Number of maternal deaths (Trends) in Lesotho
Lesotho: Number of maternal deaths (Trends) was 270 in 2023. ▲ Rising
Number of maternal deaths in Lesotho, 1985–2023
Source: Trends in Maternal Mortality, World Health Organization (WHO).
Analysis
The most recent figure for number of maternal deaths in Lesotho is 270, measured in 2023.
That represents a change of down 49.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of maternal deaths in Lesotho peaked at 810 in 2009 and was at its lowest, 190, in 1996.
That places Lesotho 64th out of 194 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 39 years of available data.
Number of maternal deaths (Trends) in Lesotho, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 440 | — |
| 1986 | 430 | -2.3% |
| 1987 | 450 | +4.7% |
| 1988 | 440 | -2.2% |
| 1989 | 440 | +0.0% |
| 1990 | 420 | -4.5% |
| 1991 | 400 | -4.8% |
| 1992 | 370 | -7.5% |
| 1993 | 330 | -10.8% |
| 1994 | 250 | -24.2% |
| 1995 | 210 | -16.0% |
| 1996 | 190 | -9.5% |
| 1997 | 190 | +0.0% |
| 1998 | 190 | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 210 | +10.5% |
| 2000 | 230 | +9.5% |
| 2001 | 270 | +17.4% |
| 2002 | 280 | +3.7% |
| 2003 | 300 | +7.1% |
| 2004 | 280 | -6.7% |
| 2005 | 310 | +10.7% |
| 2006 | 390 | +25.8% |
| 2007 | 510 | +30.8% |
| 2008 | 700 | +37.3% |
| 2009 | 810 | +15.7% |
| 2010 | 760 | -6.2% |
| 2011 | 740 | -2.6% |
| 2012 | 610 | -17.6% |
| 2013 | 530 | -13.1% |
| 2014 | 430 | -18.9% |
| 2015 | 360 | -16.3% |
| 2016 | 320 | -11.1% |
| 2017 | 290 | -9.4% |
| 2018 | 290 | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 270 | -6.9% |
| 2020 | 300 | +11.1% |
| 2021 | 320 | +6.7% |
| 2022 | 270 | -15.6% |
| 2023 | 270 | +0.0% |
Lesotho compared with similar countries
- Lesotho's 270 is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 460, 59% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Lesotho's 270 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 1,450, 19% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 440 | 430 | 450 | 5 |
| 1990s | 276 | 190 | 420 | 10 |
| 2000s | 408 | 230 | 810 | 10 |
| 2010s | 460 | 270 | 760 | 10 |
| 2020s | 290 | 270 | 320 | 4 |
Countries ranked near Lesotho
- 61 Eritrea 290 compare
- 61 Gambia 290 compare
- 63 Peru 280 compare
- 65 Dominican Republic 250 compare
- 65 Uzbekistan 250 compare
- 67 North Korea 230 compare
More health data for Lesotho
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -2.05 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.4669 % change on previous year (2090)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 382 (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2020)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -0.8108 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.0548 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -0.7473 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per capita 0.0557 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is number of maternal deaths in Lesotho?
- Number of maternal deaths in Lesotho was 270 in 2023, according to Trends in Maternal Mortality, World Health Organization (WHO).
- What is the highest number of maternal deaths recorded in Lesotho?
- The highest recorded value was 810 in 2009.
- What is the lowest number of maternal deaths recorded in Lesotho?
- The lowest recorded value was 190 in 1996.
- How does Lesotho rank for number of maternal deaths?
- Lesotho ranks 64th out of 194 countries with data for 2023.
- Is number of maternal deaths rising or falling in Lesotho?
- Over the last ten years it is down 49.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Lesotho 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.