Number of maternal deaths in Nigeria
Nigeria: Number of maternal deaths was 75,000 in 2023. ▲ Rising
Number of maternal deaths in Nigeria, 1985–2023
Source: Trends in Maternal Mortality, World Health Organization (WHO).
Analysis
In 2023, number of maternal deaths in Nigeria stood at 75,000.
That represents a change of down 10.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of maternal deaths in Nigeria peaked at 87,000 in 2015 and was at its lowest, 52,000, in 1985.
Nigeria ranks 1st of 194 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 39 years of available data.
Number of maternal deaths in Nigeria, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 52,000 | — |
| 1986 | 54,000 | +3.8% |
| 1987 | 54,000 | +0.0% |
| 1988 | 55,000 | +1.9% |
| 1989 | 55,000 | +0.0% |
| 1990 | 56,000 | +1.8% |
| 1991 | 57,000 | +1.8% |
| 1992 | 56,000 | -1.8% |
| 1993 | 56,000 | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 57,000 | +1.8% |
| 1995 | 58,000 | +1.8% |
| 1996 | 59,000 | +1.7% |
| 1997 | 60,000 | +1.7% |
| 1998 | 62,000 | +3.3% |
| 1999 | 62,000 | +0.0% |
| 2000 | 63,000 | +1.6% |
| 2001 | 64,000 | +1.6% |
| 2002 | 65,000 | +1.6% |
| 2003 | 65,000 | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 66,000 | +1.5% |
| 2005 | 67,000 | +1.5% |
| 2006 | 69,000 | +3.0% |
| 2007 | 70,000 | +1.4% |
| 2008 | 73,000 | +4.3% |
| 2009 | 75,000 | +2.7% |
| 2010 | 77,000 | +2.7% |
| 2011 | 79,000 | +2.6% |
| 2012 | 81,000 | +2.5% |
| 2013 | 84,000 | +3.7% |
| 2014 | 86,000 | +2.4% |
| 2015 | 87,000 | +1.2% |
| 2016 | 85,000 | -2.3% |
| 2017 | 84,000 | -1.2% |
| 2018 | 82,000 | -2.4% |
| 2019 | 79,000 | -3.7% |
| 2020 | 77,000 | -2.5% |
| 2021 | 77,000 | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 75,000 | -2.6% |
| 2023 | 75,000 | +0.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 54,000 | 52,000 | 55,000 | 5 |
| 1990s | 58,300 | 56,000 | 62,000 | 10 |
| 2000s | 67,700 | 63,000 | 75,000 | 10 |
| 2010s | 82,400 | 77,000 | 87,000 | 10 |
| 2020s | 76,000 | 75,000 | 77,000 | 4 |
Countries ranked near Nigeria
More health data for Nigeria
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.08 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.8137 % change on previous year (2090)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates 1,301 (2090)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 257,921 (2100)
- Population ages 0-14, total, annual growth rate 0.8538 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, total, per unit of GDP 0.0003 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, total, per capita 0.4052 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 15-64, female, annual growth rate 2.88 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 15-64, female, per unit of GDP 0.0002 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 15-64, female, per capita 0.2783 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is number of maternal deaths in Nigeria?
- Number of maternal deaths in Nigeria was 75,000 in 2023, according to Trends in Maternal Mortality, World Health Organization (WHO).
- What is the highest number of maternal deaths recorded in Nigeria?
- The highest recorded value was 87,000 in 2015.
- What is the lowest number of maternal deaths recorded in Nigeria?
- The lowest recorded value was 52,000 in 1985.
- How does Nigeria rank for number of maternal deaths?
- Nigeria ranks 1st out of 194 countries with data for 2023.
- Is number of maternal deaths rising or falling in Nigeria?
- Over the last ten years it is down 10.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Nigeria 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.