Maternal mortality ratio in Australia

Australia: Maternal mortality ratio was 2.33 in 2023. ▼ Falling

Latest (2023)
2.33
Change on year
down 35.1%
World rank
190th
of 194 countries
All-time high
9
in 1989
All-time low
2.33
in 2023
Years of data
39
1985–2023

Maternal mortality ratio in Australia, 1985–2023

24681985200420231985: 8.81986: 8.51987: 8.71988: 8.81989: 91990: 8.81991: 8.91992: 8.91993: 8.71994: 8.81995: 8.51996: 81997: 81998: 7.41999: 7.12000: 6.62001: 5.82002: 5.52003: 5.42004: 5.12005: 4.82006: 4.92007: 5.12008: 52009: 5.32010: 5.42011: 5.82012: 5.82013: 5.92014: 62015: 5.92016: 5.92017: 5.62018: 5.42019: 5.32020: 5.12021: 4.32022: 3.62023: 2.3

Source: World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory.

Analysis

Australia recorded 2.33 for maternal mortality ratio in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 39 years on record.

The figure is down 35.1% on the previous year and down 60.4% over ten years.

Over the whole period, maternal mortality ratio in Australia peaked at 9 in 1989 and was at its lowest, 2.33, 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

Annual values for Maternal mortality ratio (per 100 000 live births) in Australia, 1985 to 2023.
Year Value Change
1985 8.77
1986 8.49 -3.2%
1987 8.7 +2.5%
1988 8.77 +0.7%
1989 9 +2.6%
1990 8.76 -2.6%
1991 8.93 +2.0%
1992 8.87 -0.6%
1993 8.7 -2.0%
1994 8.79 +1.1%
1995 8.52 -3.1%
1996 8.04 -5.6%
1997 7.96 -1.1%
1998 7.44 -6.5%
1999 7.1 -4.6%
2000 6.62 -6.8%
2001 5.81 -12.2%
2002 5.51 -5.0%
2003 5.44 -1.4%
2004 5.13 -5.6%
2005 4.83 -5.9%
2006 4.91 +1.8%
2007 5.05 +2.9%
2008 4.96 -1.9%
2009 5.34 +7.8%
2010 5.4 +1.0%
2011 5.82 +7.9%
2012 5.81 -0.2%
2013 5.9 +1.5%
2014 5.98 +1.4%
2015 5.9 -1.3%
2016 5.93 +0.5%
2017 5.63 -5.1%
2018 5.35 -4.9%
2019 5.29 -1.1%
2020 5.14 -2.9%
2021 4.33 -15.8%
2022 3.6 -16.9%
2023 2.33 -35.1%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1980s 8.75 8.49 9 5
1990s 8.31 7.1 8.93 10
2000s 5.36 4.83 6.62 10
2010s 5.7 5.29 5.98 10
2020s 3.85 2.33 5.14 4

Countries ranked near Australia

  1. 187 Czechia 2.7 compare
  2. 188 United Arab Emirates 2.54 compare
  3. 189 Israel 2.49 compare
  4. 191 Poland 1.57 compare
  5. 192 Norway 1.31 compare
  6. 193 Belarus 1.1 compare

See the full ranking of 202 places →

More health data for Australia

All data for Australia →

Frequently asked questions

What is maternal mortality ratio in Australia?
Maternal mortality ratio in Australia was 2.33 in 2023, according to World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory.
What is the highest maternal mortality ratio recorded in Australia?
The highest recorded value was 9 in 1989.
What is the lowest maternal mortality ratio recorded in Australia?
The lowest recorded value was 2.33 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 60.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this Australia data come from?
The figures come from World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory, published as part of Maternal mortality ratio (per 100 000 live births). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Maternal mortality ratio in Australia. Statizoid, drawing on World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory. Retrieved 25 August 2026, from https://health.statizoid.com/stat/maternal-mortality-ratio-per-100-000-live-births/australia/

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About this data

Indicator
Maternal mortality ratio (per 100 000 live births)
Source
World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory
Licence
CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO (WHO)
Coverage
202 places, 7,878 data points, 1985–2023
Last refreshed