How does Australia rank for maternal and infant mortality — perinatal mortality?

Australia ranks 21st out of 33 countries with data for 2023.

Is maternal and infant mortality — perinatal mortality rising or falling in Australia?

Over the last ten years it is unchanged. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.

Where does this Australia data come from?

The figures come from Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, published as part of Maternal and infant mortality — Perinatal mortality. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

Maternal and infant mortality — Perinatal mortality in Australia

Name: Maternal and infant mortality — Perinatal mortality in Australia
Creator: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
License: OECD Terms and Conditions (attribution required)

Australia: Maternal and infant mortality — Perinatal mortality was 4.9 Deaths per 1 000 births in 2023. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2023)

4.9 Deaths per 1 000 births

Change on year

up 4.3%

World rank

21st

of 33 countries

All-time high

21.7 Deaths per 1 000 births

in 1973

All-time low

4 Deaths per 1 000 births

in 2008

Years of data

1973–2023

Maternal and infant mortality — Perinatal mortality in Australia, 1973–2023

Source: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Measured in Deaths per 1 000 births.

Analysis

Australia recorded 4.9 Deaths per 1 000 births for maternal and infant mortality — perinatal mortality in 2023.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 4.3% on the previous year and unchanged over ten years.

Over the whole period, maternal and infant mortality — perinatal mortality in Australia peaked at 21.7 Deaths per 1 000 births in 1973 and was at its lowest, 4 Deaths per 1 000 births, in 2008.

Australia ranks 21st of 33 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Maternal and infant mortality — Perinatal mortality in Australia, year by year

Annual values for Maternal and infant mortality — Perinatal mortality in Australia, 1973 to 2023.
Year	Deaths per 1 000 births	Change
1973	21.7 Deaths per 1 000 births	—
1974	21.6 Deaths per 1 000 births	-0.5%
1975	18.7 Deaths per 1 000 births	-13.4%
1976	18.6 Deaths per 1 000 births	-0.5%
1977	16.5 Deaths per 1 000 births	-11.3%
1978	10.7 Deaths per 1 000 births	-35.2%
1979	9.7 Deaths per 1 000 births	-9.3%
1980	8.9 Deaths per 1 000 births	-8.2%
1981	8.2 Deaths per 1 000 births	-7.9%
1982	8.2 Deaths per 1 000 births	+0.0%
1983	7.5 Deaths per 1 000 births	-8.5%
1984	7.1 Deaths per 1 000 births	-5.3%
1985	7.1 Deaths per 1 000 births	+0.0%
1986	6.7 Deaths per 1 000 births	-5.6%
1987	6.3 Deaths per 1 000 births	-6.0%
1988	6.5 Deaths per 1 000 births	+3.2%
1989	5.9 Deaths per 1 000 births	-9.2%
1990	6.1 Deaths per 1 000 births	+3.4%
1991	5.8 Deaths per 1 000 births	-4.9%
1992	5.5 Deaths per 1 000 births	-5.2%
1993	4.6 Deaths per 1 000 births	-16.4%
1994	4.5 Deaths per 1 000 births	-2.2%
1995	4.8 Deaths per 1 000 births	+6.7%
1996	5 Deaths per 1 000 births	+4.2%
1997	4.7 Deaths per 1 000 births	-6.0%
1998	4.2 Deaths per 1 000 births	-10.6%
1999	6.3 Deaths per 1 000 births	+50.0%
2000	6.2 Deaths per 1 000 births	-1.6%
2001	6.3 Deaths per 1 000 births	+1.6%
2002	5.8 Deaths per 1 000 births	-7.9%
2003	5.8 Deaths per 1 000 births	+0.0%
2004	5.6 Deaths per 1 000 births	-3.4%
2005	5.8 Deaths per 1 000 births	+3.6%
2006	5.3 Deaths per 1 000 births	-8.6%
2007	4.5 Deaths per 1 000 births	-15.1%
2008	4 Deaths per 1 000 births	-11.1%
2009	4 Deaths per 1 000 births	+0.0%
2010	4.6 Deaths per 1 000 births	+15.0%
2011	4.7 Deaths per 1 000 births	+2.2%
2012	4.3 Deaths per 1 000 births	-8.5%
2013	4.9 Deaths per 1 000 births	+14.0%
2014	4.8 Deaths per 1 000 births	-2.0%
2015	4.5 Deaths per 1 000 births	-6.2%
2016	4.4 Deaths per 1 000 births	-2.2%
2017	4.9 Deaths per 1 000 births	+11.4%
2018	4.2 Deaths per 1 000 births	-14.3%
2019	4.6 Deaths per 1 000 births	+9.5%
2020	4.6 Deaths per 1 000 births	+0.0%
2021	4.5 Deaths per 1 000 births	-2.2%
2022	4.7 Deaths per 1 000 births	+4.4%
2023	4.9 Deaths per 1 000 births	+4.3%

