Number of maternal deaths in China
China: Number of maternal deaths was 1,400 in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Number of maternal deaths in China, 1985–2023
Source: Trends in Maternal Mortality, World Health Organization (WHO).
Analysis
China recorded 1,400 for number of maternal deaths in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 39 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 17.6% on the previous year and down 74.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of maternal deaths in China peaked at 31,000 in 1986 and was at its lowest, 1,400, in 2023.
China ranks 34th of 194 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 in China, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 30,000 | — |
| 1986 | 31,000 | +3.3% |
| 1987 | 31,000 | +0.0% |
| 1988 | 28,000 | -9.7% |
| 1989 | 28,000 | +0.0% |
| 1990 | 29,000 | +3.6% |
| 1991 | 21,000 | -27.6% |
| 1992 | 18,000 | -14.3% |
| 1993 | 16,000 | -11.1% |
| 1994 | 15,000 | -6.2% |
| 1995 | 14,000 | -6.7% |
| 1996 | 12,000 | -14.3% |
| 1997 | 11,000 | -8.3% |
| 1998 | 10,000 | -9.1% |
| 1999 | 9,700 | -3.0% |
| 2000 | 9,800 | +1.0% |
| 2001 | 8,700 | -11.2% |
| 2002 | 8,200 | -5.7% |
| 2003 | 7,600 | -7.3% |
| 2004 | 7,400 | -2.6% |
| 2005 | 7,000 | -5.4% |
| 2006 | 6,700 | -4.3% |
| 2007 | 6,500 | -3.0% |
| 2008 | 6,700 | +3.1% |
| 2009 | 6,300 | -6.0% |
| 2010 | 6,000 | -4.8% |
| 2011 | 5,800 | -3.3% |
| 2012 | 6,100 | +5.2% |
| 2013 | 5,400 | -11.5% |
| 2014 | 5,300 | -1.9% |
| 2015 | 4,600 | -13.2% |
| 2016 | 4,500 | -2.2% |
| 2017 | 4,300 | -4.4% |
| 2018 | 3,400 | -20.9% |
| 2019 | 3,100 | -8.8% |
| 2020 | 2,300 | -25.8% |
| 2021 | 2,200 | -4.3% |
| 2022 | 1,700 | -22.7% |
| 2023 | 1,400 | -17.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 29,600 | 28,000 | 31,000 | 5 |
| 1990s | 15,570 | 9,700 | 29,000 | 10 |
| 2000s | 7,490 | 6,300 | 9,800 | 10 |
| 2010s | 4,850 | 3,100 | 6,100 | 10 |
| 2020s | 1,900 | 1,400 | 2,300 | 4 |
Countries ranked near China
- 31 Yemen 1,600 compare
- 32 Malawi 1,500 compare
- 32 Philippines 1,500 compare
- 34 South Africa 1,400 compare
- 36 Mozambique 1,300 compare
- 36 Senegal 1,300 compare
More health data for China
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.15 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate -0.0985 % change on previous year (2090)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates 2,029 (2090)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 4,642 (2100)
- Population ages 15-64, male, annual growth rate 0.4108 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 15-64, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 15-64, male, per capita 0.3601 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 15-64, total, annual growth rate 0.3406 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 15-64, total, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 15-64, total, per capita 0.6968 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is number of maternal deaths in China?
- Number of maternal deaths in China was 1,400 in 2023, according to Trends in Maternal Mortality, World Health Organization (WHO).
- What is the highest number of maternal deaths recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 31,000 in 1986.
- What is the lowest number of maternal deaths recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 1,400 in 2023.
- How does China rank for number of maternal deaths?
- China ranks 34th out of 194 countries with data for 2023.
- Is number of maternal deaths rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is down 74.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this China 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.