Number of maternal deaths (Trends) in South Sudan
South Sudan: Number of maternal deaths (Trends) was 2,300 in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Number of maternal deaths in South Sudan, 1985–2023
Source: Trends in Maternal Mortality, World Health Organization (WHO).
Analysis
The most recent figure for number of maternal deaths in South Sudan is 2,300, measured in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 39 years on record.
That represents a change of down 30.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of maternal deaths in South Sudan peaked at 22,000 in 1998 and was at its lowest, 2,300, in 2019.
That places South Sudan 22nd out of 194 countries with data for 2023, putting it 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 South Sudan, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 9,400 | — |
| 1986 | 9,300 | -1.1% |
| 1987 | 20,000 | +115.1% |
| 1988 | 14,000 | -30.0% |
| 1989 | 13,000 | -7.1% |
| 1990 | 12,000 | -7.7% |
| 1991 | 12,000 | +0.0% |
| 1992 | 20,000 | +66.7% |
| 1993 | 20,000 | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 4,500 | -77.5% |
| 1995 | 12,000 | +166.7% |
| 1996 | 12,000 | +0.0% |
| 1997 | 12,000 | +0.0% |
| 1998 | 22,000 | +83.3% |
| 1999 | 6,000 | -72.7% |
| 2000 | 5,000 | -16.7% |
| 2001 | 4,900 | -2.0% |
| 2002 | 4,800 | -2.0% |
| 2003 | 3,900 | -18.8% |
| 2004 | 3,800 | -2.6% |
| 2005 | 3,600 | -5.3% |
| 2006 | 3,500 | -2.8% |
| 2007 | 3,300 | -5.7% |
| 2008 | 3,100 | -6.1% |
| 2009 | 3,100 | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 3,000 | -3.2% |
| 2011 | 3,200 | +6.7% |
| 2012 | 3,200 | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 3,300 | +3.1% |
| 2014 | 5,200 | +57.6% |
| 2015 | 5,600 | +7.7% |
| 2016 | 6,200 | +10.7% |
| 2017 | 5,600 | -9.7% |
| 2018 | 2,700 | -51.8% |
| 2019 | 2,300 | -14.8% |
| 2020 | 2,300 | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 2,400 | +4.3% |
| 2022 | 2,300 | -4.2% |
| 2023 | 2,300 | +0.0% |
South Sudan compared with similar countries
- South Sudan's 2,300 is above the median for low income countries, which is 1,800, 1.3× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- South Sudan's 2,300 is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 1,450, 1.6× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Number of maternal deaths (Trends) in South Sudan 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | +166.7% | 4,500 | 12,000 |
| 1987 | +115.1% | 9,300 | 20,000 |
| 1998 | +83.3% | 12,000 | 22,000 |
| 1994 | -77.5% | 20,000 | 4,500 |
| 1999 | -72.7% | 22,000 | 6,000 |
| 1992 | +66.7% | 12,000 | 20,000 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 13,140 | 9,300 | 20,000 | 5 |
| 1990s | 13,250 | 4,500 | 22,000 | 10 |
| 2000s | 3,900 | 3,100 | 5,000 | 10 |
| 2010s | 4,030 | 2,300 | 6,200 | 10 |
| 2020s | 2,325 | 2,300 | 2,400 | 4 |
Countries ranked near South Sudan
More health data for South Sudan
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.47 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.665 % change on previous year (2090)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 12,029 (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 57 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 1.93 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2015)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.0637 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 1.92 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2015)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per capita 0.0654 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is number of maternal deaths in South Sudan?
- Number of maternal deaths in South Sudan was 2,300 in 2023, according to Trends in Maternal Mortality, World Health Organization (WHO).
- What is the highest number of maternal deaths recorded in South Sudan?
- The highest recorded value was 22,000 in 1998.
- What is the lowest number of maternal deaths recorded in South Sudan?
- The lowest recorded value was 2,300 in 2019.
- How does South Sudan rank for number of maternal deaths?
- South Sudan ranks 22nd out of 194 countries with data for 2023.
- Is number of maternal deaths rising or falling in South Sudan?
- Over the last ten years it is down 30.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Sudan 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.