Maternal mortality ratio vs. births attended by skilled health staff in Canada
Canada: Maternal mortality ratio vs. births attended by skilled health staff was 11.01 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2020. ▲ Rising
Latest (2020)
11.01 deaths per 100,000 live births
Change on year
down 1.3%
World rank
141st
of 185 countries
All-time high
12.77 deaths per 100,000 live births
in 2008
All-time low
6 deaths per 100,000 live births
in 1987
Years of data
36
1985–2020
Maternal mortality ratio vs. births attended by skilled health staff in Canada, 1985–2020
Source: UN MMEIG (2023) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in deaths per 100,000 live births.
Analysis
Canada recorded 11.01 deaths per 100,000 live births for maternal mortality ratio vs. births attended by skilled health staff in 2020.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 1.3% on the previous year and down 7.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, maternal mortality ratio vs. births attended by skilled health staff in Canada peaked at 12.77 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2008 and was at its lowest, 6 deaths per 100,000 live births, in 1987.
Canada ranks 141st of 185 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 36 years of available data.
Maternal mortality ratio vs. births attended by skilled health staff in Canada, year by year
| Year | deaths per 100,000 live births | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 6.95 deaths per 100,000 live births | — |
| 1986 | 7.02 deaths per 100,000 live births | +0.9% |
| 1987 | 6 deaths per 100,000 live births | -14.6% |
| 1988 | 7.01 deaths per 100,000 live births | +16.8% |
| 1989 | 7.15 deaths per 100,000 live births | +2.0% |
| 1990 | 6.89 deaths per 100,000 live births | -3.6% |
| 1991 | 6.59 deaths per 100,000 live births | -4.3% |
| 1992 | 6.9 deaths per 100,000 live births | +4.6% |
| 1993 | 7.46 deaths per 100,000 live births | +8.1% |
| 1994 | 7.64 deaths per 100,000 live births | +2.3% |
| 1995 | 8.22 deaths per 100,000 live births | +7.6% |
| 1996 | 8.93 deaths per 100,000 live births | +8.7% |
| 1997 | 7.8 deaths per 100,000 live births | -12.7% |
| 1998 | 8.17 deaths per 100,000 live births | +4.8% |
| 1999 | 8.64 deaths per 100,000 live births | +5.7% |
| 2000 | 9.3 deaths per 100,000 live births | +7.7% |
| 2001 | 9.82 deaths per 100,000 live births | +5.6% |
| 2002 | 10.38 deaths per 100,000 live births | +5.7% |
| 2003 | 10.59 deaths per 100,000 live births | +2.1% |
| 2004 | 10.66 deaths per 100,000 live births | +0.6% |
| 2005 | 11.33 deaths per 100,000 live births | +6.3% |
| 2006 | 10.97 deaths per 100,000 live births | -3.2% |
| 2007 | 10.56 deaths per 100,000 live births | -3.8% |
| 2008 | 12.77 deaths per 100,000 live births | +21.0% |
| 2009 | 12.61 deaths per 100,000 live births | -1.3% |
| 2010 | 11.94 deaths per 100,000 live births | -5.3% |
| 2011 | 11.86 deaths per 100,000 live births | -0.7% |
| 2012 | 11.83 deaths per 100,000 live births | -0.3% |
| 2013 | 11.48 deaths per 100,000 live births | -2.9% |
| 2014 | 11.68 deaths per 100,000 live births | +1.8% |
| 2015 | 11.66 deaths per 100,000 live births | -0.2% |
| 2016 | 12.52 deaths per 100,000 live births | +7.4% |
| 2017 | 12.58 deaths per 100,000 live births | +0.4% |
| 2018 | 11 deaths per 100,000 live births | -12.5% |
| 2019 | 11.16 deaths per 100,000 live births | +1.4% |
| 2020 | 11.01 deaths per 100,000 live births | -1.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 6.82 deaths per 100,000 live births | 6 deaths per 100,000 live births | 7.15 deaths per 100,000 live births | 5 |
| 1990s | 7.72 deaths per 100,000 live births | 6.59 deaths per 100,000 live births | 8.93 deaths per 100,000 live births | 10 |
| 2000s | 10.9 deaths per 100,000 live births | 9.3 deaths per 100,000 live births | 12.77 deaths per 100,000 live births | 10 |
| 2010s | 11.77 deaths per 100,000 live births | 11 deaths per 100,000 live births | 12.58 deaths per 100,000 live births | 10 |
| 2020s | 11.01 deaths per 100,000 live births | 11.01 deaths per 100,000 live births | 11.01 deaths per 100,000 live births | 1 |
Countries ranked near Canada
- 138 Kazakhstan 13.38 deaths per 100,000 live births compare
- 139 Republic of Moldova 12.26 deaths per 100,000 live births compare
- 140 Portugal 11.8 deaths per 100,000 live births compare
- 142 Serbia 10.18 deaths per 100,000 live births compare
- 143 Romania 10.07 deaths per 100,000 live births compare
- 144 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 9.84 deaths per 100,000 live births compare
More health data for Canada
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- 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)
- Total tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 3 (2025)
- Total tetanus - number of reported cases, per capita 0 units per person (2025)
- Diphtheria - number of reported cases, gaps filled 5 (2025)
- Diphtheria - number of reported cases, per capita 0 units per person (2025)
- Measles - number of reported cases, gaps filled 5,072 (2025)
- Measles - number of reported cases, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is maternal mortality ratio vs. births attended by skilled health staff in Canada?
- Maternal mortality ratio vs. births attended by skilled health staff in Canada was 11.01 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2020, according to UN MMEIG (2023) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest maternal mortality ratio vs. births attended by skilled health staff recorded in Canada?
- The highest recorded value was 12.77 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2008.
- What is the lowest maternal mortality ratio vs. births attended by skilled health staff recorded in Canada?
- The lowest recorded value was 6 deaths per 100,000 live births in 1987.
- How does Canada rank for maternal mortality ratio vs. births attended by skilled health staff?
- Canada ranks 141st out of 185 countries with data for 2020.
- Is maternal mortality ratio vs. births attended by skilled health staff rising or falling in Canada?
- Over the last ten years it is down 7.8%. 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 Maternal mortality ratio vs. births attended by skilled health staff. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
The estimated maternal mortality ratio (MMR) is the number of maternal deaths per 100,000 live births.