Maternal mortality ratio in Barbados
Barbados: Maternal mortality ratio was 39.11 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2020. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2020)
39.11 deaths per 100,000 live births
Change on year
down 16.1%
World rank
107th
of 189 countries
All-time high
288.11 deaths per 100,000 live births
in 1963
All-time low
19.95 deaths per 100,000 live births
in 1975
Years of data
57
1960–2020
Maternal mortality ratio in Barbados, 1960–2020
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 Barbados stood at 39.11 deaths per 100,000 live births.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 16.1% on the previous year and down 26.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, maternal mortality ratio in Barbados peaked at 288.11 deaths per 100,000 live births in 1963 and was at its lowest, 19.95 deaths per 100,000 live births, in 1975.
Barbados ranks 107th of 189 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Maternal mortality ratio in Barbados, year by year
| Year | deaths per 100,000 live births | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 210.45 deaths per 100,000 live births | — |
| 1961 | 207.67 deaths per 100,000 live births | -1.3% |
| 1962 | 212.06 deaths per 100,000 live births | +2.1% |
| 1963 | 288.11 deaths per 100,000 live births | +35.9% |
| 1964 | 118.73 deaths per 100,000 live births | -58.8% |
| 1966 | 78.37 deaths per 100,000 live births | -34.0% |
| 1967 | 118.26 deaths per 100,000 live births | +50.9% |
| 1968 | 220.65 deaths per 100,000 live births | +86.6% |
| 1969 | 77.53 deaths per 100,000 live births | -64.9% |
| 1970 | 116.49 deaths per 100,000 live births | +50.3% |
| 1971 | 111.82 deaths per 100,000 live births | -4.0% |
| 1972 | 64.31 deaths per 100,000 live births | -42.5% |
| 1973 | 87.32 deaths per 100,000 live births | +35.8% |
| 1974 | 130.57 deaths per 100,000 live births | +49.5% |
| 1975 | 19.95 deaths per 100,000 live births | -84.7% |
| 1976 | 42.89 deaths per 100,000 live births | +115.0% |
| 1977 | 150.96 deaths per 100,000 live births | +252.0% |
| 1978 | 75.51 deaths per 100,000 live births | -50.0% |
| 1979 | 73.57 deaths per 100,000 live births | -2.6% |
| 1980 | 25.32 deaths per 100,000 live births | -65.6% |
| 1984 | 73.01 deaths per 100,000 live births | +188.4% |
| 1985 | 52.67 deaths per 100,000 live births | -27.9% |
| 1986 | 48.99 deaths per 100,000 live births | -7.0% |
| 1987 | 50.03 deaths per 100,000 live births | +2.1% |
| 1988 | 50.04 deaths per 100,000 live births | +0.0% |
| 1989 | 53.2 deaths per 100,000 live births | +6.3% |
| 1990 | 55.69 deaths per 100,000 live births | +4.7% |
| 1991 | 56.52 deaths per 100,000 live births | +1.5% |
| 1992 | 58.8 deaths per 100,000 live births | +4.0% |
| 1993 | 48.76 deaths per 100,000 live births | -17.1% |
| 1994 | 47.58 deaths per 100,000 live births | -2.4% |
| 1995 | 47.74 deaths per 100,000 live births | +0.4% |
| 1996 | 47.83 deaths per 100,000 live births | +0.2% |
| 1997 | 49.06 deaths per 100,000 live births | +2.6% |
| 1998 | 47.57 deaths per 100,000 live births | -3.0% |
| 1999 | 45.86 deaths per 100,000 live births | -3.6% |
| 2000 | 48.44 deaths per 100,000 live births | +5.6% |
| 2001 | 48.57 deaths per 100,000 live births | +0.3% |
| 2002 | 46.78 deaths per 100,000 live births | -3.7% |
| 2003 | 45.08 deaths per 100,000 live births | -3.6% |
| 2004 | 42.73 deaths per 100,000 live births | -5.2% |
| 2005 | 42.63 deaths per 100,000 live births | -0.2% |
| 2006 | 42.12 deaths per 100,000 live births | -1.2% |
| 2007 | 39.78 deaths per 100,000 live births | -5.5% |
| 2008 | 54.14 deaths per 100,000 live births | +36.1% |
| 2009 | 52.6 deaths per 100,000 live births | -2.8% |
| 2010 | 53.29 deaths per 100,000 live births | +1.3% |
| 2011 | 52.59 deaths per 100,000 live births | -1.3% |
| 2012 | 52.17 deaths per 100,000 live births | -0.8% |
| 2013 | 50.57 deaths per 100,000 live births | -3.1% |
| 2014 | 49.38 deaths per 100,000 live births | -2.4% |
