Maternal mortality ratio in South Korea
South Korea: Maternal mortality ratio was 4 in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Maternal mortality ratio in South Korea, 1985–2023
Source: Trends in Maternal Mortality, World Health Organization (WHO).
Analysis
South Korea recorded 4 for maternal mortality ratio in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 39 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 42.9% on the previous year and down 42.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, maternal mortality ratio in South Korea peaked at 38 in 1985 and was at its lowest, 4, in 2023.
South Korea ranks 173rd of 194 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 33.4 | 29 | 38 | 5 |
| 1990s | 22.5 | 17 | 28 | 10 |
| 2000s | 11.6 | 9 | 15 | 10 |
| 2010s | 6.6 | 5 | 8 | 10 |
| 2020s | 7 | 4 | 12 | 4 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
More health data for South Korea
- Age population, age 11, female, interpolated 214,243 (2025)
- Age population, age 13, male, interpolated 243,678 (2025)
- Age population, age 13, female, interpolated 231,049 (2025)
- Age population, age 12, male, interpolated 234,551 (2025)
- Age population, age 12, female, interpolated 223,211 (2025)
- Age population, age 11, male, interpolated 224,514 (2025)
- Population ages 65 and above, male 17.9% (2025)
- Age population, age 10, female, interpolated 212,650 (2025)
- Age population, age 10, male, interpolated 222,946 (2025)
- Age population, age 14, female, interpolated 226,850 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is maternal mortality ratio in South Korea?
- Maternal mortality ratio in South Korea was 4 in 2023, according to Trends in Maternal Mortality, World Health Organization (WHO).
- What is the highest maternal mortality ratio recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 38 in 1985.
- What is the lowest maternal mortality ratio recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 4 in 2023.
- How does South Korea rank for maternal mortality ratio?
- South Korea ranks 173rd out of 194 countries with data for 2023.
- Is maternal mortality ratio rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 42.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Korea data come from?
- The figures come from Trends in Maternal Mortality, World Health Organization (WHO), published as part of Maternal mortality ratio (modeled estimate, per 100,000 live births). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 39 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Maternal mortality ratio is the number of women who die from pregnancy-related causes while pregnant or within 42 days of pregnancy termination per 100,000 live births. The data are estimated with a regression model using information on the proportion of maternal deaths among non-AIDS deaths in women ages 15-49, fertility, birth attendants, and GDP measured using purchasing power parities (PPPs).