The maternal mortality ratio in 1985 and 2020 in Malawi
Malawi: The maternal mortality ratio in 1985 and 2020 was 380.67 in 2020. ▼ Falling
Latest (2020)
380.67
Change on year
up 2.8%
World rank
24th
of 185 countries
All-time high
985.91
in 1988
All-time low
326.37
in 2006
Years of data
36
1985–2020
The maternal mortality ratio in 1985 and 2020 in Malawi, 1985–2020
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
Malawi recorded 380.67 for the maternal mortality ratio in 1985 and 2020 in 2020.
That represents a change of up 2.8% on the previous year and down 25.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, the maternal mortality ratio in 1985 and 2020 in Malawi peaked at 985.91 in 1988 and was at its lowest, 326.37, in 2006.
That places Malawi 24th out of 185 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 36 years of available data.
The maternal mortality ratio in 1985 and 2020 in Malawi, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 891.78 | — |
| 1986 | 917.62 | +2.9% |
| 1987 | 949.55 | +3.5% |
| 1988 | 985.91 | +3.8% |
| 1989 | 953.41 | -3.3% |
| 1990 | 970.77 | +1.8% |
| 1991 | 960.12 | -1.1% |
| 1992 | 944.62 | -1.6% |
| 1993 | 897.78 | -5.0% |
| 1994 | 827.2 | -7.9% |
| 1995 | 721.46 | -12.8% |
| 1996 | 681.52 | -5.5% |
| 1997 | 650.07 | -4.6% |
| 1998 | 627.63 | -3.5% |
| 1999 | 588.57 | -6.2% |
| 2000 | 573.46 | -2.6% |
| 2001 | 530.91 | -7.4% |
| 2002 | 489.92 | -7.7% |
| 2003 | 445.14 | -9.1% |
| 2004 | 386.04 | -13.3% |
| 2005 | 346.93 | -10.1% |
| 2006 | 326.37 | -5.9% |
| 2007 | 351.57 | +7.7% |
| 2008 | 419.65 | +19.4% |
| 2009 | 475.55 | +13.3% |
| 2010 | 512.93 | +7.9% |
| 2011 | 495.72 | -3.4% |
| 2012 | 502.27 | +1.3% |
| 2013 | 472.6 | -5.9% |
| 2014 | 442.25 | -6.4% |
| 2015 | 444.94 | +0.6% |
| 2016 | 430.34 | -3.3% |
| 2017 | 374.88 | -12.9% |
| 2018 | 391.79 | +4.5% |
| 2019 | 370.24 | -5.5% |
| 2020 | 380.67 | +2.8% |
Malawi compared with similar countries
- Malawi's 380.67 is below the median for low income countries, which is 440.23, 86% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Malawi's 380.67 is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 339.15, 1.1× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 939.65 | 891.78 | 985.91 | 5 |
| 1990s | 786.98 | 588.57 | 970.77 | 10 |
| 2000s | 434.55 | 326.37 | 573.46 | 10 |
| 2010s | 443.8 | 370.24 | 512.93 | 10 |
| 2020s | 380.67 | 380.67 | 380.67 | 1 |
Countries ranked near Malawi
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 the maternal mortality ratio in 1985 and 2020 in Malawi?
- The maternal mortality ratio in 1985 and 2020 in Malawi was 380.67 in 2020, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest the maternal mortality ratio in 1985 and 2020 recorded in Malawi?
- The highest recorded value was 985.91 in 1988.
- What is the lowest the maternal mortality ratio in 1985 and 2020 recorded in Malawi?
- The lowest recorded value was 326.37 in 2006.
- How does Malawi rank for the maternal mortality ratio in 1985 and 2020?
- Malawi ranks 24th out of 185 countries with data for 2020.
- Is the maternal mortality ratio in 1985 and 2020 rising or falling in Malawi?
- Over the last ten years it is down 25.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Malawi data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of The maternal mortality ratio in 1985 and 2020. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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