What is maternal mortality ratio in Australia?

Maternal mortality ratio in Australia was 2.94 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2020, according to UN MMEIG (2023) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data.

What is the highest maternal mortality ratio recorded in Australia?

The highest recorded value was 643 deaths per 100,000 live births in 1875.

What is the lowest maternal mortality ratio recorded in Australia?

The lowest recorded value was 2.94 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2020.

How does Australia rank for maternal mortality ratio?

Australia ranks 182nd out of 189 countries with data for 2020.

Is maternal mortality ratio rising or falling in Australia?

Over the last ten years it is down 46.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.

Where does this Australia data come from?

The figures come from UN MMEIG (2023) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Maternal mortality ratio. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

Maternal mortality ratio in Australia

Name: Maternal mortality ratio in Australia
Creator: UN MMEIG (2023) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data
License: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)

Australia: Maternal mortality ratio was 2.94 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2020. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2020)

2.94 deaths per 100,000 live births

Change on year

down 42.2%

World rank

182nd

of 189 countries

All-time high

643 deaths per 100,000 live births

in 1875

All-time low

2.94 deaths per 100,000 live births

in 2020

Years of data

119

1875–2020

Maternal mortality ratio in Australia, 1875–2020

Source: UN MMEIG (2023) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in deaths per 100,000 live births.

Analysis

In 2020, maternal mortality ratio in Australia stood at 2.94 deaths per 100,000 live births. That is the lowest value across all 119 years on record.

The figure is down 42.2% on the previous year and down 46.0% over ten years.

Over the whole period, maternal mortality ratio in Australia peaked at 643 deaths per 100,000 live births in 1875 and was at its lowest, 2.94 deaths per 100,000 live births, in 2020.

That places Australia 182nd out of 189 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the bottom quarter.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Averages by decade

Decade	Average	Lowest	Highest	Years
1870s	643 deaths per 100,000 live births	643 deaths per 100,000 live births	643 deaths per 100,000 live births	1
1880s	592 deaths per 100,000 live births	592 deaths per 100,000 live births	592 deaths per 100,000 live births	1
1890s	560 deaths per 100,000 live births	560 deaths per 100,000 live births	560 deaths per 100,000 live births	1
1900s	550.51 deaths per 100,000 live births	505.82 deaths per 100,000 live births	609 deaths per 100,000 live births	5
1910s	489.34 deaths per 100,000 live births	425.59 deaths per 100,000 live births	563.23 deaths per 100,000 live births	10
1920s	527.47 deaths per 100,000 live births	451.65 deaths per 100,000 live births	598.16 deaths per 100,000 live births	10
1930s	508.24 deaths per 100,000 live births	409.31 deaths per 100,000 live births	599.62 deaths per 100,000 live births	10
1940s	259.86 deaths per 100,000 live births	121.37 deaths per 100,000 live births	407.61 deaths per 100,000 live births	10
1950s	72.35 deaths per 100,000 live births	46.5 deaths per 100,000 live births	110.19 deaths per 100,000 live births	10
1960s	32.85 deaths per 100,000 live births	17.66 deaths per 100,000 live births	53.19 deaths per 100,000 live births	10
1970s	11.94 deaths per 100,000 live births	5.44 deaths per 100,000 live births	25.67 deaths per 100,000 live births	10
1980s	8.37 deaths per 100,000 live births	6.3 deaths per 100,000 live births	10.63 deaths per 100,000 live births	10
1990s	8.25 deaths per 100,000 live births	7.18 deaths per 100,000 live births	9.35 deaths per 100,000 live births	10
2000s	5.34 deaths per 100,000 live births	4.57 deaths per 100,000 live births	6.69 deaths per 100,000 live births	10
2010s	5.33 deaths per 100,000 live births	4.42 deaths per 100,000 live births	5.99 deaths per 100,000 live births	10
2020s	2.94 deaths per 100,000 live births	2.94 deaths per 100,000 live births	2.94 deaths per 100,000 live births	1

Countries ranked near Australia

179 Czechia 3.37 deaths per 100,000 live births compare
180 Seychelles 3.33 deaths per 100,000 live births compare
181 North Macedonia 3.04 deaths per 100,000 live births compare
184 Israel 2.84 deaths per 100,000 live births compare
185 Iceland 2.65 deaths per 100,000 live births compare

See the full ranking of 189 places →

More health data for Australia

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)
Deaths in armed conflicts based on where they occurred 0 deaths (2026)
Deaths in armed conflicts by region 0 deaths (2026)
Age population, age 25, male, interpolated 178,762 (2025)
Age population, age 25, female, interpolated 168,402 (2025)
Age population, age 24, male, interpolated 173,667 (2025)
Age population, age 24, female, interpolated 163,850 (2025)
Age population, age 23, male, interpolated 166,847 (2025)
Age population, age 23, female, interpolated 158,717 (2025)

All data for Australia →

Frequently asked questions

What is maternal mortality ratio in Australia?: Maternal mortality ratio in Australia was 2.94 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2020, according to UN MMEIG (2023) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data.
What is the highest maternal mortality ratio recorded in Australia?: The highest recorded value was 643 deaths per 100,000 live births in 1875.
What is the lowest maternal mortality ratio recorded in Australia?: The lowest recorded value was 2.94 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2020.
How does Australia rank for maternal mortality ratio?: Australia ranks 182nd out of 189 countries with data for 2020.
Is maternal mortality ratio rising or falling in Australia?: Over the last ten years it is down 46.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Australia data come from?: The figures come from UN MMEIG (2023) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Maternal mortality ratio. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

Download this data

CSV · JSON — 119 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).

About this data

Indicator: Maternal mortality ratio
Unit: deaths per 100,000 live births
Source: UN MMEIG (2023) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data
Licence: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage: 189 places, 8,868 data points, 1751–2020
Last refreshed: 07 August 2026

The estimated number of women who die from maternal conditions per 100,000 live births, based on data from death certificates, large-scale surveys, and statistical modeling.