Number of maternal deaths (Our World) in Zambia
Zambia: Number of maternal deaths (Our World) was 585.82 in 2023. ▼ Falling
Latest (2023)
585.82
Change on year
down 3.1%
World rank
50th
of 195 countries
All-time high
2,304
in 2009
All-time low
585.82
in 2023
Years of data
39
1985–2023
Number of maternal deaths in Zambia, 1985–2023
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
Zambia recorded 585.82 for number of maternal deaths in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 39 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 3.1% on the previous year and down 54.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of maternal deaths in Zambia peaked at 2,304 in 2009 and was at its lowest, 585.82, in 2023.
Zambia ranks 50th 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 (Our World) in Zambia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 1,917 | — |
| 1986 | 2,049 | +6.9% |
| 1987 | 2,141 | +4.5% |
| 1988 | 2,211 | +3.3% |
| 1989 | 2,272 | +2.7% |
| 1990 | 2,286 | +0.6% |
| 1991 | 2,287 | +0.0% |
| 1992 | 2,211 | -3.3% |
| 1993 | 2,077 | -6.1% |
| 1994 | 2,033 | -2.1% |
| 1995 | 1,913 | -5.9% |
| 1996 | 1,815 | -5.1% |
| 1997 | 1,724 | -5.0% |
| 1998 | 1,716 | -0.4% |
| 1999 | 1,690 | -1.6% |
| 2000 | 1,549 | -8.3% |
| 2001 | 1,413 | -8.8% |
| 2002 | 1,292 | -8.5% |
| 2003 | 1,206 | -6.7% |
| 2004 | 1,293 | +7.2% |
| 2005 | 1,355 | +4.8% |
| 2006 | 1,389 | +2.5% |
| 2007 | 1,757 | +26.5% |
| 2008 | 2,185 | +24.3% |
| 2009 | 2,304 | +5.5% |
| 2010 | 1,917 | -16.8% |
| 2011 | 1,709 | -10.9% |
| 2012 | 1,521 | -11.0% |
| 2013 | 1,281 | -15.8% |
| 2014 | 1,052 | -17.8% |
| 2015 | 945.6 | -10.1% |
| 2016 | 979.17 | +3.6% |
| 2017 | 886.32 | -9.5% |
| 2018 | 746.88 | -15.7% |
| 2019 | 665.95 | -10.8% |
| 2020 | 646.8 | -2.9% |
| 2021 | 932.17 | +44.1% |
| 2022 | 604.67 | -35.1% |
| 2023 | 585.82 | -3.1% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 585.82 is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 456.54, 1.3× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 585.82 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 1,443, 41% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 2,118 | 1,917 | 2,272 | 5 |
| 1990s | 1,975 | 1,690 | 2,287 | 10 |
| 2000s | 1,574 | 1,206 | 2,304 | 10 |
| 2010s | 1,170 | 665.95 | 1,917 | 10 |
| 2020s | 692.36 | 585.82 | 932.17 | 4 |
Countries ranked near Zambia
- 47 Vietnam 660.81 compare
- 48 Mauritania 658.78 compare
- 49 United States 608.33 compare
- 51 Algeria 566.1 compare
- 52 Cambodia 496.78 compare
- 53 Papua New Guinea 481.68 compare
More health data for Zambia
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.09 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.7971 % change on previous year (2090)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 8,894 (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 2 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 1.68 % 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 0.0743 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 1.69 % 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 0.0744 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is number of maternal deaths in Zambia?
- Number of maternal deaths in Zambia was 585.82 in 2023, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest number of maternal deaths recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 2,304 in 2009.
- What is the lowest number of maternal deaths recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 585.82 in 2023.
- How does Zambia rank for number of maternal deaths?
- Zambia ranks 50th out of 195 countries with data for 2023.
- Is number of maternal deaths rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 54.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Zambia 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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