Countries With the Lowest Skilled Birth Attendance
Every country with a figure for skilled birth attendance, ranked from lowest to highest. The top three are Somalia, Fed. Rep. (31.9%), Eritrea (34.1%) and South Sudan (39.7%). The middle country of the 184 has 98.1%.
What this measures
Births attended by skilled health staff (% of total), in % of births. Source: UNICEF and WHO. For this measure, higher is better.
Based on surveys, so a country reports it every few years rather than yearly.
The full ranking
Each country’s latest figure, from 2010–2022. The year beside each value says when it was measured.
| Rank | Country | Skilled birth attendance | Year | Region |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Somalia, Fed. Rep. | 31.9% | 2019 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 2 | Eritrea | 34.1% | 2010 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 3 | South Sudan | 39.7% | 2020 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 4 | Central African Republic | 40.3% | 2019 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 5 | Haiti | 41.6% | 2017 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 6 | Niger | 43.7% | 2021 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 7 | Yemen, Rep. | 44.7% | 2013 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| 8 | Madagascar | 45.8% | 2021 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 9 | Chad | 47.2% | 2019 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 10 | Angola | 49.6% | 2016 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 11 | Ethiopia | 49.8% | 2019 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 12 | Nigeria | 50.7% | 2022 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 13 | Guinea-Bissau | 53.8% | 2019 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 14 | Guinea | 55.3% | 2018 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 15 | Papua New Guinea | 56.4% | 2018 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 16 | Timor-Leste | 56.7% | 2016 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 17 | Bangladesh | 59% | 2019 | South Asia |
| 18 | Myanmar | 60.2% | 2016 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 19 | Afghanistan | 61.8% | 2020 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| 20 | Tanzania | 63.5% | 2016 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 21 | Lao PDR | 64.4% | 2017 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 22 | Mali | 67.3% | 2018 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 23 | Pakistan | 68% | 2020 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| 24 | Equatorial Guinea | 68.3% | 2011 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 25 | Cameroon | 69% | 2018 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 26 | Togo | 69.4% | 2017 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 27 | Guatemala | 69.6% | 2017 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 28 | Kenya | 70.2% | 2016 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 29 | Mauritania | 70.4% | 2021 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 30 | Mozambique | 73% | 2015 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 31 | Uganda | 74.2% | 2016 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 32 | Senegal | 74.5% | 2019 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 33 | Burundi | 76.5% | 2021 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 34 | Nepal | 77.2% | 2019 | South Asia |
| 35 | Sudan | 77.7% | 2014 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 36 | Benin | 78.1% | 2018 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 37 | Ghana | 78.9% | 2018 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 38 | Burkina Faso | 79.8% | 2015 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 39 | Zambia | 80.4% | 2019 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 40 | Bolivia | 81.1% | 2019 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 41 | Isle of Man | 81.4% | 2010 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 42 | Comoros | 82.2% | 2012 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 43 | Gambia, The | 83.8% | 2020 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 44 | Cote d'Ivoire | 84% | 2021 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 45 | Liberia | 84.4% | 2020 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 46 | Philippines | 84.4% | 2017 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 47 | Congo, Dem. Rep. | 85.2% | 2018 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 48 | Zimbabwe | 86% | 2019 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 49 | Solomon Islands | 86.2% | 2015 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 50 | Lesotho | 86.6% | 2018 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 51 | Morocco | 86.6% | 2018 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| 52 | Sierra Leone | 86.9% | 2019 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 53 | Djibouti | 87.4% | 2012 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| 54 | Namibia | 88.2% | 2013 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 55 | Eswatini | 88.3% | 2014 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 56 | Samoa | 88.9% | 2020 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 57 | Gabon | 89.3% | 2012 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 58 | India | 89.4% | 2021 | South Asia |
| 59 | Vanuatu | 89.4% | 2013 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 60 | Congo, Rep. | 91.2% | 2015 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 61 | Kiribati | 91.9% | 2019 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 62 | Paraguay | 92.2% | 2019 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 63 | Marshall Islands | 92.4% | 2017 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 64 | Romania | 93% | 2020 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 65 | Honduras | 94.1% | 2019 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 66 | Nicaragua | 94.1% | 2017 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 67 | Rwanda | 94.2% | 2020 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 68 | Bulgaria | 94.5% | 2021 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 69 | Belize | 94.6% | 2020 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 70 | Indonesia | 94.7% | 2019 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 71 | Saudi Arabia | 94.8% | 2019 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| 72 | Tajikistan | 94.8% | 2017 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 73 | Peru | 94.9% | 2021 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 74 | Panama | 95% | 2019 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 75 | Denmark | 95.3% | 2018 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 76 | Iraq | 95.6% | 2018 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| 77 | Australia | 96% | 2020 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 78 | Viet Nam | 96.1% | 2021 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 79 | Germany | 96.2% | 2019 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 80 | Malawi | 96.4% | 2020 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 81 | New Zealand | 96.5% | 2019 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 82 | Mexico | 96.6% | 2017 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 83 | South Africa | 96.7% | 2016 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 84 | Sao Tome and Principe | 96.8% | 2019 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 85 | Turkiye | 97% | 2019 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 86 | Egypt, Arab Rep. | 97.1% | 2021 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| 87 | Palau | 97.2% | 2020 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 88 | Cabo Verde | 97.3% | 2018 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 89 | Iceland | 97.4% | 2020 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 90 | Guyana | 97.6% | 2020 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 91 | Canada | 98% | 2020 | North America |
