Number of maternal deaths in South Africa
South Africa: Number of maternal deaths was 1,395 Deaths in 2023. ▼ Falling
Number of maternal deaths in South Africa, 1985–2023
Source: World Health Organization - Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in Deaths.
Analysis
The most recent figure for number of maternal deaths in South Africa is 1,395 Deaths, measured in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 39 years on record.
The figure is down 9.3% on the previous year and down 35.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of maternal deaths in South Africa peaked at 3,378 Deaths in 2008 and was at its lowest, 1,395 Deaths, in 2023.
South Africa ranks 35th 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 in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Deaths | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 2,496 Deaths | — |
| 1986 | 2,428 Deaths | -2.7% |
| 1987 | 2,382 Deaths | -1.9% |
| 1988 | 2,264 Deaths | -4.9% |
| 1989 | 2,145 Deaths | -5.3% |
| 1990 | 1,987 Deaths | -7.4% |
| 1991 | 1,897 Deaths | -4.5% |
| 1992 | 1,748 Deaths | -7.8% |
| 1993 | 1,672 Deaths | -4.3% |
| 1994 | 1,444 Deaths | -13.7% |
| 1995 | 1,421 Deaths | -1.6% |
| 1996 | 1,685 Deaths | +18.6% |
| 1997 | 1,664 Deaths | -1.3% |
| 1998 | 1,631 Deaths | -2.0% |
| 1999 | 1,604 Deaths | -1.7% |
| 2000 | 1,777 Deaths | +10.8% |
| 2001 | 1,944 Deaths | +9.4% |
| 2002 | 2,263 Deaths | +16.4% |
| 2003 | 2,541 Deaths | +12.3% |
| 2004 | 2,808 Deaths | +10.5% |
| 2005 | 3,135 Deaths | +11.7% |
| 2006 | 3,280 Deaths | +4.6% |
| 2007 | 3,172 Deaths | -3.3% |
| 2008 | 3,378 Deaths | +6.5% |
| 2009 | 2,841 Deaths | -15.9% |
| 2010 | 2,624 Deaths | -7.6% |
| 2011 | 2,364 Deaths | -9.9% |
| 2012 | 2,305 Deaths | -2.5% |
| 2013 | 2,152 Deaths | -6.7% |
| 2014 | 1,964 Deaths | -8.7% |
| 2015 | 1,792 Deaths | -8.7% |
| 2016 | 1,638 Deaths | -8.6% |
| 2017 | 1,544 Deaths | -5.8% |
| 2018 | 1,484 Deaths | -3.9% |
| 2019 | 1,402 Deaths | -5.5% |
| 2020 | 1,398 Deaths | -0.2% |
| 2021 | 2,276 Deaths | +62.7% |
| 2022 | 1,538 Deaths | -32.4% |
| 2023 | 1,395 Deaths | -9.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 2,343 Deaths | 2,145 Deaths | 2,496 Deaths | 5 |
| 1990s | 1,675 Deaths | 1,421 Deaths | 1,987 Deaths | 10 |
| 2000s | 2,714 Deaths | 1,777 Deaths | 3,378 Deaths | 10 |
| 2010s | 1,927 Deaths | 1,402 Deaths | 2,624 Deaths | 10 |
| 2020s | 1,652 Deaths | 1,395 Deaths | 2,276 Deaths | 4 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More health data for South Africa
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -2.2 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate -0.1386 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,152 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 3,333 deaths (2100)
- Population ages 75-79, female, annual growth rate 7.34 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 75-79, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 75-79, female, per capita 0.0067 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 75-79, male, annual growth rate 8.95 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 75-79, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 75-79, male, per capita 0.0039 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is number of maternal deaths in South Africa?
- Number of maternal deaths in South Africa was 1,395 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 South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 3,378 Deaths in 2008.
- What is the lowest number of maternal deaths recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 1,395 Deaths in 2023.
- How does South Africa rank for number of maternal deaths?
- South Africa ranks 35th out of 195 countries with data for 2023.
- Is number of maternal deaths rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 35.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Africa 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.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 39 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Estimated annual number of women who die from maternal conditions.