Maternal mortality ratio in Australia
Australia: Maternal mortality ratio was 2 in 2023. ▼ Falling
Maternal mortality ratio in Australia, 1985–2023
Source: Trends in Maternal Mortality, World Health Organization (WHO).
Analysis
The most recent figure for maternal mortality ratio in Australia is 2, measured in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 39 years on record.
The figure is down 50.0% on the previous year and down 66.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, maternal mortality ratio in Australia peaked at 9 in 1985 and was at its lowest, 2, in 2023.
Australia ranks 190th of 194 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 39 years of available data.
Maternal mortality ratio in Australia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 9 | — |
| 1986 | 8 | -11.1% |
| 1987 | 9 | +12.5% |
| 1988 | 9 | +0.0% |
| 1989 | 9 | +0.0% |
| 1990 | 9 | +0.0% |
| 1991 | 9 | +0.0% |
| 1992 | 9 | +0.0% |
| 1993 | 9 | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 9 | +0.0% |
| 1995 | 9 | +0.0% |
| 1996 | 8 | -11.1% |
| 1997 | 8 | +0.0% |
| 1998 | 7 | -12.5% |
| 1999 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 2000 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 2001 | 6 | -14.3% |
| 2002 | 6 | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 5 | -16.7% |
| 2004 | 5 | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 5 | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 5 | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 5 | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 5 | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 5 | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 5 | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 6 | +20.0% |
| 2012 | 6 | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 6 | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 6 | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 6 | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 6 | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 6 | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 5 | -16.7% |
| 2019 | 5 | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 5 | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 4 | -20.0% |
| 2022 | 4 | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 2 | -50.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 8.8 | 8 | 9 | 5 |
| 1990s | 8.4 | 7 | 9 | 10 |
| 2000s | 5.4 | 5 | 7 | 10 |
| 2010s | 5.7 | 5 | 6 | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.75 | 2 | 5 | 4 |
Countries ranked near Australia
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)
- Population ages 0-14, female, annual growth rate 0.6511 % 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 0.086 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, male, annual growth rate 0.5937 % 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 0.0908 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is maternal mortality ratio in Australia?
- Maternal mortality ratio in Australia was 2 in 2023, according to Trends in Maternal Mortality, World Health Organization (WHO).
- What is the highest maternal mortality ratio recorded in Australia?
- The highest recorded value was 9 in 1985.
- What is the lowest maternal mortality ratio recorded in Australia?
- The lowest recorded value was 2 in 2023.
- How does Australia rank for maternal mortality ratio?
- Australia ranks 190th out of 194 countries with data for 2023.
- Is maternal mortality ratio rising or falling in Australia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 66.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Australia 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).