Number of maternal deaths (Trends) in Least developed countries
Least developed countries: Number of maternal deaths (Trends) was 105,000 in 2023. ▼ Falling
Number of maternal deaths in Least developed countries, 1985–2023
Source: Trends in Maternal Mortality, World Health Organization (WHO).
Analysis
The most recent figure for number of maternal deaths in Least developed countries is 105,000, measured in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 39 years on record.
The figure is down 1.9% on the previous year and down 24.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of maternal deaths in Least developed countries peaked at 226,000 in 1987 and was at its lowest, 105,000, in 2023.
That places Least developed countries 12th out of 47 groups with data for 2023, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 39 years of available data.
Number of maternal deaths (Trends) in Least developed countries, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 221,000 | — |
| 1986 | 217,000 | -1.8% |
| 1987 | 226,000 | +4.1% |
| 1988 | 219,000 | -3.1% |
| 1989 | 217,000 | -0.9% |
| 1990 | 218,000 | +0.5% |
| 1991 | 216,000 | -0.9% |
| 1992 | 220,000 | +1.9% |
| 1993 | 219,000 | -0.5% |
| 1994 | 212,000 | -3.2% |
| 1995 | 203,000 | -4.2% |
| 1996 | 200,000 | -1.5% |
| 1997 | 196,000 | -2.0% |
| 1998 | 204,000 | +4.1% |
| 1999 | 184,000 | -9.8% |
| 2000 | 178,000 | -3.3% |
| 2001 | 173,000 | -2.8% |
| 2002 | 168,000 | -2.9% |
| 2003 | 163,000 | -3.0% |
| 2004 | 159,000 | -2.5% |
| 2005 | 157,000 | -1.3% |
| 2006 | 155,000 | -1.3% |
| 2007 | 156,000 | +0.6% |
| 2008 | 155,000 | -0.6% |
| 2009 | 153,000 | -1.3% |
| 2010 | 151,000 | -1.3% |
| 2011 | 146,000 | -3.3% |
| 2012 | 142,000 | -2.7% |
| 2013 | 139,000 | -2.1% |
| 2014 | 138,000 | -0.7% |
| 2015 | 135,000 | -2.2% |
| 2016 | 131,000 | -3.0% |
| 2017 | 127,000 | -3.1% |
| 2018 | 120,000 | -5.5% |
| 2019 | 117,000 | -2.5% |
| 2020 | 113,000 | -3.4% |
| 2021 | 122,000 | +8.0% |
| 2022 | 107,000 | -12.3% |
| 2023 | 105,000 | -1.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 220,000 | 217,000 | 226,000 | 5 |
| 1990s | 207,200 | 184,000 | 220,000 | 10 |
| 2000s | 161,700 | 153,000 | 178,000 | 10 |
| 2010s | 134,600 | 117,000 | 151,000 | 10 |
| 2020s | 111,750 | 105,000 | 122,000 | 4 |
Countries ranked near Least developed countries
- 9 Chad 6,100 compare
- 10 Madagascar 4,500 compare
- 11 Somalia 4,400 compare
- 12 Sudan 4,300 compare
- 13 Bangladesh 4,000 compare
- 14 Niger 3,800 compare
- 15 Cote d'Ivoire 3,600 compare
More health data for Least developed countries
- Population ages 30-34, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 40-44, female, annual growth rate 3.94 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 35-39, male, per capita 0.0286 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 35-39, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 35-39, male, annual growth rate 2.37 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 35-39, female, per capita 0.03 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 35-39, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 35-39, female, annual growth rate 2.32 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 30-34, male, per capita 0.0339 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 25-29, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is number of maternal deaths in Least developed countries?
- Number of maternal deaths in Least developed countries was 105,000 in 2023, according to Trends in Maternal Mortality, World Health Organization (WHO).
- What is the highest number of maternal deaths recorded in Least developed countries?
- The highest recorded value was 226,000 in 1987.
- What is the lowest number of maternal deaths recorded in Least developed countries?
- The lowest recorded value was 105,000 in 2023.
- How does Least developed countries rank for number of maternal deaths?
- Least developed countries ranks 12th out of 47 groups with data for 2023.
- Is number of maternal deaths rising or falling in Least developed countries?
- Over the last ten years it is down 24.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Least developed countries 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.