Number of maternal deaths by region in Ghana
Ghana: Number of maternal deaths by region was 2,373 deaths in 2020. ▼ Falling
Latest (2020)
2,373 deaths
Change on year
up 8.0%
World rank
26th
of 185 countries
All-time high
5,156 deaths
in 1985
All-time low
2,197 deaths
in 2019
Years of data
36
1985–2020
Number of maternal deaths by region in Ghana, 1985–2020
Source: UN MMEIG (2023) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in deaths.
Analysis
Ghana recorded 2,373 deaths for number of maternal deaths by region in 2020.
The figure is up 8.0% on the previous year and down 16.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of maternal deaths by region in Ghana peaked at 5,156 deaths in 1985 and was at its lowest, 2,197 deaths, in 2019.
That places Ghana 26th out of 185 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 36 years of available data.
Number of maternal deaths by region in Ghana, year by year
| Year | deaths | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 5,156 deaths | — |
| 1986 | 4,999 deaths | -3.0% |
| 1987 | 4,891 deaths | -2.2% |
| 1988 | 4,754 deaths | -2.8% |
| 1989 | 4,447 deaths | -6.5% |
| 1990 | 4,431 deaths | -0.4% |
| 1991 | 4,358 deaths | -1.6% |
| 1992 | 4,118 deaths | -5.5% |
| 1993 | 4,206 deaths | +2.1% |
| 1994 | 4,067 deaths | -3.3% |
| 1995 | 3,938 deaths | -3.2% |
| 1996 | 3,667 deaths | -6.9% |
| 1997 | 3,556 deaths | -3.0% |
| 1998 | 3,526 deaths | -0.8% |
| 1999 | 3,468 deaths | -1.6% |
| 2000 | 3,522 deaths | +1.6% |
| 2001 | 3,379 deaths | -4.1% |
| 2002 | 3,247 deaths | -3.9% |
| 2003 | 3,155 deaths | -2.8% |
| 2004 | 3,178 deaths | +0.7% |
| 2005 | 3,060 deaths | -3.7% |
| 2006 | 2,874 deaths | -6.1% |
| 2007 | 2,813 deaths | -2.1% |
| 2008 | 2,854 deaths | +1.5% |
| 2009 | 2,775 deaths | -2.8% |
| 2010 | 2,844 deaths | +2.5% |
| 2011 | 2,743 deaths | -3.5% |
| 2012 | 2,696 deaths | -1.7% |
| 2013 | 2,736 deaths | +1.5% |
| 2014 | 2,571 deaths | -6.0% |
| 2015 | 2,618 deaths | +1.8% |
| 2016 | 2,328 deaths | -11.1% |
| 2017 | 2,399 deaths | +3.1% |
| 2018 | 2,447 deaths | +2.0% |
| 2019 | 2,197 deaths | -10.2% |
| 2020 | 2,373 deaths | +8.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 4,849 deaths | 4,447 deaths | 5,156 deaths | 5 |
| 1990s | 3,933 deaths | 3,468 deaths | 4,431 deaths | 10 |
| 2000s | 3,086 deaths | 2,775 deaths | 3,522 deaths | 10 |
| 2010s | 2,558 deaths | 2,197 deaths | 2,844 deaths | 10 |
| 2020s | 2,373 deaths | 2,373 deaths | 2,373 deaths | 1 |
Countries ranked near Ghana
More health data for Ghana
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.37 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.6224 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 986.1 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 8,361 deaths (2100)
- Population ages 60-64, female, annual growth rate 5.57 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 60-64, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 60-64, female, per capita 0.0128 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 60-64, male, annual growth rate 5.43 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 60-64, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 60-64, male, per capita 0.0118 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is number of maternal deaths by region in Ghana?
- Number of maternal deaths by region in Ghana was 2,373 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 Ghana?
- The highest recorded value was 5,156 deaths in 1985.
- What is the lowest number of maternal deaths by region recorded in Ghana?
- The lowest recorded value was 2,197 deaths in 2019.
- How does Ghana rank for number of maternal deaths by region?
- Ghana ranks 26th out of 185 countries with data for 2020.
- Is number of maternal deaths by region rising or falling in Ghana?
- Over the last ten years it is down 16.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Ghana 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.