Number of maternal deaths by region in Malawi
Malawi: Number of maternal deaths by region was 2,452 deaths in 2020. ▼ Falling
Latest (2020)
2,452 deaths
Change on year
up 4.4%
World rank
24th
of 185 countries
All-time high
4,506 deaths
in 1992
All-time low
1,903 deaths
in 2006
Years of data
36
1985–2020
Number of maternal deaths by region in Malawi, 1985–2020
Source: UN MMEIG (2023) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in deaths.
Analysis
Malawi recorded 2,452 deaths for number of maternal deaths by region in 2020.
The figure is up 4.4% on the previous year and down 20.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of maternal deaths by region in Malawi peaked at 4,506 deaths in 1992 and was at its lowest, 1,903 deaths, in 2006.
Malawi ranks 24th of 185 countries on this measure, 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 Malawi, year by year
| Year | deaths | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 3,407 deaths | — |
| 1986 | 3,606 deaths | +5.9% |
| 1987 | 3,836 deaths | +6.4% |
| 1988 | 4,170 deaths | +8.7% |
| 1989 | 4,185 deaths | +0.4% |
| 1990 | 4,407 deaths | +5.3% |
| 1991 | 4,484 deaths | +1.7% |
| 1992 | 4,506 deaths | +0.5% |
| 1993 | 4,381 deaths | -2.8% |
| 1994 | 4,004 deaths | -8.6% |
| 1995 | 3,391 deaths | -15.3% |
| 1996 | 3,244 deaths | -4.3% |
| 1997 | 3,159 deaths | -2.6% |
| 1998 | 3,119 deaths | -1.3% |
| 1999 | 2,978 deaths | -4.5% |
| 2000 | 2,925 deaths | -1.8% |
| 2001 | 2,761 deaths | -5.6% |
| 2002 | 2,606 deaths | -5.6% |
| 2003 | 2,430 deaths | -6.7% |
| 2004 | 2,158 deaths | -11.2% |
| 2005 | 1,988 deaths | -7.9% |
| 2006 | 1,903 deaths | -4.3% |
| 2007 | 2,071 deaths | +8.8% |
| 2008 | 2,489 deaths | +20.2% |
| 2009 | 2,844 deaths | +14.3% |
| 2010 | 3,083 deaths | +8.4% |
| 2011 | 2,994 deaths | -2.9% |
| 2012 | 3,039 deaths | +1.5% |
| 2013 | 2,869 deaths | -5.6% |
| 2014 | 2,680 deaths | -6.6% |
| 2015 | 2,696 deaths | +0.6% |
| 2016 | 2,608 deaths | -3.3% |
| 2017 | 2,302 deaths | -11.7% |
| 2018 | 2,441 deaths | +6.0% |
| 2019 | 2,347 deaths | -3.8% |
| 2020 | 2,452 deaths | +4.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 3,841 deaths | 3,407 deaths | 4,185 deaths | 5 |
| 1990s | 3,767 deaths | 2,978 deaths | 4,506 deaths | 10 |
| 2000s | 2,417 deaths | 1,903 deaths | 2,925 deaths | 10 |
| 2010s | 2,706 deaths | 2,302 deaths | 3,083 deaths | 10 |
| 2020s | 2,452 deaths | 2,452 deaths | 2,452 deaths | 1 |
Countries ranked near Malawi
More health data for Malawi
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- Number of infants who die before age 1 6,399 deaths (2100)
- Total tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 2 (2025)
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- Diphtheria - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
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Frequently asked questions
- What is number of maternal deaths by region in Malawi?
- Number of maternal deaths by region in Malawi was 2,452 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 Malawi?
- The highest recorded value was 4,506 deaths in 1992.
- What is the lowest number of maternal deaths by region recorded in Malawi?
- The lowest recorded value was 1,903 deaths in 2006.
- How does Malawi rank for number of maternal deaths by region?
- Malawi ranks 24th out of 185 countries with data for 2020.
- Is number of maternal deaths by region rising or falling in Malawi?
- Over the last ten years it is down 20.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Malawi 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.