Number of maternal deaths in Canada
Canada: Number of maternal deaths was 40.86 deaths in 2020. ▲ Rising
Latest (2020)
40.86 deaths
Change on year
up 0.9%
World rank
102nd
of 185 countries
All-time high
47.64 deaths
in 2008
All-time low
23.14 deaths
in 1987
Years of data
36
1985–2020
Number of maternal deaths in Canada, 1985–2020
Source: UN MMEIG (2023) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in deaths.
Analysis
The most recent figure for number of maternal deaths in Canada is 40.86 deaths, measured in 2020.
The figure is up 0.9% on the previous year and down 8.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of maternal deaths in Canada peaked at 47.64 deaths in 2008 and was at its lowest, 23.14 deaths, in 1987.
Canada ranks 102nd of 185 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 36 years of available data.
Number of maternal deaths in Canada, year by year
| Year | deaths | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 26.99 deaths | — |
| 1986 | 27.23 deaths | +0.9% |
| 1987 | 23.14 deaths | -15.0% |
| 1988 | 27.67 deaths | +19.6% |
| 1989 | 29.52 deaths | +6.7% |
| 1990 | 29.42 deaths | -0.4% |
| 1991 | 26.7 deaths | -9.2% |
| 1992 | 27.53 deaths | +3.1% |
| 1993 | 29.1 deaths | +5.7% |
| 1994 | 29.47 deaths | +1.3% |
| 1995 | 31.07 deaths | +5.4% |
| 1996 | 32.69 deaths | +5.2% |
| 1997 | 27.21 deaths | -16.8% |
| 1998 | 27.96 deaths | +2.7% |
| 1999 | 29.03 deaths | +3.8% |
| 2000 | 30.05 deaths | +3.5% |
| 2001 | 32.02 deaths | +6.5% |
| 2002 | 33.73 deaths | +5.3% |
| 2003 | 34.96 deaths | +3.6% |
| 2004 | 35.28 deaths | +0.9% |
| 2005 | 38.07 deaths | +7.9% |
| 2006 | 38.07 deaths | -0.0% |
| 2007 | 38.43 deaths | +0.9% |
| 2008 | 47.64 deaths | +24.0% |
| 2009 | 47.42 deaths | -0.5% |
| 2010 | 44.54 deaths | -6.1% |
| 2011 | 44.36 deaths | -0.4% |
| 2012 | 44.71 deaths | +0.8% |
| 2013 | 43.16 deaths | -3.5% |
| 2014 | 44.16 deaths | +2.3% |
| 2015 | 43.26 deaths | -2.0% |
| 2016 | 46.21 deaths | +6.8% |
| 2017 | 47.05 deaths | +1.8% |
| 2018 | 40.59 deaths | -13.7% |
| 2019 | 40.5 deaths | -0.2% |
| 2020 | 40.86 deaths | +0.9% |
Canada compared with similar countries
- Canada's 40.86 deaths is above the median for high income countries, which is 5.26 deaths, 7.8× the median. (58 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 26.91 deaths | 23.14 deaths | 29.52 deaths | 5 |
| 1990s | 29.02 deaths | 26.7 deaths | 32.69 deaths | 10 |
| 2000s | 37.57 deaths | 30.05 deaths | 47.64 deaths | 10 |
| 2010s | 43.85 deaths | 40.5 deaths | 47.05 deaths | 10 |
| 2020s | 40.86 deaths | 40.86 deaths | 40.86 deaths | 1 |
Countries ranked near Canada
More health data for Canada
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.79 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate -0.3588 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,083 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 385 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 0.5214 % 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 0.023 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 0.5024 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is number of maternal deaths in Canada?
- Number of maternal deaths in Canada was 40.86 deaths in 2020, according to UN MMEIG (2023) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest number of maternal deaths recorded in Canada?
- The highest recorded value was 47.64 deaths in 2008.
- What is the lowest number of maternal deaths recorded in Canada?
- The lowest recorded value was 23.14 deaths in 1987.
- How does Canada rank for number of maternal deaths?
- Canada ranks 102nd out of 185 countries with data for 2020.
- Is number of maternal deaths rising or falling in Canada?
- Over the last ten years it is down 8.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Canada data come from?
- The figures come from UN MMEIG (2023) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Number of maternal deaths. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 36 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Estimated number of maternal deaths in a given year.