Maternal mortality ratio in Australia
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.
Maternal mortality ratio in Australia, year by year
| Year | deaths per 100,000 live births | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1875 | 643 deaths per 100,000 live births | — |
| 1885 | 592 deaths per 100,000 live births | -7.9% |
| 1895 | 560 deaths per 100,000 live births | -5.4% |
| 1903 | 609 deaths per 100,000 live births | +8.8% |
| 1906 | 538 deaths per 100,000 live births | -11.7% |
| 1907 | 556.43 deaths per 100,000 live births | +3.4% |
| 1908 | 543.28 deaths per 100,000 live births | -2.4% |
| 1909 | 505.82 deaths per 100,000 live births | -6.9% |
| 1910 | 505.13 deaths per 100,000 live births | -0.1% |
| 1911 | 503.3 deaths per 100,000 live births | -0.4% |
| 1912 | 483.89 deaths per 100,000 live births | -3.9% |
| 1913 | 488.53 deaths per 100,000 live births | +1.0% |
| 1914 | 459.48 deaths per 100,000 live births | -5.9% |
| 1915 | 425.59 deaths per 100,000 live births | -7.4% |
| 1916 | 527.29 deaths per 100,000 live births | +23.9% |
| 1917 | 563.23 deaths per 100,000 live births | +6.8% |
| 1918 | 470.82 deaths per 100,000 live births | -16.4% |
| 1919 | 466.11 deaths per 100,000 live births | -1.0% |
| 1920 | 499.98 deaths per 100,000 live births | +7.3% |
| 1921 | 472.11 deaths per 100,000 live births | -5.6% |
| 1922 | 451.65 deaths per 100,000 live births | -4.3% |
| 1923 | 511.01 deaths per 100,000 live births | +13.1% |
| 1924 | 546.96 deaths per 100,000 live births | +7.0% |
| 1925 | 564.1 deaths per 100,000 live births | +3.1% |
| 1926 | 530.18 deaths per 100,000 live births | -6.0% |
| 1927 | 592.38 deaths per 100,000 live births | +11.7% |
| 1928 | 598.16 deaths per 100,000 live births | +1.0% |
| 1929 | 508.19 deaths per 100,000 live births | -15.0% |
| 1930 | 529.6 deaths per 100,000 live births | +4.2% |
| 1931 | 548.48 deaths per 100,000 live births | +3.6% |
| 1932 | 555.29 deaths per 100,000 live births | +1.2% |
| 1933 | 513.17 deaths per 100,000 live births | -7.6% |
| 1934 | 576.39 deaths per 100,000 live births | +12.3% |
| 1935 | 421.29 deaths per 100,000 live births | -26.9% |
| 1936 | 599.62 deaths per 100,000 live births | +42.3% |
| 1937 | 462.52 deaths per 100,000 live births | -22.9% |
| 1938 | 466.72 deaths per 100,000 live births | +0.9% |
| 1939 | 409.31 deaths per 100,000 live births | -12.3% |
| 1940 | 407.61 deaths per 100,000 live births | -0.4% |
| 1941 | 364.25 deaths per 100,000 live births | -10.6% |
| 1942 | 359.16 deaths per 100,000 live births | -1.4% |
| 1943 | 332.9 deaths per 100,000 live births | -7.3% |
| 1944 | 284.98 deaths per 100,000 live births | -14.4% |
| 1945 | 215.5 deaths per 100,000 live births | -24.4% |
| 1946 | 185.4 deaths per 100,000 live births | -14.0% |
| 1947 | 186.97 deaths per 100,000 live births | +0.8% |
| 1948 | 140.47 deaths per 100,000 live births | -24.9% |
| 1949 | 121.37 deaths per 100,000 live births | -13.6% |
| 1950 | 110.19 deaths per 100,000 live births | -9.2% |
| 1951 | 105.67 deaths per 100,000 live births | -4.1% |
| 1952 | 94.54 deaths per 100,000 live births | -10.5% |
| 1953 | 62.48 deaths per 100,000 live births | -33.9% |
| 1954 | 69.14 deaths per 100,000 live births | +10.7% |
| 1955 | 64.57 deaths per 100,000 live births | -6.6% |
| 1956 | 56.54 deaths per 100,000 live births | -12.4% |
| 1957 | 63.39 deaths per 100,000 live births | +12.1% |
| 1958 | 50.46 deaths per 100,000 live births | -20.4% |
| 1959 | 46.5 deaths per 100,000 live births | -7.9% |
| 1960 | 53.19 deaths per 100,000 live births | +14.4% |
| 1961 | 45.54 deaths per 100,000 live births | -14.4% |
| 1962 | 36.37 deaths per 100,000 live births | -20.1% |
| 1963 | 27.51 deaths per 100,000 live births | -24.4% |
| 1964 | 33.23 deaths per 100,000 live births | +20.8% |
| 1965 | 33.52 deaths per 100,000 live births | +0.9% |
| 1966 | 29.76 deaths per 100,000 live births | -11.2% |