Australia compared with similar countries

Australia's 4.9 Deaths per 1 000 births is below the median for high income countries, which is 5.45 Deaths per 1 000 births, 90% of the median. (28 countries reporting)

Biggest year-on-year movements

Years where Maternal and infant mortality — Perinatal mortality in Australia 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
1999	+50.0%	4.2 Deaths per 1 000 births	6.3 Deaths per 1 000 births

Averages by decade

Decade	Average	Lowest	Highest	Years
1970s	16.79 Deaths per 1 000 births	9.7 Deaths per 1 000 births	21.7 Deaths per 1 000 births	7
1980s	7.24 Deaths per 1 000 births	5.9 Deaths per 1 000 births	8.9 Deaths per 1 000 births	10
1990s	5.15 Deaths per 1 000 births	4.2 Deaths per 1 000 births	6.3 Deaths per 1 000 births	10
2000s	5.33 Deaths per 1 000 births	4 Deaths per 1 000 births	6.3 Deaths per 1 000 births	10
2010s	4.59 Deaths per 1 000 births	4.2 Deaths per 1 000 births	4.9 Deaths per 1 000 births	10
2020s	4.67 Deaths per 1 000 births	4.5 Deaths per 1 000 births	4.9 Deaths per 1 000 births	4

Countries ranked near Australia

18 Ireland 5.5 Deaths per 1 000 births compare
18 Romania 5.5 Deaths per 1 000 births compare
20 United States 5.4 Deaths per 1 000 births compare
22 Greece 4.7 Deaths per 1 000 births compare
23 Israel 4.3 Deaths per 1 000 births compare
24 Sweden 4.2 Deaths per 1 000 births compare

See the full ranking of 43 places →

More health data for Australia

Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.83 % change on previous year (2100)
Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate -0.9072 % change on previous year (2090)
Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 906.6 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
Number of infants who die before age 1 215 deaths (2100)
Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2021)
Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 1.45 % 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 0.0279 units per person (2025)
Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 1.35 % change on previous year (2025)
Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)

All data for Australia →

Frequently asked questions

What is maternal and infant mortality — perinatal mortality in Australia?: Maternal and infant mortality — perinatal mortality in Australia was 4.9 Deaths per 1 000 births in 2023, according to Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
What is the highest maternal and infant mortality — perinatal mortality recorded in Australia?: The highest recorded value was 21.7 Deaths per 1 000 births in 1973.
What is the lowest maternal and infant mortality — perinatal mortality recorded in Australia?: The lowest recorded value was 4 Deaths per 1 000 births in 2008.
How does Australia rank for maternal and infant mortality — perinatal mortality?: Australia ranks 21st out of 33 countries with data for 2023.
Is maternal and infant mortality — perinatal mortality rising or falling in Australia?: Over the last ten years it is unchanged. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Australia data come from?: The figures come from Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, published as part of Maternal and infant mortality — Perinatal mortality. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Maternal and infant mortality — Perinatal mortality in Australia. Statizoid, drawing on Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Retrieved 14 October 2026, from https://health.statizoid.com/stat/maternal-and-infant-mortality-perinatal-mortality/australia/

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About this data

Indicator: Maternal and infant mortality — Perinatal mortality
Unit: Deaths per 1 000 births
Source: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
Licence: OECD Terms and Conditions (attribution required)
Coverage: 43 places, 2,306 data points, 1960–2025
Last refreshed: 19 August 2026

This dataset presents time series on infant, neonatal, perinatal and maternal mortality. Data for infant and neonatal mortality are presented either with no minimum threshold of gestation period or birthweight, or following the minimum threshold of 22 weeks (or 500 grams birthweight) Please refer to the Sources and Methods for detailed country-specific information.