| 92 | Slovak Republic | 98% | 2021 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 93 | Austria | 98.1% | 2020 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 94 | France | 98.2% | 2020 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 95 | Tonga | 98.3% | 2019 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 96 | Brazil | 98.4% | 2020 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 97 | Barbados | 98.4% | 2020 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 98 | Suriname | 98.4% | 2018 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 99 | Portugal | 98.6% | 2020 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 100 | St. Vincent and the Grenadines | 98.6% | 2016 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 101 | Cambodia | 98.7% | 2022 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 102 | Venezuela, RB | 98.7% | 2018 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 103 | Argentina | 98.8% | 2020 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 104 | Colombia | 98.8% | 2019 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 105 | Algeria | 98.8% | 2019 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| 106 | Montenegro | 98.8% | 2018 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 107 | Bhutan | 98.9% | 2021 | South Asia |
| 108 | Antigua and Barbuda | 99% | 2020 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 109 | Bahamas, The | 99% | 2019 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 110 | Costa Rica | 99% | 2019 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 111 | Iran, Islamic Rep. | 99% | 2014 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| 112 | Uzbekistan | 99% | 2022 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 113 | Kosovo | 99% | 2014 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 114 | Thailand | 99.1% | 2019 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 115 | United States | 99.1% | 2020 | North America |
| 116 | United Arab Emirates | 99.2% | 2018 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| 117 | Dominican Republic | 99.2% | 2019 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 118 | Norway | 99.2% | 2021 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 119 | Cyprus | 99.3% | 2019 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 120 | Mongolia | 99.3% | 2018 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 121 | Bermuda | 99.4% | 2018 | North America |
| 122 | Ecuador | 99.4% | 2020 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 123 | Finland | 99.5% | 2021 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 124 | Sri Lanka | 99.5% | 2016 | South Asia |
| 125 | Maldives | 99.5% | 2017 | South Asia |
| 126 | Korea, Dem. People's Rep. | 99.5% | 2017 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 127 | Seychelles | 99.5% | 2020 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 128 | Tunisia | 99.5% | 2018 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| 129 | Tuvalu | 99.5% | 2020 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 130 | Bahrain | 99.6% | 2019 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| 131 | Brunei Darussalam | 99.6% | 2021 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 132 | Estonia | 99.6% | 2020 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 133 | Moldova | 99.6% | 2021 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 134 | Malaysia | 99.6% | 2019 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 135 | Poland | 99.6% | 2021 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 136 | Russian Federation | 99.6% | 2020 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 137 | Singapore | 99.6% | 2021 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 138 | Hungary | 99.7% | 2017 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 139 | Ireland | 99.7% | 2017 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 140 | Jamaica | 99.7% | 2018 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 141 | Jordan | 99.7% | 2018 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| 142 | Mauritius | 99.7% | 2021 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 143 | West Bank and Gaza | 99.7% | 2020 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| 144 | Albania | 99.8% | 2018 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 145 | Armenia | 99.8% | 2016 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 146 | Botswana | 99.8% | 2017 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 147 | Chile | 99.8% | 2019 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 148 | Czechia | 99.8% | 2017 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 149 | Fiji | 99.8% | 2021 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 150 | Georgia | 99.8% | 2021 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 151 | Italy | 99.8% | 2020 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 152 | Japan | 99.8% | 2021 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 153 | Malta | 99.8% | 2021 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| 154 | Slovenia | 99.8% | 2012 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 155 | Azerbaijan | 99.9% | 2021 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 156 | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 99.9% | 2019 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 157 | Belarus | 99.9% | 2020 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 158 | China | 99.9% | 2016 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 159 | Spain | 99.9% | 2020 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 160 | Greece | 99.9% | 2018 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 161 | Croatia | 99.9% | 2019 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 162 | Kazakhstan | 99.9% | 2018 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 163 | Kuwait | 99.9% | 2019 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| 164 | Libya | 99.9% | 2013 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| 165 | Latvia | 99.9% | 2017 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 166 | Oman | 99.9% | 2020 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| 167 | El Salvador | 99.9% | 2018 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 168 | Serbia | 99.9% | 2019 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 169 | Ukraine | 99.9% | 2014 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 170 | Andorra | 100% | 2017 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 171 | Cuba | 100% | 2019 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 172 | Dominica | 100% | 2020 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 173 | Grenada | 100% | 2017 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 174 | Kyrgyz Republic | 100% | 2020 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 175 | St. Kitts and Nevis | 100% | 2020 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 176 | Korea, Rep. | 100% | 2015 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 177 | St. Lucia | 100% | 2019 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 178 | Lithuania | 100% | 2021 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 179 | North Macedonia | 100% | 2021 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 180 | Qatar | 100% | 2019 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| 181 | Turks and Caicos Islands | 100% | 2020 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 182 | Turkmenistan | 100% | 2019 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 183 | Trinidad and Tobago | 100% | 2017 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 184 | Uruguay | 100% | 2020 | Latin America & Caribbean |
More on skilled birth attendance
- Countries With the Highest Skilled Birth Attendance
- Skilled birth attendance by country: trend over time and what it goes with
Related rankings
- Countries With the Lowest Abortion Rate (estimate)
- Countries With the Lowest Unintended Pregnancy Rates
- Countries With the Lowest Unintended Pregnancies Ending in Abortion
- Countries With the Lowest Abortion Rate (legal, reported)
- Countries With the Lowest Contraceptive Use (any method)
- Countries With the Lowest Contraceptive Use (modern methods)
- Countries With the Lowest Life Expectancy
- Countries With the Lowest Infant Mortality
A ranking describes countries, not the people in them, and a high or low place does not by itself say why. All country rankings.