| 1967 | 23.29 deaths per 100,000 live births | -21.7% |
| 1968 | 28.41 deaths per 100,000 live births | +22.0% |
| 1969 | 17.66 deaths per 100,000 live births | -37.8% |
| 1970 | 25.67 deaths per 100,000 live births | +45.4% |
| 1971 | 18.22 deaths per 100,000 live births | -29.0% |
| 1972 | 12.09 deaths per 100,000 live births | -33.6% |
| 1973 | 10.95 deaths per 100,000 live births | -9.4% |
| 1974 | 11.17 deaths per 100,000 live births | +2.0% |
| 1975 | 5.44 deaths per 100,000 live births | -51.3% |
| 1976 | 13.17 deaths per 100,000 live births | +141.9% |
| 1977 | 7.93 deaths per 100,000 live births | -39.8% |
| 1978 | 6.67 deaths per 100,000 live births | -15.8% |
| 1979 | 8.06 deaths per 100,000 live births | +20.8% |
| 1980 | 9.74 deaths per 100,000 live births | +20.8% |
| 1981 | 10.63 deaths per 100,000 live births | +9.1% |
| 1982 | 8.75 deaths per 100,000 live births | -17.7% |
| 1983 | 6.59 deaths per 100,000 live births | -24.7% |
| 1984 | 6.3 deaths per 100,000 live births | -4.4% |
| 1985 | 8.02 deaths per 100,000 live births | +27.3% |
| 1986 | 8.01 deaths per 100,000 live births | -0.1% |
| 1987 | 8.4 deaths per 100,000 live births | +4.9% |
| 1988 | 8.54 deaths per 100,000 live births | +1.7% |
| 1989 | 8.71 deaths per 100,000 live births | +2.0% |
| 1990 | 8.26 deaths per 100,000 live births | -5.3% |
| 1991 | 8.79 deaths per 100,000 live births | +6.4% |
| 1992 | 8.79 deaths per 100,000 live births | +0.1% |
| 1993 | 8.96 deaths per 100,000 live births | +1.9% |
| 1994 | 9.35 deaths per 100,000 live births | +4.4% |
| 1995 | 8.09 deaths per 100,000 live births | -13.5% |
| 1996 | 7.79 deaths per 100,000 live births | -3.7% |
| 1997 | 7.88 deaths per 100,000 live births | +1.2% |
| 1998 | 7.47 deaths per 100,000 live births | -5.3% |
| 1999 | 7.18 deaths per 100,000 live births | -3.9% |
| 2000 | 6.69 deaths per 100,000 live births | -6.7% |
| 2001 | 5.97 deaths per 100,000 live births | -10.8% |
| 2002 | 5.57 deaths per 100,000 live births | -6.8% |
| 2003 | 5.51 deaths per 100,000 live births | -1.0% |
| 2004 | 5.12 deaths per 100,000 live births | -7.2% |
| 2005 | 4.6 deaths per 100,000 live births | -10.2% |
| 2006 | 4.57 deaths per 100,000 live births | -0.6% |
| 2007 | 5.11 deaths per 100,000 live births | +11.8% |
| 2008 | 4.89 deaths per 100,000 live births | -4.3% |
| 2009 | 5.38 deaths per 100,000 live births | +10.0% |
| 2010 | 5.45 deaths per 100,000 live births | +1.3% |
| 2011 | 5.94 deaths per 100,000 live births | +8.9% |
| 2012 | 5.86 deaths per 100,000 live births | -1.3% |
| 2013 | 5.99 deaths per 100,000 live births | +2.3% |
| 2014 | 5.39 deaths per 100,000 live births | -10.1% |
| 2015 | 5.24 deaths per 100,000 live births | -2.7% |
| 2016 | 5.18 deaths per 100,000 live births | -1.3% |
| 2017 | 4.77 deaths per 100,000 live births | -7.8% |
| 2018 | 4.42 deaths per 100,000 live births | -7.3% |
| 2019 | 5.09 deaths per 100,000 live births | +14.9% |
| 2020 | 2.94 deaths per 100,000 live births | -42.2% |
Australia compared with similar countries
- Australia's 2.94 deaths per 100,000 live births is below the median for high income countries, which is 7.61 deaths per 100,000 live births, 39% of the median. (59 countries reporting)
- Australia's 2.94 deaths per 100,000 live births is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 59.08 deaths per 100,000 live births, 5% of the median. (27 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1976 | +141.9% | 5.44 deaths per 100,000 live births | 13.17 deaths per 100,000 live births |
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
- 183 Malta 2.89 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
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 2.94 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.
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About this data
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.