Number of maternal deaths in Costa Rica
Costa Rica: Number of maternal deaths was 12.53 Deaths in 2023. ▼ Falling
Number of maternal deaths in Costa Rica, 1985–2023
Source: World Health Organization - Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in Deaths.
Analysis
Costa Rica recorded 12.53 Deaths for number of maternal deaths in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 39 years on record.
The figure is down 12.8% on the previous year and down 32.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of maternal deaths in Costa Rica peaked at 35.68 Deaths in 1986 and was at its lowest, 12.53 Deaths, in 2023.
Costa Rica ranks 115th of 195 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 39 years of available data.
Number of maternal deaths in Costa Rica, year by year
| Year | Deaths | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 35.49 Deaths | — |
| 1986 | 35.68 Deaths | +0.5% |
| 1987 | 34.6 Deaths | -3.0% |
| 1988 | 33.96 Deaths | -1.8% |
| 1989 | 33.63 Deaths | -1.0% |
| 1990 | 33.32 Deaths | -0.9% |
| 1991 | 32.42 Deaths | -2.7% |
| 1992 | 31.66 Deaths | -2.3% |
| 1993 | 31.71 Deaths | +0.2% |
| 1994 | 31.52 Deaths | -0.6% |
| 1995 | 31.38 Deaths | -0.5% |
| 1996 | 31.22 Deaths | -0.5% |
| 1997 | 30.05 Deaths | -3.8% |
| 1998 | 29.59 Deaths | -1.5% |
| 1999 | 28.73 Deaths | -2.9% |
| 2000 | 28.31 Deaths | -1.5% |
| 2001 | 27.48 Deaths | -2.9% |
| 2002 | 25.19 Deaths | -8.3% |
| 2003 | 24.16 Deaths | -4.1% |
| 2004 | 23.65 Deaths | -2.1% |
| 2005 | 22.94 Deaths | -3.0% |
| 2006 | 21.37 Deaths | -6.8% |
| 2007 | 22.05 Deaths | +3.2% |
| 2008 | 22.35 Deaths | +1.4% |
| 2009 | 21.55 Deaths | -3.6% |
| 2010 | 20.24 Deaths | -6.0% |
| 2011 | 20.66 Deaths | +2.1% |
| 2012 | 19.8 Deaths | -4.1% |
| 2013 | 18.52 Deaths | -6.5% |
| 2014 | 18.81 Deaths | +1.6% |
| 2015 | 18.1 Deaths | -3.8% |
| 2016 | 18.66 Deaths | +3.1% |
| 2017 | 18.32 Deaths | -1.8% |
| 2018 | 19.16 Deaths | +4.6% |
| 2019 | 16.29 Deaths | -15.0% |
| 2020 | 19.5 Deaths | +19.8% |
| 2021 | 23.45 Deaths | +20.2% |
| 2022 | 14.38 Deaths | -38.7% |
| 2023 | 12.53 Deaths | -12.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 34.67 Deaths | 33.63 Deaths | 35.68 Deaths | 5 |
| 1990s | 31.16 Deaths | 28.73 Deaths | 33.32 Deaths | 10 |
| 2000s | 23.9 Deaths | 21.37 Deaths | 28.31 Deaths | 10 |
| 2010s | 18.86 Deaths | 16.29 Deaths | 20.66 Deaths | 10 |
| 2020s | 17.47 Deaths | 12.53 Deaths | 23.45 Deaths | 4 |
Countries ranked near Costa Rica
More health data for Costa Rica
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -2.78 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.4617 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,632 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 35 deaths (2100)
- Population ages 80 and above, female, per capita 0.0163 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 80 and above, male, annual growth rate 5.59 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 80 and above, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 80 and above, male, per capita 0.0109 units per person (2025)
- Pertussis - number of reported cases, gaps filled 240 (2025)
- Pertussis - number of reported cases, per capita 0 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is number of maternal deaths in Costa Rica?
- Number of maternal deaths in Costa Rica was 12.53 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 Costa Rica?
- The highest recorded value was 35.68 Deaths in 1986.
- What is the lowest number of maternal deaths recorded in Costa Rica?
- The lowest recorded value was 12.53 Deaths in 2023.
- How does Costa Rica rank for number of maternal deaths?
- Costa Rica ranks 115th out of 195 countries with data for 2023.
- Is number of maternal deaths rising or falling in Costa Rica?
- Over the last ten years it is down 32.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Costa Rica 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.