Number of maternal deaths (Trends) in Cameroon
Cameroon: Number of maternal deaths (Trends) was 2,500 in 2023. ▲ Rising
Number of maternal deaths in Cameroon, 1985–2023
Source: Trends in Maternal Mortality, World Health Organization (WHO).
Analysis
In 2023, number of maternal deaths in Cameroon stood at 2,500. That is the lowest value across all 39 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 3.8% on the previous year and down 34.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of maternal deaths in Cameroon peaked at 4,500 in 2007 and was at its lowest, 2,500, in 1985.
Cameroon ranks 18th of 194 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 39 years of available data.
Number of maternal deaths (Trends) in Cameroon, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 2,500 | — |
| 1986 | 2,600 | +4.0% |
| 1987 | 2,600 | +0.0% |
| 1988 | 2,600 | +0.0% |
| 1989 | 2,700 | +3.8% |
| 1990 | 2,800 | +3.7% |
| 1991 | 3,000 | +7.1% |
| 1992 | 3,100 | +3.3% |
| 1993 | 3,200 | +3.2% |
| 1994 | 3,400 | +6.2% |
| 1995 | 3,500 | +2.9% |
| 1996 | 3,600 | +2.9% |
| 1997 | 3,700 | +2.8% |
| 1998 | 3,900 | +5.4% |
| 1999 | 4,000 | +2.6% |
| 2000 | 4,100 | +2.5% |
| 2001 | 4,200 | +2.4% |
| 2002 | 4,200 | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 4,300 | +2.4% |
| 2004 | 4,300 | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 4,400 | +2.3% |
| 2006 | 4,400 | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 4,500 | +2.3% |
| 2008 | 4,500 | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 4,500 | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 4,400 | -2.2% |
| 2011 | 4,300 | -2.3% |
| 2012 | 4,000 | -7.0% |
| 2013 | 3,800 | -5.0% |
| 2014 | 3,600 | -5.3% |
| 2015 | 3,600 | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 3,500 | -2.8% |
| 2017 | 3,400 | -2.9% |
| 2018 | 3,200 | -5.9% |
| 2019 | 3,100 | -3.1% |
| 2020 | 2,900 | -6.5% |
| 2021 | 3,200 | +10.3% |
| 2022 | 2,600 | -18.8% |
| 2023 | 2,500 | -3.8% |
Cameroon compared with similar countries
- Cameroon's 2,500 is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 460, 5.4× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Cameroon's 2,500 is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 1,450, 1.7× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 2,600 | 2,500 | 2,700 | 5 |
| 1990s | 3,420 | 2,800 | 4,000 | 10 |
| 2000s | 4,340 | 4,100 | 4,500 | 10 |
| 2010s | 3,690 | 3,100 | 4,400 | 10 |
| 2020s | 2,800 | 2,500 | 3,200 | 4 |
Countries ranked near Cameroon
More health data for Cameroon
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.28 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.7821 % change on previous year (2090)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 12,841 (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 17 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 1.22 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.0746 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 1.21 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per capita 0.076 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is number of maternal deaths in Cameroon?
- Number of maternal deaths in Cameroon was 2,500 in 2023, according to Trends in Maternal Mortality, World Health Organization (WHO).
- What is the highest number of maternal deaths recorded in Cameroon?
- The highest recorded value was 4,500 in 2007.
- What is the lowest number of maternal deaths recorded in Cameroon?
- The lowest recorded value was 2,500 in 1985.
- How does Cameroon rank for number of maternal deaths?
- Cameroon ranks 18th out of 194 countries with data for 2023.
- Is number of maternal deaths rising or falling in Cameroon?
- Over the last ten years it is down 34.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Cameroon 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.