Number of maternal deaths (Trends) in Rwanda
Rwanda: Number of maternal deaths (Trends) was 910 in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Number of maternal deaths in Rwanda, 1985–2023
Source: Trends in Maternal Mortality, World Health Organization (WHO).
Analysis
The most recent figure for number of maternal deaths in Rwanda is 910, measured in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 39 years on record.
The figure is down 1.1% on the previous year and down 17.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of maternal deaths in Rwanda peaked at 19,000 in 1994 and was at its lowest, 910, in 2023.
Rwanda ranks 42nd of 194 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Number of maternal deaths (Trends) in Rwanda, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 3,500 | — |
| 1986 | 3,600 | +2.9% |
| 1987 | 3,700 | +2.8% |
| 1988 | 3,900 | +5.4% |
| 1989 | 4,000 | +2.6% |
| 1990 | 4,300 | +7.5% |
| 1991 | 4,500 | +4.7% |
| 1992 | 5,000 | +11.1% |
| 1993 | 5,400 | +8.0% |
| 1994 | 19,000 | +251.9% |
| 1995 | 3,400 | -82.1% |
| 1996 | 3,200 | -5.9% |
| 1997 | 4,100 | +28.1% |
| 1998 | 4,300 | +4.9% |
| 1999 | 3,700 | -14.0% |
| 2000 | 3,100 | -16.2% |
| 2001 | 2,700 | -12.9% |
| 2002 | 2,400 | -11.1% |
| 2003 | 2,000 | -16.7% |
| 2004 | 1,700 | -15.0% |
| 2005 | 1,700 | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 1,800 | +5.9% |
| 2007 | 1,800 | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 1,700 | -5.6% |
| 2009 | 1,500 | -11.8% |
| 2010 | 1,400 | -6.7% |
| 2011 | 1,300 | -7.1% |
| 2012 | 1,200 | -7.7% |
| 2013 | 1,100 | -8.3% |
| 2014 | 1,100 | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 1,100 | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 1,100 | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 1,100 | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 1,000 | -9.1% |
| 2019 | 1,000 | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 990 | -1.0% |
| 2021 | 1,000 | +1.0% |
| 2022 | 920 | -8.0% |
| 2023 | 910 | -1.1% |
Rwanda compared with similar countries
- Rwanda's 910 is below the median for low income countries, which is 1,800, 51% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Rwanda's 910 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 1,450, 63% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Number of maternal deaths (Trends) in Rwanda changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | +251.9% | 5,400 | 19,000 |
| 1995 | -82.1% | 19,000 | 3,400 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 3,740 | 3,500 | 4,000 | 5 |
| 1990s | 5,690 | 3,200 | 19,000 | 10 |
| 2000s | 2,040 | 1,500 | 3,100 | 10 |
| 2010s | 1,140 | 1,000 | 1,400 | 10 |
| 2020s | 955 | 910 | 1,000 | 4 |
Countries ranked near Rwanda
More health data for Rwanda
- 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 0.891 % change on previous year (2090)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 2,738 (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 1 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 0.9441 % 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 0.065 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 0.9697 % 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 0.0663 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is number of maternal deaths in Rwanda?
- Number of maternal deaths in Rwanda was 910 in 2023, according to Trends in Maternal Mortality, World Health Organization (WHO).
- What is the highest number of maternal deaths recorded in Rwanda?
- The highest recorded value was 19,000 in 1994.
- What is the lowest number of maternal deaths recorded in Rwanda?
- The lowest recorded value was 910 in 2023.
- How does Rwanda rank for number of maternal deaths?
- Rwanda ranks 42nd out of 194 countries with data for 2023.
- Is number of maternal deaths rising or falling in Rwanda?
- Over the last ten years it is down 17.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Rwanda 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.