Number of maternal deaths by region in China

China: Number of maternal deaths by region was 2,822 deaths in 2020. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2020)
2,822 deaths
Change on year
down 5.5%
World rank
22nd
of 185 countries
All-time high
27,692 deaths
in 1985
All-time low
2,822 deaths
in 2020
Years of data
36
1985–2020

Number of maternal deaths by region in China, 1985–2020

5.0k10.0k15.0k20.0k25.0k30.0k1985200220201985: 27.7k deaths1986: 26.8k deaths1987: 25.9k deaths1988: 25.1k deaths1989: 24.5k deaths1990: 24.2k deaths1991: 20.0k deaths1992: 18.9k deaths1993: 15.7k deaths1994: 15.3k deaths1995: 14.4k deaths1996: 12.0k deaths1997: 11.5k deaths1998: 10.7k deaths1999: 10.7k deaths2000: 10.1k deaths2001: 9.1k deaths2002: 8.8k deaths2003: 7.0k deaths2004: 8.0k deaths2005: 7.6k deaths2006: 7.2k deaths2007: 6.8k deaths2008: 6.8k deaths2009: 6.2k deaths2010: 6.0k deaths2011: 5.7k deaths2012: 5.5k deaths2013: 5.2k deaths2014: 4.8k deaths2015: 4.5k deaths2016: 4.3k deaths2017: 4.0k deaths2018: 3.2k deaths2019: 3.0k deaths2020: 2.8k deaths

Source: UN MMEIG (2023) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in deaths.

Analysis

In 2020, number of maternal deaths by region in China stood at 2,822 deaths. That is the lowest value across all 36 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 5.5% on the previous year and down 52.7% over ten years.

Over the whole period, number of maternal deaths by region in China peaked at 27,692 deaths in 1985 and was at its lowest, 2,822 deaths, in 2020.

China ranks 22nd of 185 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Number of maternal deaths by region in China, year by year

Annual values for Number of maternal deaths by region in China, 1985 to 2020.
Year deaths Change
1985 27,692 deaths
1986 26,813 deaths -3.2%
1987 25,886 deaths -3.5%
1988 25,072 deaths -3.1%
1989 24,455 deaths -2.5%
1990 24,231 deaths -0.9%
1991 19,994 deaths -17.5%
1992 18,911 deaths -5.4%
1993 15,748 deaths -16.7%
1994 15,327 deaths -2.7%
1995 14,359 deaths -6.3%
1996 12,026 deaths -16.3%
1997 11,486 deaths -4.5%
1998 10,712 deaths -6.7%
1999 10,718 deaths +0.1%
2000 10,100 deaths -5.8%
2001 9,111 deaths -9.8%
2002 8,781 deaths -3.6%
2003 7,027 deaths -20.0%
2004 8,040 deaths +14.4%
2005 7,597 deaths -5.5%
2006 7,206 deaths -5.2%
2007 6,797 deaths -5.7%
2008 6,791 deaths -0.1%
2009 6,158 deaths -9.3%
2010 5,961 deaths -3.2%
2011 5,737 deaths -3.8%
2012 5,471 deaths -4.6%
2013 5,166 deaths -5.6%
2014 4,832 deaths -6.5%
2015 4,533 deaths -6.2%
2016 4,262 deaths -6.0%
2017 4,031 deaths -5.4%
2018 3,156 deaths -21.7%
2019 2,985 deaths -5.4%
2020 2,822 deaths -5.5%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1980s 25,984 deaths 24,455 deaths 27,692 deaths 5
1990s 15,351 deaths 10,712 deaths 24,231 deaths 10
2000s 7,761 deaths 6,158 deaths 10,100 deaths 10
2010s 4,613 deaths 2,985 deaths 5,961 deaths 10
2020s 2,822 deaths 2,822 deaths 2,822 deaths 1

Countries ranked near China

  1. 19 Bangladesh 3,719 deaths compare
  2. 20 Madagascar 3,465 deaths compare
  3. 21 Angola 2,914 deaths compare
  4. 23 Guinea 2,557 deaths compare
  5. 24 Malawi 2,452 deaths compare
  6. 25 Benin 2,451 deaths compare

See the full ranking of 185 places →

More health data for China

All data for China →

Frequently asked questions

What is number of maternal deaths by region in China?
Number of maternal deaths by region in China was 2,822 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 China?
The highest recorded value was 27,692 deaths in 1985.
What is the lowest number of maternal deaths by region recorded in China?
The lowest recorded value was 2,822 deaths in 2020.
How does China rank for number of maternal deaths by region?
China ranks 22nd out of 185 countries with data for 2020.
Is number of maternal deaths by region rising or falling in China?
Over the last ten years it is down 52.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this China 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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Number of maternal deaths by region in China. Statizoid, drawing on UN MMEIG (2023) – processed by Our World in Data. Retrieved 01 September 2026, from https://health.statizoid.com/stat/number-of-maternal-deaths-by-region/china/

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About this data

Indicator
Number of maternal deaths by region
Unit
deaths
Source
UN MMEIG (2023) – processed by Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
185 places, 6,660 data points, 1985–2020
Last refreshed

Estimated number of maternal deaths in a given year.