Maternal mortality ratio in France
France: Maternal mortality ratio was 7.3 Deaths per 100 000 live births in 2023. ▼ Falling
Latest (2023)
7.3 Deaths per 100 000 live births
Change on year
down 16.1%
World rank
159th
of 195 countries
All-time high
20.2 Deaths per 100 000 live births
in 1985
All-time low
7.3 Deaths per 100 000 live births
in 2023
Years of data
39
1985–2023
Maternal mortality ratio in France, 1985–2023
Source: World Health Organization – Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in Deaths per 100 000 live births.
Analysis
The most recent figure for maternal mortality ratio in France is 7.3 Deaths per 100 000 live births, measured in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 39 years on record.
That represents a change of down 16.1% on the previous year and down 17.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, maternal mortality ratio in France peaked at 20.2 Deaths per 100 000 live births in 1985 and was at its lowest, 7.3 Deaths per 100 000 live births, in 2023.
That places France 159th out of 195 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 39 years of available data.
Maternal mortality ratio in France, year by year
| Year | Deaths per 100 000 live births | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 20.2 Deaths per 100 000 live births | — |
| 1986 | 19.75 Deaths per 100 000 live births | -2.2% |
| 1987 | 18.95 Deaths per 100 000 live births | -4.1% |
| 1988 | 18.83 Deaths per 100 000 live births | -0.6% |
| 1989 | 18.63 Deaths per 100 000 live births | -1.1% |
| 1990 | 17.74 Deaths per 100 000 live births | -4.8% |
| 1991 | 17.68 Deaths per 100 000 live births | -0.3% |
| 1992 | 17.18 Deaths per 100 000 live births | -2.9% |
| 1993 | 16.49 Deaths per 100 000 live births | -4.0% |
| 1994 | 15.28 Deaths per 100 000 live births | -7.3% |
| 1995 | 14.7 Deaths per 100 000 live births | -3.8% |
| 1996 | 13.14 Deaths per 100 000 live births | -10.6% |
| 1997 | 11.42 Deaths per 100 000 live births | -13.1% |
| 1998 | 10.5 Deaths per 100 000 live births | -8.1% |
| 1999 | 9.94 Deaths per 100 000 live births | -5.3% |
| 2000 | 9.43 Deaths per 100 000 live births | -5.2% |
| 2001 | 9.3 Deaths per 100 000 live births | -1.4% |
| 2002 | 9.28 Deaths per 100 000 live births | -0.2% |
| 2003 | 9.24 Deaths per 100 000 live births | -0.5% |
| 2004 | 9.08 Deaths per 100 000 live births | -1.7% |
| 2005 | 9.17 Deaths per 100 000 live births | +1.0% |
| 2006 | 9.31 Deaths per 100 000 live births | +1.5% |
| 2007 | 9.3 Deaths per 100 000 live births | -0.1% |
| 2008 | 9.6 Deaths per 100 000 live births | +3.2% |
| 2009 | 9.73 Deaths per 100 000 live births | +1.3% |
| 2010 | 9.43 Deaths per 100 000 live births | -3.1% |
| 2011 | 9.27 Deaths per 100 000 live births | -1.7% |
| 2012 | 9.08 Deaths per 100 000 live births | -2.1% |
| 2013 | 8.88 Deaths per 100 000 live births | -2.2% |
| 2014 | 8.82 Deaths per 100 000 live births | -0.8% |
| 2015 | 8.78 Deaths per 100 000 live births | -0.5% |
| 2016 | 8.76 Deaths per 100 000 live births | -0.2% |
| 2017 | 8.45 Deaths per 100 000 live births | -3.5% |
| 2018 | 8.59 Deaths per 100 000 live births | +1.6% |
| 2019 | 8.36 Deaths per 100 000 live births | -2.6% |
| 2020 | 8.89 Deaths per 100 000 live births | +6.3% |
| 2021 | 8.79 Deaths per 100 000 live births | -1.1% |
| 2022 | 8.7 Deaths per 100 000 live births | -1.0% |
| 2023 | 7.3 Deaths per 100 000 live births | -16.1% |
France compared with similar countries
- France's 7.3 Deaths per 100 000 live births is below the median for high income countries, which is 7.67 Deaths per 100 000 live births, 95% of the median. (64 countries reporting)
- France's 7.3 Deaths per 100 000 live births is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 6.48 Deaths per 100 000 live births, 1.1× the median. (51 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 19.27 Deaths per 100 000 live births | 18.63 Deaths per 100 000 live births | 20.2 Deaths per 100 000 live births | 5 |
| 1990s | 14.41 Deaths per 100 000 live births | 9.94 Deaths per 100 000 live births | 17.74 Deaths per 100 000 live births | 10 |
| 2000s | 9.34 Deaths per 100 000 live births | 9.08 Deaths per 100 000 live births | 9.73 Deaths per 100 000 live births | 10 |
| 2010s | 8.84 Deaths per 100 000 live births | 8.36 Deaths per 100 000 live births | 9.43 Deaths per 100 000 live births | 10 |
| 2020s | 8.42 Deaths per 100 000 live births | 7.3 Deaths per 100 000 live births | 8.89 Deaths per 100 000 live births | 4 |
Countries ranked near France
- 156 Lithuania 7.67 Deaths per 100 000 live births compare
- 157 San Marino 7.66 Deaths per 100 000 live births compare
- 158 Saudi Arabia 7.36 Deaths per 100 000 live births compare
- 160 New Zealand 7.03 Deaths per 100 000 live births compare
- 161 Albania 6.87 Deaths per 100 000 live births compare
- 162 Italy 6.48 Deaths per 100 000 live births compare
More health data for France
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.31 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.0689 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,016 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 603 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2024)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -0.7875 % 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 0.0244 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -0.8291 % 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 maternal mortality ratio in France?
- Maternal mortality ratio in France was 7.3 Deaths per 100 000 live births in 2023, according to World Health Organization – Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest maternal mortality ratio recorded in France?
- The highest recorded value was 20.2 Deaths per 100 000 live births in 1985.
- What is the lowest maternal mortality ratio recorded in France?
- The lowest recorded value was 7.3 Deaths per 100 000 live births in 2023.
- How does France rank for maternal mortality ratio?
- France ranks 159th out of 195 countries with data for 2023.
- Is maternal mortality ratio rising or falling in France?
- Over the last ten years it is down 17.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this France data come from?
- The figures come from World Health Organization – Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Maternal mortality ratio. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Estimated number of women who die from maternal conditions per 100,000 live births.