How does New Zealand rank for maternal and infant mortality — perinatal mortality?

New Zealand ranks 10th out of 33 countries with data for 2021.

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

Over the last ten years it is up 8.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.

Where does this New Zealand 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 New Zealand

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

New Zealand: Maternal and infant mortality — Perinatal mortality was 6.6 Deaths per 1 000 births in 2021. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2021)

6.6 Deaths per 1 000 births

Change on year

up 13.8%

World rank

10th

of 33 countries

All-time high

27 Deaths per 1 000 births

in 1960

All-time low

5 Deaths per 1 000 births

in 2015

Years of data

1960–2021

Maternal and infant mortality — Perinatal mortality in New Zealand, 1960–2021

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

Analysis

In 2021, maternal and infant mortality — perinatal mortality in New Zealand stood at 6.6 Deaths per 1 000 births.

That represents a change of up 13.8% on the previous year and up 8.2% over ten years.

Over the whole period, maternal and infant mortality — perinatal mortality in New Zealand peaked at 27 Deaths per 1 000 births in 1960 and was at its lowest, 5 Deaths per 1 000 births, in 2015.

New Zealand ranks 10th 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 New Zealand, year by year

Annual values for Maternal and infant mortality — Perinatal mortality in New Zealand, 1960 to 2021.
Year	Deaths per 1 000 births	Change
1960	27 Deaths per 1 000 births	—
1970	20 Deaths per 1 000 births	-25.9%
1972	18.8 Deaths per 1 000 births	-6.0%
1973	17.5 Deaths per 1 000 births	-6.9%
1974	16.5 Deaths per 1 000 births	-5.7%
1975	16.5 Deaths per 1 000 births	+0.0%
1976	14.4 Deaths per 1 000 births	-12.7%
1977	14.4 Deaths per 1 000 births	+0.0%
1978	13 Deaths per 1 000 births	-9.7%
1979	12.1 Deaths per 1 000 births	-6.9%
1980	12.2 Deaths per 1 000 births	+0.8%
1981	10.5 Deaths per 1 000 births	-13.9%
1982	10.6 Deaths per 1 000 births	+1.0%
1983	10.1 Deaths per 1 000 births	-4.7%
1984	8.6 Deaths per 1 000 births	-14.9%
1985	8.9 Deaths per 1 000 births	+3.5%
1986	8.7 Deaths per 1 000 births	-2.2%
1987	8.2 Deaths per 1 000 births	-5.7%
1988	8.6 Deaths per 1 000 births	+4.9%
1989	8.4 Deaths per 1 000 births	-2.3%
1990	7.4 Deaths per 1 000 births	-11.9%
1991	8.1 Deaths per 1 000 births	+9.5%
1992	6.9 Deaths per 1 000 births	-14.8%
1993	6.1 Deaths per 1 000 births	-11.6%
1994	6.1 Deaths per 1 000 births	+0.0%
1995	6.1 Deaths per 1 000 births	+0.0%
1996	7.2 Deaths per 1 000 births	+18.0%
1997	7.2 Deaths per 1 000 births	+0.0%
1998	5.9 Deaths per 1 000 births	-18.1%
1999	7.4 Deaths per 1 000 births	+25.4%
2000	6.4 Deaths per 1 000 births	-13.5%
2001	5.9 Deaths per 1 000 births	-7.8%
2002	6.7 Deaths per 1 000 births	+13.6%
2003	6 Deaths per 1 000 births	-10.4%
2004	6.6 Deaths per 1 000 births	+10.0%
2005	5.7 Deaths per 1 000 births	-13.6%
2006	5.3 Deaths per 1 000 births	-7.0%
2007	5.6 Deaths per 1 000 births	+5.7%
2008	6.3 Deaths per 1 000 births	+12.5%
2009	6 Deaths per 1 000 births	-4.8%
2010	6.3 Deaths per 1 000 births	+5.0%
2011	6.1 Deaths per 1 000 births	-3.2%
2012	5.5 Deaths per 1 000 births	-9.8%
2013	5.6 Deaths per 1 000 births	+1.8%
2014	6.1 Deaths per 1 000 births	+8.9%
2015	5 Deaths per 1 000 births	-18.0%
2016	5.5 Deaths per 1 000 births	+10.0%
2017	5.6 Deaths per 1 000 births	+1.8%
2018	5.3 Deaths per 1 000 births	-5.4%
2019	5.2 Deaths per 1 000 births	-1.9%
2020	5.8 Deaths per 1 000 births	+11.5%
2021	6.6 Deaths per 1 000 births	+13.8%

Averages by decade

Decade	Average	Lowest	Highest	Years
1960s	27 Deaths per 1 000 births	27 Deaths per 1 000 births	27 Deaths per 1 000 births	1
1970s	15.91 Deaths per 1 000 births	12.1 Deaths per 1 000 births	20 Deaths per 1 000 births	9
1980s	9.48 Deaths per 1 000 births	8.2 Deaths per 1 000 births	12.2 Deaths per 1 000 births	10
1990s	6.84 Deaths per 1 000 births	5.9 Deaths per 1 000 births	8.1 Deaths per 1 000 births	10
2000s	6.05 Deaths per 1 000 births	5.3 Deaths per 1 000 births	6.7 Deaths per 1 000 births	10
2010s	5.62 Deaths per 1 000 births	5 Deaths per 1 000 births	6.3 Deaths per 1 000 births	10
2020s	6.2 Deaths per 1 000 births	5.8 Deaths per 1 000 births	6.6 Deaths per 1 000 births	2

Countries ranked near New Zealand

7 Ukraine 9.5 Deaths per 1 000 births compare
7 Estonia 1.7 Deaths per 1 000 births compare
8 Bulgaria 7.3 Deaths per 1 000 births compare
9 Switzerland 6.7 Deaths per 1 000 births compare
11 Belgium 6.4 Deaths per 1 000 births compare
12 Austria 6.3 Deaths per 1 000 births compare
13 Hungary 6.2 Deaths per 1 000 births compare

See the full ranking of 43 places →

More health data for New Zealand

Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -2.94 % change on previous year (2100)
Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate -0.4815 % change on previous year (2090)
Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,116 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
Number of infants who die before age 1 33 deaths (2100)
Population ages 0-14, female, annual growth rate -0.6935 % change on previous year (2025)
Population ages 0-14, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Population ages 0-14, female, per capita 0.087 units per person (2025)
Population ages 0-14, male, annual growth rate -0.6744 % change on previous year (2025)
Population ages 0-14, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Population ages 0-14, male, per capita 0.0918 units per person (2025)

All data for New Zealand →

Frequently asked questions

What is maternal and infant mortality — perinatal mortality in New Zealand?: Maternal and infant mortality — perinatal mortality in New Zealand was 6.6 Deaths per 1 000 births in 2021, according to Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
What is the highest maternal and infant mortality — perinatal mortality recorded in New Zealand?: The highest recorded value was 27 Deaths per 1 000 births in 1960.
What is the lowest maternal and infant mortality — perinatal mortality recorded in New Zealand?: The lowest recorded value was 5 Deaths per 1 000 births in 2015.
How does New Zealand rank for maternal and infant mortality — perinatal mortality?: New Zealand ranks 10th out of 33 countries with data for 2021.
Is maternal and infant mortality — perinatal mortality rising or falling in New Zealand?: Over the last ten years it is up 8.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this New Zealand 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 New Zealand. Statizoid, drawing on Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Retrieved 29 August 2026, from https://health.statizoid.com/stat/maternal-and-infant-mortality-perinatal-mortality/new-zealand/

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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.