Number of maternal deaths by region in Afghanistan
Afghanistan: Number of maternal deaths by region was 8,698 deaths in 2020. ▲ Rising
Latest (2020)
8,698 deaths
Change on year
down 2.0%
World rank
6th
of 185 countries
All-time high
13,717 deaths
in 1998
All-time low
7,522 deaths
in 1988
Years of data
36
1985–2020
Number of maternal deaths by region in Afghanistan, 1985–2020
Source: UN MMEIG (2023) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in deaths.
Analysis
The most recent figure for number of maternal deaths by region in Afghanistan is 8,698 deaths, measured in 2020.
The figure is down 2.0% on the previous year and down 15.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of maternal deaths by region in Afghanistan peaked at 13,717 deaths in 1998 and was at its lowest, 7,522 deaths, in 1988.
Afghanistan ranks 6th of 185 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 36 years of available data.
Number of maternal deaths by region in Afghanistan, year by year
| Year | deaths | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 10,258 deaths | — |
| 1986 | 8,672 deaths | -15.5% |
| 1987 | 8,489 deaths | -2.1% |
| 1988 | 7,522 deaths | -11.4% |
| 1989 | 7,550 deaths | +0.4% |
| 1990 | 7,812 deaths | +3.5% |
| 1991 | 7,744 deaths | -0.9% |
| 1992 | 8,405 deaths | +8.5% |
| 1993 | 9,554 deaths | +13.7% |
| 1994 | 10,850 deaths | +13.6% |
| 1995 | 11,949 deaths | +10.1% |
| 1996 | 12,201 deaths | +2.1% |
| 1997 | 12,479 deaths | +2.3% |
| 1998 | 13,717 deaths | +9.9% |
| 1999 | 13,157 deaths | -4.1% |
| 2000 | 13,408 deaths | +1.9% |
| 2001 | 12,340 deaths | -8.0% |
| 2002 | 12,518 deaths | +1.4% |
| 2003 | 12,714 deaths | +1.6% |
| 2004 | 12,230 deaths | -3.8% |
| 2005 | 12,120 deaths | -0.9% |
| 2006 | 11,875 deaths | -2.0% |
| 2007 | 11,842 deaths | -0.3% |
| 2008 | 10,509 deaths | -11.3% |
| 2009 | 10,308 deaths | -1.9% |
| 2010 | 10,317 deaths | +0.1% |
| 2011 | 10,233 deaths | -0.8% |
| 2012 | 10,143 deaths | -0.9% |
| 2013 | 10,242 deaths | +1.0% |
| 2014 | 10,013 deaths | -2.2% |
| 2015 | 10,208 deaths | +1.9% |
| 2016 | 9,868 deaths | -3.3% |
| 2017 | 9,082 deaths | -8.0% |
| 2018 | 8,996 deaths | -0.9% |
| 2019 | 8,878 deaths | -1.3% |
| 2020 | 8,698 deaths | -2.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 8,498 deaths | 7,522 deaths | 10,258 deaths | 5 |
| 1990s | 10,787 deaths | 7,744 deaths | 13,717 deaths | 10 |
| 2000s | 11,986 deaths | 10,308 deaths | 13,408 deaths | 10 |
| 2010s | 9,798 deaths | 8,878 deaths | 10,317 deaths | 10 |
| 2020s | 8,698 deaths | 8,698 deaths | 8,698 deaths | 1 |
Countries ranked near Afghanistan
More health data for Afghanistan
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.45 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 1.03 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 812.4 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 14,735 deaths (2100)
- Population ages 60-64, female, annual growth rate 4 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 60-64, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Population ages 60-64, female, per capita 0.0081 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 60-64, male, annual growth rate 4.78 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 60-64, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Population ages 60-64, male, per capita 0.0067 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is number of maternal deaths by region in Afghanistan?
- Number of maternal deaths by region in Afghanistan was 8,698 deaths in 2020, according to UN MMEIG (2023) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest number of maternal deaths by region recorded in Afghanistan?
- The highest recorded value was 13,717 deaths in 1998.
- What is the lowest number of maternal deaths by region recorded in Afghanistan?
- The lowest recorded value was 7,522 deaths in 1988.
- How does Afghanistan rank for number of maternal deaths by region?
- Afghanistan ranks 6th out of 185 countries with data for 2020.
- Is number of maternal deaths by region rising or falling in Afghanistan?
- Over the last ten years it is down 15.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Afghanistan data come from?
- The figures come from UN MMEIG (2023) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Number of maternal deaths by region. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Estimated number of maternal deaths in a given year.