Number of maternal deaths in South-East Asia (WHO region)
South-East Asia (WHO region): Number of maternal deaths was 32,702 in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Number of maternal deaths in South-East Asia (WHO region), 1985–2023
Source: World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory.
Analysis
South-East Asia (WHO region) recorded 32,702 for number of maternal deaths in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 39 years on record.
The figure is down 11.0% on the previous year and down 46.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of maternal deaths in South-East Asia (WHO region) peaked at 261,820 in 1985 and was at its lowest, 32,702, in 2023.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Number of maternal deaths in South-East Asia (WHO region), year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 261,820 | — |
| 1986 | 251,108 | -4.1% |
| 1987 | 239,646 | -4.6% |
| 1988 | 231,250 | -3.5% |
| 1989 | 222,387 | -3.8% |
| 1990 | 214,342 | -3.6% |
| 1991 | 209,417 | -2.3% |
| 1992 | 199,422 | -4.8% |
| 1993 | 191,700 | -3.9% |
| 1994 | 186,370 | -2.8% |
| 1995 | 180,722 | -3.0% |
| 1996 | 174,356 | -3.5% |
| 1997 | 168,187 | -3.5% |
| 1998 | 162,094 | -3.6% |
| 1999 | 156,591 | -3.4% |
| 2000 | 150,982 | -3.6% |
| 2001 | 145,716 | -3.5% |
| 2002 | 137,093 | -5.9% |
| 2003 | 128,552 | -6.2% |
| 2004 | 121,705 | -5.3% |
| 2005 | 112,145 | -7.9% |
| 2006 | 104,192 | -7.1% |
| 2007 | 97,086 | -6.8% |
| 2008 | 90,300 | -7.0% |
| 2009 | 84,044 | -6.9% |
| 2010 | 77,738 | -7.5% |
| 2011 | 72,062 | -7.3% |
| 2012 | 66,929 | -7.1% |
| 2013 | 61,572 | -8.0% |
| 2014 | 55,974 | -9.1% |
| 2015 | 52,912 | -5.5% |
| 2016 | 49,848 | -5.8% |
| 2017 | 45,864 | -8.0% |
| 2018 | 43,751 | -4.6% |
| 2019 | 40,966 | -6.4% |
| 2020 | 41,258 | +0.7% |
| 2021 | 59,194 | +43.5% |
| 2022 | 36,734 | -37.9% |
| 2023 | 32,702 | -11.0% |
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Number of maternal deaths in South-East Asia (WHO region) 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | +43.5% | 41,258 | 59,194 |
| 2022 | -37.9% | 59,194 | 36,734 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 241,242 | 222,387 | 261,820 | 5 |
| 1990s | 184,320 | 156,591 | 214,342 | 10 |
| 2000s | 117,181 | 84,044 | 150,982 | 10 |
| 2010s | 56,762 | 40,966 | 77,738 | 10 |
| 2020s | 42,472 | 32,702 | 59,194 | 4 |
Countries ranked near South-East Asia (WHO region)
- 1 Nigeria 74,559 compare
- 2 India 18,688 compare
- 3 Congo, Democratic Republic of the 18,660 compare
- 4 Pakistan 10,669 compare
- 5 Ethiopia 8,003 compare
- 6 Afghanistan 7,646 compare
- 7 Tanzania, United Republic of 6,472 compare
More health data for South-East Asia (WHO region)
- Pertussis - number of reported cases, gaps filled 2,449 (2025)
- Total tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 164 (2025)
- Diphtheria - number of reported cases, gaps filled 3,416 (2025)
- Measles - number of reported cases, gaps filled 19,075 (2025)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 84 (2025)
- Number of under-five deaths, annual growth rate -4.64 % change on previous year (2024)
- Number of neonatal deaths, annual growth rate -4.57 % change on previous year (2024)
- Number of infant deaths, annual growth rate -4.21 % change on previous year (2024)
- Measles - number of reported cases, annual growth rate -30.44 % change on previous year (2025)
- Pertussis - number of reported cases, annual growth rate -67.98 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is number of maternal deaths in South-East Asia (WHO region)?
- Number of maternal deaths in South-East Asia (WHO region) was 32,702 in 2023, according to World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory.
- What is the highest number of maternal deaths recorded in South-East Asia (WHO region)?
- The highest recorded value was 261,820 in 1985.
- What is the lowest number of maternal deaths recorded in South-East Asia (WHO region)?
- The lowest recorded value was 32,702 in 2023.
- How does South-East Asia (WHO region) rank for number of maternal deaths?
- South-East Asia (WHO region) ranks 4th out of 7 groups with data for 2023.
- Is number of maternal deaths rising or falling in South-East Asia (WHO region)?
- Over the last ten years it is down 46.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South-East Asia (WHO region) data come from?
- The figures come from World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory, 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-NC-SA 3.0 IGO (WHO).