| 2015 | 48.76 deaths per 100,000 live births | -1.3% |
| 2016 | 47.86 deaths per 100,000 live births | -1.8% |
| 2017 | 47.35 deaths per 100,000 live births | -1.1% |
| 2018 | 47.1 deaths per 100,000 live births | -0.5% |
| 2019 | 46.62 deaths per 100,000 live births | -1.0% |
| 2020 | 39.11 deaths per 100,000 live births | -16.1% |
Barbados compared with similar countries
- Barbados's 39.11 deaths per 100,000 live births is above the median for high income countries, which is 7.61 deaths per 100,000 live births, 5.1× the median. (59 countries reporting)
- Barbados's 39.11 deaths per 100,000 live births is below the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 71.12 deaths per 100,000 live births, 55% of the median. (33 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Maternal mortality ratio in Barbados 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1977 | +252.0% | 42.89 deaths per 100,000 live births | 150.96 deaths per 100,000 live births |
| 1984 | +188.4% | 25.32 deaths per 100,000 live births | 73.01 deaths per 100,000 live births |
| 1976 | +115.0% | 19.95 deaths per 100,000 live births | 42.89 deaths per 100,000 live births |
| 1968 | +86.6% | 118.26 deaths per 100,000 live births | 220.65 deaths per 100,000 live births |
| 1975 | -84.7% | 130.57 deaths per 100,000 live births | 19.95 deaths per 100,000 live births |
| 1980 | -65.6% | 73.57 deaths per 100,000 live births | 25.32 deaths per 100,000 live births |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 170.2 deaths per 100,000 live births | 77.53 deaths per 100,000 live births | 288.11 deaths per 100,000 live births | 9 |
| 1970s | 87.34 deaths per 100,000 live births | 19.95 deaths per 100,000 live births | 150.96 deaths per 100,000 live births | 10 |
| 1980s | 50.47 deaths per 100,000 live births | 25.32 deaths per 100,000 live births | 73.01 deaths per 100,000 live births | 7 |
| 1990s | 50.54 deaths per 100,000 live births | 45.86 deaths per 100,000 live births | 58.8 deaths per 100,000 live births | 10 |
| 2000s | 46.29 deaths per 100,000 live births | 39.78 deaths per 100,000 live births | 54.14 deaths per 100,000 live births | 10 |
| 2010s | 49.57 deaths per 100,000 live births | 46.62 deaths per 100,000 live births | 53.29 deaths per 100,000 live births | 10 |
| 2020s | 39.11 deaths per 100,000 live births | 39.11 deaths per 100,000 live births | 39.11 deaths per 100,000 live births | 1 |
Countries ranked near Barbados
- 104 Azerbaijan 40.76 deaths per 100,000 live births compare
- 105 Mongolia 39.49 deaths per 100,000 live births compare
- 106 Cuba 39.25 deaths per 100,000 live births compare
- 108 Fiji 38.05 deaths per 100,000 live births compare
- 109 Tunisia 36.63 deaths per 100,000 live births compare
- 110 Puerto Rico 34.34 deaths per 100,000 live births compare
More health data for Barbados
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.2208 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,453 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 4 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -0.5046 % 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 0.0272 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -0.5262 % 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 Barbados?
- Maternal mortality ratio in Barbados was 39.11 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 Barbados?
- The highest recorded value was 288.11 deaths per 100,000 live births in 1963.
- What is the lowest maternal mortality ratio recorded in Barbados?
- The lowest recorded value was 19.95 deaths per 100,000 live births in 1975.
- How does Barbados rank for maternal mortality ratio?
- Barbados ranks 107th out of 189 countries with data for 2020.
- Is maternal mortality ratio rising or falling in Barbados?
- Over the last ten years it is down 26.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Barbados 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
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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.