485 in 1987 and was at its lowest, 1,446, in 2023.
China ranks 34th of 195 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Number of maternal deaths (Our World) in China, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 30,261 | — |
| 1986 | 31,174 | +3.0% |
| 1987 | 31,485 | +1.0% |
| 1988 | 28,456 | -9.6% |
| 1989 | 28,201 | -0.9% |
| 1990 | 28,532 | +1.2% |
| 1991 | 20,863 | -26.9% |
| 1992 | 18,147 | -13.0% |
| 1993 | 16,205 | -10.7% |
| 1994 | 14,895 | -8.1% |
| 1995 | 13,501 | -9.4% |
| 1996 | 12,218 | -9.5% |
| 1997 | 11,149 | -8.7% |
| 1998 | 10,336 | -7.3% |
| 1999 | 9,712 | -6.0% |
| 2000 | 9,771 | +0.6% |
| 2001 | 8,689 | -11.1% |
| 2002 | 8,153 | -6.2% |
| 2003 | 7,633 | -6.4% |
| 2004 | 7,350 | -3.7% |
| 2005 | 6,968 | -5.2% |
| 2006 | 6,682 | -4.1% |
| 2007 | 6,465 | -3.3% |
| 2008 | 6,726 | +4.0% |
| 2009 | 6,251 | -7.1% |
| 2010 | 6,029 | -3.5% |
| 2011 | 5,794 | -3.9% |
| 2012 | 6,102 | +5.3% |
| 2013 | 5,450 | -10.7% |
| 2014 | 5,277 | -3.2% |
| 2015 | 4,581 | -13.2% |
| 2016 | 4,542 | -0.9% |
| 2017 | 4,325 | -4.8% |
| 2018 | 3,372 | -22.0% |
| 2019 | 3,081 | -8.6% |
| 2020 | 2,348 | -23.8% |
| 2021 | 2,190 | -6.7% |
| 2022 | 1,730 | -21.0% |
| 2023 | 1,446 | -16.4% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 1,446 is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 36.13, 40.0× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- China's 1,446 is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 16.04, 90.2× the median. (30 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 29,916 | 28,201 | 31,485 | 5 |
| 1990s | 15,556 | 9,712 | 28,532 | 10 |
| 2000s | 7,469 | 6,251 | 9,771 | 10 |
| 2010s | 4,855 | 3,081 | 6,102 | 10 |
| 2020s | 1,928 | 1,446 | 2,348 | 4 |
Countries ranked near China
More health data for China
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.15 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate -0.0985 % change on previous year (2090)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 4,642 (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 10 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -8.22 % 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 0.0159 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -8.73 % 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 0.0176 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is number of maternal deaths in China?
- Number of maternal deaths in China was 1,446 in 2023, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest number of maternal deaths recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 31,485 in 1987.
- What is the lowest number of maternal deaths recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 1,446 in 2023.
- How does China rank for number of maternal deaths?
- China ranks 34th out of 195 countries with data for 2023.
- Is number of maternal deaths rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is down 73.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this China 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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