Number of maternal deaths in Africa Western and Central
Africa Western and Central: Number of maternal deaths was 111,000 in 2023. ▲ Rising
Number of maternal deaths in Africa Western and Central, 1985–2023
Source: Trends in Maternal Mortality, World Health Organization (WHO).
Analysis
The most recent figure for number of maternal deaths in Africa Western and Central is 111,000, measured in 2023.
The figure is down 1.8% on the previous year and down 15.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of maternal deaths in Africa Western and Central peaked at 133,000 in 2014 and was at its lowest, 97,000, in 1985.
That places Africa Western and Central 11th out of 47 groups with data for 2023, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 39 years of available data.
Number of maternal deaths in Africa Western and Central, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 97,000 | — |
| 1986 | 98,000 | +1.0% |
| 1987 | 98,000 | +0.0% |
| 1988 | 99,000 | +1.0% |
| 1989 | 99,000 | +0.0% |
| 1990 | 100,000 | +1.0% |
| 1991 | 101,000 | +1.0% |
| 1992 | 101,000 | +0.0% |
| 1993 | 100,000 | -1.0% |
| 1994 | 101,000 | +1.0% |
| 1995 | 102,000 | +1.0% |
| 1996 | 103,000 | +1.0% |
| 1997 | 104,000 | +1.0% |
| 1998 | 106,000 | +1.9% |
| 1999 | 107,000 | +0.9% |
| 2000 | 108,000 | +0.9% |
| 2001 | 110,000 | +1.9% |
| 2002 | 111,000 | +0.9% |
| 2003 | 111,000 | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 112,000 | +0.9% |
| 2005 | 113,000 | +0.9% |
| 2006 | 116,000 | +2.7% |
| 2007 | 118,000 | +1.7% |
| 2008 | 121,000 | +2.5% |
| 2009 | 124,000 | +2.5% |
| 2010 | 127,000 | +2.4% |
| 2011 | 129,000 | +1.6% |
| 2012 | 131,000 | +1.6% |
| 2013 | 132,000 | +0.8% |
| 2014 | 133,000 | +0.8% |
| 2015 | 133,000 | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 130,000 | -2.3% |
| 2017 | 127,000 | -2.3% |
| 2018 | 123,000 | -3.1% |
| 2019 | 121,000 | -1.6% |
| 2020 | 118,000 | -2.5% |
| 2021 | 119,000 | +0.8% |
| 2022 | 113,000 | -5.0% |
| 2023 | 111,000 | -1.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 98,200 | 97,000 | 99,000 | 5 |
| 1990s | 102,500 | 100,000 | 107,000 | 10 |
| 2000s | 114,400 | 108,000 | 124,000 | 10 |
| 2010s | 128,600 | 121,000 | 133,000 | 10 |
| 2020s | 115,250 | 111,000 | 119,000 | 4 |
Countries ranked near Africa Western and Central
More health data for Africa Western and Central
- Population ages 70-74, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 65-69, female, per capita 0.0069 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 65-69, male, annual growth rate 3.54 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 65-69, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 65-69, male, per capita 0.0062 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 70-74, female, annual growth rate 3.44 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 70-74, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 70-74, female, per capita 0.0046 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 70-74, male, annual growth rate 3.74 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 75-79, male, per capita 0.0023 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is number of maternal deaths in Africa Western and Central?
- Number of maternal deaths in Africa Western and Central was 111,000 in 2023, according to Trends in Maternal Mortality, World Health Organization (WHO).
- What is the highest number of maternal deaths recorded in Africa Western and Central?
- The highest recorded value was 133,000 in 2014.
- What is the lowest number of maternal deaths recorded in Africa Western and Central?
- The lowest recorded value was 97,000 in 1985.
- How does Africa Western and Central rank for number of maternal deaths?
- Africa Western and Central ranks 11th out of 47 groups with data for 2023.
- Is number of maternal deaths rising or falling in Africa Western and Central?
- Over the last ten years it is down 15.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Africa Western and Central data come from?
- The figures come from Trends in Maternal Mortality, World Health Organization (WHO), published as part of Number of maternal deaths. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
A maternal death refers to the death of a woman while pregnant or within 42 days of termination of pregnancy, irrespective of the duration and site of the pregnancy, from any cause related to or aggravated by the pregnancy or its management but not from accidental or incidental causes.