Number of maternal deaths (Our World) in Malawi
Malawi: Number of maternal deaths (Our World) was 1,490 in 2023. ▼ Falling
Latest (2023)
1,490
Change on year
down 4.5%
World rank
33rd
of 195 countries
All-time high
5,144
in 1991
All-time low
1,490
in 2023
Years of data
39
1985–2023
Number of maternal deaths in Malawi, 1985–2023
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for number of maternal deaths in Malawi is 1,490, measured in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 39 years on record.
That represents a change of down 4.5% on the previous year and down 40.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of maternal deaths in Malawi peaked at 5,144 in 1991 and was at its lowest, 1,490, in 2023.
Malawi ranks 33rd of 195 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 39 years of available data.
Number of maternal deaths (Our World) in Malawi, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 4,280 | — |
| 1986 | 4,403 | +2.9% |
| 1987 | 4,526 | +2.8% |
| 1988 | 4,925 | +8.8% |
| 1989 | 5,050 | +2.5% |
| 1990 | 5,143 | +1.8% |
| 1991 | 5,144 | +0.0% |
| 1992 | 5,076 | -1.3% |
| 1993 | 4,979 | -1.9% |
| 1994 | 4,490 | -9.8% |
| 1995 | 3,718 | -17.2% |
| 1996 | 3,413 | -8.2% |
| 1997 | 3,266 | -4.3% |
| 1998 | 3,255 | -0.4% |
| 1999 | 2,888 | -11.3% |
| 2000 | 2,554 | -11.6% |
| 2001 | 2,288 | -10.4% |
| 2002 | 2,110 | -7.8% |
| 2003 | 1,849 | -12.4% |
| 2004 | 1,669 | -9.7% |
| 2005 | 1,602 | -4.0% |
| 2006 | 1,651 | +3.1% |
| 2007 | 1,957 | +18.5% |
| 2008 | 2,555 | +30.6% |
| 2009 | 3,075 | +20.3% |
| 2010 | 3,119 | +1.4% |
| 2011 | 2,945 | -5.6% |
| 2012 | 2,707 | -8.1% |
| 2013 | 2,500 | -7.6% |
| 2014 | 2,228 | -10.9% |
| 2015 | 2,134 | -4.2% |
| 2016 | 1,874 | -12.2% |
| 2017 | 1,725 | -8.0% |
| 2018 | 1,646 | -4.6% |
| 2019 | 1,625 | -1.3% |
| 2020 | 1,630 | +0.3% |
| 2021 | 1,837 | +12.7% |
| 2022 | 1,560 | -15.1% |
| 2023 | 1,490 | -4.5% |
Malawi compared with similar countries
- Malawi's 1,490 is below the median for low income countries, which is 1,762, 85% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Malawi's 1,490 is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 1,443, 1.0× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 4,637 | 4,280 | 5,050 | 5 |
| 1990s | 4,137 | 2,888 | 5,144 | 10 |
| 2000s | 2,131 | 1,602 | 3,075 | 10 |
| 2010s | 2,250 | 1,625 | 3,119 | 10 |
| 2020s | 1,629 | 1,490 | 1,837 | 4 |
Countries ranked near Malawi
- 30 Central African Republic 1,652 compare
- 31 Yemen 1,642 compare
- 32 Philippines 1,541 compare
- 34 China 1,446 compare
- 35 South Africa 1,395 compare
- 36 Senegal 1,263 compare
More health data for Malawi
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -0.8368 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.9312 % change on previous year (2090)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 6,399 (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 2 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 1.61 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.0714 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 1.63 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per capita 0.0718 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is number of maternal deaths in Malawi?
- Number of maternal deaths in Malawi was 1,490 in 2023, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest number of maternal deaths recorded in Malawi?
- The highest recorded value was 5,144 in 1991.
- What is the lowest number of maternal deaths recorded in Malawi?
- The lowest recorded value was 1,490 in 2023.
- How does Malawi rank for number of maternal deaths?
- Malawi ranks 33rd out of 195 countries with data for 2023.
- Is number of maternal deaths rising or falling in Malawi?
- Over the last ten years it is down 40.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Malawi 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.
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