Maternal mortality ratio in Australia
Australia: Maternal mortality ratio was 2.33 per 100,000 live births in 2023. ▼ Falling
Maternal mortality ratio in Australia, 2000–2023
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Measured in per 100,000 live births.
Analysis
The most recent figure for maternal mortality ratio in Australia is 2.33 per 100,000 live births, measured in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 24 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it 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 6.62 per 100,000 live births in 2000 and was at its lowest, 2.33 per 100,000 live births, in 2023.
That places Australia 208th out of 212 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 24 years of available data.
Maternal mortality ratio in Australia, year by year
| Year | per 100,000 live births | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 6.62 per 100,000 live births | — |
| 2001 | 5.81 per 100,000 live births | -12.2% |
| 2002 | 5.51 per 100,000 live births | -5.0% |
| 2003 | 5.44 per 100,000 live births | -1.4% |
| 2004 | 5.13 per 100,000 live births | -5.6% |
| 2005 | 4.83 per 100,000 live births | -5.9% |
| 2006 | 4.91 per 100,000 live births | +1.8% |
| 2007 | 5.05 per 100,000 live births | +2.9% |
| 2008 | 4.96 per 100,000 live births | -1.9% |
| 2009 | 5.34 per 100,000 live births | +7.8% |
| 2010 | 5.4 per 100,000 live births | +1.0% |
| 2011 | 5.82 per 100,000 live births | +7.9% |
| 2012 | 5.81 per 100,000 live births | -0.2% |
| 2013 | 5.9 per 100,000 live births | +1.5% |
| 2014 | 5.98 per 100,000 live births | +1.4% |
| 2015 | 5.9 per 100,000 live births | -1.3% |
| 2016 | 5.93 per 100,000 live births | +0.5% |
| 2017 | 5.63 per 100,000 live births | -5.1% |
| 2018 | 5.35 per 100,000 live births | -4.9% |
| 2019 | 5.29 per 100,000 live births | -1.1% |
| 2020 | 5.14 per 100,000 live births | -2.9% |
| 2021 | 4.33 per 100,000 live births | -15.8% |
| 2022 | 3.6 per 100,000 live births | -16.9% |
| 2023 | 2.33 per 100,000 live births | -35.1% |
Australia compared with similar countries
- Australia's 2.33 per 100,000 live births is below the median for high income countries, which is 7.67 per 100,000 live births, 30% of the median. (63 countries reporting)
- Australia's 2.33 per 100,000 live births is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 81.76 per 100,000 live births, 3% of the median. (28 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Maternal mortality ratio in Australia changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | -35.1% | 3.6 per 100,000 live births | 2.33 per 100,000 live births |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 5.36 per 100,000 live births | 4.83 per 100,000 live births | 6.62 per 100,000 live births | 10 |
| 2010s | 5.7 per 100,000 live births | 5.29 per 100,000 live births | 5.98 per 100,000 live births | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.85 per 100,000 live births | 2.33 per 100,000 live births | 5.14 per 100,000 live births | 4 |
Countries ranked near Australia
- 205 Czechia 2.7 per 100,000 live births compare
- 206 United Arab Emirates 2.54 per 100,000 live births compare
- 207 Israel 2.49 per 100,000 live births compare
- 209 Poland 1.57 per 100,000 live births compare
- 210 Norway 1.31 per 100,000 live births compare
- 211 Belarus 1.1 per 100,000 live births compare
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)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2021)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 1.45 % 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 0.0279 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 1.35 % 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 Australia?
- Maternal mortality ratio in Australia was 2.33 per 100,000 live births in 2023, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
- What is the highest maternal mortality ratio recorded in Australia?
- The highest recorded value was 6.62 per 100,000 live births in 2000.
- What is the lowest maternal mortality ratio recorded in Australia?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.33 per 100,000 live births in 2023.
- How does Australia rank for maternal mortality ratio?
- Australia ranks 208th out of 212 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 United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database, published as part of Maternal mortality ratio. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 24 observations, free to reuse under UN SDG Global Database (open, attribution requested).