Number of maternal deaths in Low & middle income

Low & middle income: Number of maternal deaths was 244,000 in 2023. ▼ Falling

Latest (2023)
244,000
Change on year
down 3.6%
Rank
2nd
of 45 groups
All-time high
604,000
in 1985
All-time low
244,000
in 2023
Years of data
39
1985–2023

Number of maternal deaths in Low & middle income, 1985–2023

0200.0k400.0k600.0k1985200420231985: 604.0k1986: 589.0k1987: 587.0k1988: 566.0k1989: 554.0k1990: 546.0k1991: 531.0k1992: 525.0k1993: 514.0k1994: 503.0k1995: 488.0k1996: 480.0k1997: 469.0k1998: 471.0k1999: 445.0k2000: 435.0k2001: 425.0k2002: 412.0k2003: 399.0k2004: 389.0k2005: 379.0k2006: 373.0k2007: 368.0k2008: 365.0k2009: 360.0k2010: 354.0k2011: 346.0k2012: 338.0k2013: 331.0k2014: 324.0k2015: 317.0k2016: 307.0k2017: 295.0k2018: 283.0k2019: 273.0k2020: 269.0k2021: 301.0k2022: 253.0k2023: 244.0k

Source: Trends in Maternal Mortality, World Health Organization (WHO).

Analysis

In 2023, number of maternal deaths in Low & middle income stood at 244,000. That is the lowest value across all 39 years on record.

That represents a change of down 3.6% on the previous year and down 26.3% over ten years.

Over the whole period, number of maternal deaths in Low & middle income peaked at 604,000 in 1985 and was at its lowest, 244,000, in 2023.

That places Low & middle income 2nd out of 45 groups with data for 2023, putting it in the top 10%.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 39 years of available data.

Number of maternal deaths in Low & middle income, year by year

Annual values for Number of maternal deaths in Low & middle income, 1985 to 2023.
Year Value Change
1985 604,000
1986 589,000 -2.5%
1987 587,000 -0.3%
1988 566,000 -3.6%
1989 554,000 -2.1%
1990 546,000 -1.4%
1991 531,000 -2.7%
1992 525,000 -1.1%
1993 514,000 -2.1%
1994 503,000 -2.1%
1995 488,000 -3.0%
1996 480,000 -1.6%
1997 469,000 -2.3%
1998 471,000 +0.4%
1999 445,000 -5.5%
2000 435,000 -2.2%
2001 425,000 -2.3%
2002 412,000 -3.1%
2003 399,000 -3.2%
2004 389,000 -2.5%
2005 379,000 -2.6%
2006 373,000 -1.6%
2007 368,000 -1.3%
2008 365,000 -0.8%
2009 360,000 -1.4%
2010 354,000 -1.7%
2011 346,000 -2.3%
2012 338,000 -2.3%
2013 331,000 -2.1%
2014 324,000 -2.1%
2015 317,000 -2.2%
2016 307,000 -3.2%
2017 295,000 -3.9%
2018 283,000 -4.1%
2019 273,000 -3.5%
2020 269,000 -1.5%
2021 301,000 +11.9%
2022 253,000 -15.9%
2023 244,000 -3.6%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1980s 580,000 554,000 604,000 5
1990s 497,200 445,000 546,000 10
2000s 390,500 360,000 435,000 10
2010s 316,800 273,000 354,000 10
2020s 266,750 244,000 301,000 4

Countries ranked near Low & middle income

  1. 1 Nigeria 75,000 compare
  2. 2 Democratic Republic of Congo 19,000 compare
  3. 2 India 19,000 compare
  4. 4 Pakistan 11,000 compare
  5. 5 Ethiopia 8,000 compare

See the full ranking of 241 places →

More health data for Low & middle income

All data for Low & middle income →

Frequently asked questions

What is number of maternal deaths in Low & middle income?
Number of maternal deaths in Low & middle income was 244,000 in 2023, according to Trends in Maternal Mortality, World Health Organization (WHO).
What is the highest number of maternal deaths recorded in Low & middle income?
The highest recorded value was 604,000 in 1985.
What is the lowest number of maternal deaths recorded in Low & middle income?
The lowest recorded value was 244,000 in 2023.
How does Low & middle income rank for number of maternal deaths?
Low & middle income ranks 2nd out of 45 groups with data for 2023.
Is number of maternal deaths rising or falling in Low & middle income?
Over the last ten years it is down 26.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this Low & middle income 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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Number of maternal deaths in Low & middle income. Statizoid, drawing on Trends in Maternal Mortality, World Health Organization (WHO). Retrieved 01 September 2026, from https://health.statizoid.com/stat/number-of-maternal-deaths/low-and-middle-income/

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About this data

Indicator
Number of maternal deaths
Source
Trends in Maternal Mortality, World Health Organization (WHO)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
241 places, 9,399 data points, 1985–2023
Last refreshed

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.