Number of maternal deaths (Trends) in South Africa
South Africa: Number of maternal deaths (Trends) was 1,400 in 2023. ▼ Falling
Number of maternal deaths in South Africa, 1985–2023
Source: Trends in Maternal Mortality, World Health Organization (WHO).
Analysis
In 2023, number of maternal deaths in South Africa stood at 1,400. That is the lowest value across all 39 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 6.7% on the previous year and down 36.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of maternal deaths in South Africa peaked at 3,400 in 2008 and was at its lowest, 1,400, in 1994.
South Africa ranks 34th 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 South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 2,500 | — |
| 1986 | 2,400 | -4.0% |
| 1987 | 2,400 | +0.0% |
| 1988 | 2,300 | -4.2% |
| 1989 | 2,100 | -8.7% |
| 1990 | 2,000 | -4.8% |
| 1991 | 1,900 | -5.0% |
| 1992 | 1,700 | -10.5% |
| 1993 | 1,700 | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 1,400 | -17.6% |
| 1995 | 1,400 | +0.0% |
| 1996 | 1,700 | +21.4% |
| 1997 | 1,700 | +0.0% |
| 1998 | 1,600 | -5.9% |
| 1999 | 1,600 | +0.0% |
| 2000 | 1,800 | +12.5% |
| 2001 | 1,900 | +5.6% |
| 2002 | 2,300 | +21.1% |
| 2003 | 2,500 | +8.7% |
| 2004 | 2,800 | +12.0% |
| 2005 | 3,100 | +10.7% |
| 2006 | 3,300 | +6.5% |
| 2007 | 3,200 | -3.0% |
| 2008 | 3,400 | +6.2% |
| 2009 | 2,800 | -17.6% |
| 2010 | 2,600 | -7.1% |
| 2011 | 2,400 | -7.7% |
| 2012 | 2,300 | -4.2% |
| 2013 | 2,200 | -4.3% |
| 2014 | 2,000 | -9.1% |
| 2015 | 1,800 | -10.0% |
| 2016 | 1,600 | -11.1% |
| 2017 | 1,500 | -6.2% |
| 2018 | 1,500 | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 1,400 | -6.7% |
| 2020 | 1,400 | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 2,300 | +64.3% |
| 2022 | 1,500 | -34.8% |
| 2023 | 1,400 | -6.7% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 1,400 is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 36, 38.9× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 1,400 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 1,450, 97% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Number of maternal deaths (Trends) in South Africa 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | +64.3% | 1,400 | 2,300 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 2,340 | 2,100 | 2,500 | 5 |
| 1990s | 1,670 | 1,400 | 2,000 | 10 |
| 2000s | 2,710 | 1,800 | 3,400 | 10 |
| 2010s | 1,930 | 1,400 | 2,600 | 10 |
| 2020s | 1,650 | 1,400 | 2,300 | 4 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More health data for South Africa
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -2.2 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate -0.1386 % change on previous year (2090)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 3,333 (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -0.5504 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.045 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 0.0003 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per capita 0.046 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is number of maternal deaths in South Africa?
- Number of maternal deaths in South Africa was 1,400 in 2023, according to Trends in Maternal Mortality, World Health Organization (WHO).
- What is the highest number of maternal deaths recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 3,400 in 2008.
- What is the lowest number of maternal deaths recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 1,400 in 1994.
- How does South Africa rank for number of maternal deaths?
- South Africa ranks 34th out of 194 countries with data for 2023.
- Is number of maternal deaths rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 36.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Africa 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.