Number of maternal deaths (Our World) in South Korea
South Korea: Number of maternal deaths (Our World) was 8.96 in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Number of maternal deaths in South Korea, 1985–2023
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2023, number of maternal deaths in South Korea stood at 8.96. That is the lowest value across all 39 years on record.
The figure is down 47.1% on the previous year and down 71.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of maternal deaths in South Korea peaked at 263.72 in 1985 and was at its lowest, 8.96, in 2023.
That places South Korea 122nd out of 195 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Number of maternal deaths (Our World) in South Korea, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 263.72 | — |
| 1986 | 235.57 | -10.7% |
| 1987 | 224.89 | -4.5% |
| 1988 | 202.15 | -10.1% |
| 1989 | 193.53 | -4.3% |
| 1990 | 194.37 | +0.4% |
| 1991 | 201.43 | +3.6% |
| 1992 | 189.05 | -6.1% |
| 1993 | 168.07 | -11.1% |
| 1994 | 162.25 | -3.5% |
| 1995 | 151.98 | -6.3% |
| 1996 | 137.38 | -9.6% |
| 1997 | 124.95 | -9.1% |
| 1998 | 111.42 | -10.8% |
| 1999 | 100.71 | -9.6% |
| 2000 | 92.7 | -8.0% |
| 2001 | 75.89 | -18.1% |
| 2002 | 65.88 | -13.2% |
| 2003 | 62.04 | -5.8% |
| 2004 | 55.65 | -10.3% |
| 2005 | 49.13 | -11.7% |
| 2006 | 46.1 | -6.2% |
| 2007 | 46.62 | +1.1% |
| 2008 | 41.21 | -11.6% |
| 2009 | 37.71 | -8.5% |
| 2010 | 38.11 | +1.1% |
| 2011 | 36.52 | -4.2% |
| 2012 | 35.84 | -1.9% |
| 2013 | 31.01 | -13.5% |
| 2014 | 28.18 | -9.1% |
| 2015 | 27.32 | -3.1% |
| 2016 | 24.15 | -11.6% |
| 2017 | 19.95 | -17.4% |
| 2018 | 17.2 | -13.8% |
| 2019 | 14.54 | -15.5% |
| 2020 | 31.25 | +114.9% |
| 2021 | 13.49 | -56.8% |
| 2022 | 16.94 | +25.6% |
| 2023 | 8.96 | -47.1% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 8.96 is above the median for high income countries, which is 3.51, 2.6× the median. (64 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 8.96 is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 16.04, 56% of the median. (30 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Number of maternal deaths (Our World) in South Korea 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +114.9% | 14.54 | 31.25 |
| 2021 | -56.8% | 31.25 | 13.49 |
| 2023 | -47.1% | 16.94 | 8.96 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 223.97 | 193.53 | 263.72 | 5 |
| 1990s | 154.16 | 100.71 | 201.43 | 10 |
| 2000s | 57.29 | 37.71 | 92.7 | 10 |
| 2010s | 27.28 | 14.54 | 38.11 | 10 |
| 2020s | 17.66 | 8.96 | 31.25 | 4 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
More health data for South Korea
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.43 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.1935 % change on previous year (2090)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 69 (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -2.66 % 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 0.0118 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -2.76 % 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 0.0124 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is number of maternal deaths in South Korea?
- Number of maternal deaths in South Korea was 8.96 in 2023, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest number of maternal deaths recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 263.72 in 1985.
- What is the lowest number of maternal deaths recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 8.96 in 2023.
- How does South Korea rank for number of maternal deaths?
- South Korea ranks 122nd out of 195 countries with data for 2023.
- Is number of maternal deaths rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 71.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Korea 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
CSV · JSON — 39 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).