Number of maternal deaths (Trends) in Malawi
Malawi: Number of maternal deaths (Trends) was 1,500 in 2023. ▼ Falling
Number of maternal deaths in Malawi, 1985–2023
Source: Trends in Maternal Mortality, World Health Organization (WHO).
Analysis
Malawi recorded 1,500 for number of maternal deaths in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 39 years on record.
The figure is down 6.2% on the previous year and down 40.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of maternal deaths in Malawi peaked at 5,100 in 1990 and was at its lowest, 1,500, in 2023.
Malawi ranks 32nd of 194 countries on this measure, 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 Malawi, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 4,300 | — |
| 1986 | 4,400 | +2.3% |
| 1987 | 4,500 | +2.3% |
| 1988 | 4,900 | +8.9% |
| 1989 | 5,000 | +2.0% |
| 1990 | 5,100 | +2.0% |
| 1991 | 5,100 | +0.0% |
| 1992 | 5,100 | +0.0% |
| 1993 | 5,000 | -2.0% |
| 1994 | 4,500 | -10.0% |
| 1995 | 3,700 | -17.8% |
| 1996 | 3,400 | -8.1% |
| 1997 | 3,300 | -2.9% |
| 1998 | 3,300 | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 2,900 | -12.1% |
| 2000 | 2,600 | -10.3% |
| 2001 | 2,300 | -11.5% |
| 2002 | 2,100 | -8.7% |
| 2003 | 1,800 | -14.3% |
| 2004 | 1,700 | -5.6% |
| 2005 | 1,600 | -5.9% |
| 2006 | 1,700 | +6.2% |
| 2007 | 2,000 | +17.6% |
| 2008 | 2,600 | +30.0% |
| 2009 | 3,100 | +19.2% |
| 2010 | 3,100 | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 2,900 | -6.5% |
| 2012 | 2,700 | -6.9% |
| 2013 | 2,500 | -7.4% |
| 2014 | 2,200 | -12.0% |
| 2015 | 2,100 | -4.5% |
| 2016 | 1,900 | -9.5% |
| 2017 | 1,700 | -10.5% |
| 2018 | 1,600 | -5.9% |
| 2019 | 1,600 | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 1,600 | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 1,800 | +12.5% |
| 2022 | 1,600 | -11.1% |
| 2023 | 1,500 | -6.2% |
Malawi compared with similar countries
- Malawi's 1,500 is below the median for low income countries, which is 1,800, 83% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Malawi's 1,500 is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 1,450, 1.0× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 4,620 | 4,300 | 5,000 | 5 |
| 1990s | 4,140 | 2,900 | 5,100 | 10 |
| 2000s | 2,150 | 1,600 | 3,100 | 10 |
| 2010s | 2,230 | 1,600 | 3,100 | 10 |
| 2020s | 1,625 | 1,500 | 1,800 | 4 |
Countries ranked near Malawi
- 31 Yemen 1,600 compare
- 32 Philippines 1,500 compare
- 34 China 1,400 compare
- 34 South Africa 1,400 compare
More health data for Malawi
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -0.8368 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.9312 % change on previous year (2090)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 6,399 (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 2 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 1.61 % 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 0.0714 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 1.63 % 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 0.0718 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is number of maternal deaths in Malawi?
- Number of maternal deaths in Malawi was 1,500 in 2023, according to Trends in Maternal Mortality, World Health Organization (WHO).
- What is the highest number of maternal deaths recorded in Malawi?
- The highest recorded value was 5,100 in 1990.
- What is the lowest number of maternal deaths recorded in Malawi?
- The lowest recorded value was 1,500 in 2023.
- How does Malawi rank for number of maternal deaths?
- Malawi ranks 32nd out of 194 countries with data for 2023.
- Is number of maternal deaths rising or falling in Malawi?
- Over the last ten years it is down 40.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Malawi 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.