Maternal mortality ratio in Belgium
Belgium: Maternal mortality ratio was 4.76 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2020. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2020)
4.76 deaths per 100,000 live births
Change on year
up 3.3%
World rank
170th
of 189 countries
All-time high
936.27 deaths per 100,000 live births
in 1871
All-time low
4.6 deaths per 100,000 live births
in 2019
Years of data
153
1851–2020
Maternal mortality ratio in Belgium, 1851–2020
Source: UN MMEIG (2023) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in deaths per 100,000 live births.
Analysis
Belgium recorded 4.76 deaths per 100,000 live births for maternal mortality ratio in 2020.
That represents a change of up 3.3% on the previous year and down 19.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, maternal mortality ratio in Belgium peaked at 936.27 deaths per 100,000 live births in 1871 and was at its lowest, 4.6 deaths per 100,000 live births, in 2019.
That places Belgium 170th 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 Belgium, year by year
| Year | deaths per 100,000 live births | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1851 | 660 deaths per 100,000 live births | — |
| 1855 | 550 deaths per 100,000 live births | -16.7% |
| 1858 | 440 deaths per 100,000 live births | -20.0% |
| 1864 | 833.02 deaths per 100,000 live births | +89.3% |
| 1865 | 761.88 deaths per 100,000 live births | -8.5% |
| 1866 | 637.12 deaths per 100,000 live births | -16.4% |
| 1867 | 536.79 deaths per 100,000 live births | -15.7% |
| 1868 | 650.58 deaths per 100,000 live births | +21.2% |
| 1869 | 702.01 deaths per 100,000 live births | +7.9% |
| 1870 | 772.49 deaths per 100,000 live births | +10.0% |
| 1871 | 936.27 deaths per 100,000 live births | +21.2% |
| 1872 | 820.95 deaths per 100,000 live births | -12.3% |
| 1873 | 745.12 deaths per 100,000 live births | -9.2% |
| 1874 | 728.41 deaths per 100,000 live births | -2.2% |
| 1875 | 836.38 deaths per 100,000 live births | +14.8% |
| 1876 | 768.75 deaths per 100,000 live births | -8.1% |
| 1877 | 687.47 deaths per 100,000 live births | -10.6% |
| 1878 | 698.64 deaths per 100,000 live births | +1.6% |
| 1879 | 675.07 deaths per 100,000 live births | -3.4% |
| 1880 | 702.85 deaths per 100,000 live births | +4.1% |
| 1881 | 735.61 deaths per 100,000 live births | +4.7% |
| 1882 | 714.52 deaths per 100,000 live births | -2.9% |
| 1883 | 775.82 deaths per 100,000 live births | +8.6% |
| 1884 | 789.22 deaths per 100,000 live births | +1.7% |
| 1886 | 765.09 deaths per 100,000 live births | -3.1% |
| 1887 | 753.26 deaths per 100,000 live births | -1.5% |
| 1888 | 664.99 deaths per 100,000 live births | -11.7% |
| 1889 | 641.02 deaths per 100,000 live births | -3.6% |
| 1890 | 554.06 deaths per 100,000 live births | -13.6% |
| 1891 | 587.51 deaths per 100,000 live births | +6.0% |
| 1892 | 645.09 deaths per 100,000 live births | +9.8% |
| 1893 | 661.99 deaths per 100,000 live births | +2.6% |
| 1894 | 574.35 deaths per 100,000 live births | -13.2% |
| 1895 | 462.08 deaths per 100,000 live births | -19.5% |
| 1896 | 557.45 deaths per 100,000 live births | +20.6% |
| 1897 | 497.68 deaths per 100,000 live births | -10.7% |
| 1898 | 510.38 deaths per 100,000 live births | +2.6% |
| 1899 | 555.04 deaths per 100,000 live births | +8.8% |
| 1900 | 535.44 deaths per 100,000 live births | -3.5% |
| 1901 | 523.29 deaths per 100,000 live births | -2.3% |
| 1902 | 547.14 deaths per 100,000 live births | +4.6% |
| 1903 | 622.02 deaths per 100,000 live births | +13.7% |
| 1904 | 460.65 deaths per 100,000 live births | -25.9% |
| 1905 | 526.99 deaths per 100,000 live births | +14.4% |
| 1906 | 548.06 deaths per 100,000 live births | +4.0% |
| 1907 | 564.28 deaths per 100,000 live births | +3.0% |
| 1908 | 505.5 deaths per 100,000 live births | -10.4% |
| 1909 | 584.13 deaths per 100,000 live births | +15.6% |
| 1910 | 543.67 deaths per 100,000 live births | -6.9% |
| 1911 | 591.43 deaths per 100,000 live births | +8.8% |
| 1912 | 650.35 deaths per 100,000 live births | +10.0% |
| 1913 | 551.12 deaths per 100,000 live births | -15.3% |
| 1920 | 604.43 deaths per 100,000 live births | +9.7% |
| 1921 | 571.68 deaths per 100,000 live births | -5.4% |
| 1922 | 534.95 deaths per 100,000 live births | -6.4% |
| 1923 | 563.22 deaths per 100,000 live births | +5.3% |
| 1924 | 576.31 deaths per 100,000 live births | +2.3% |
| 1925 | 498.29 deaths per 100,000 live births | -13.5% |
| 1926 | 613.87 deaths per 100,000 live births | +23.2% |
| 1927 | 566.66 deaths per 100,000 live births | -7.7% |
| 1928 | 603.09 deaths per 100,000 live births | +6.4% |
| 1929 | 619.1 deaths per 100,000 live births | +2.7% |
| 1930 | 521.87 deaths per 100,000 live births | -15.7% |
| 1931 | 493.13 deaths per 100,000 live births | -5.5% |
| 1932 | 480.68 deaths per 100,000 live births | -2.5% |
| 1933 | 514.78 deaths per 100,000 live births | +7.1% |
| 1934 | 535.52 deaths per 100,000 live births | +4.0% |
| 1935 | 415.78 deaths per 100,000 live births | -22.4% |
| 1936 | 457.14 deaths per 100,000 live births | +9.9% |
| 1937 | 383.85 deaths per 100,000 live births | -16.0% |
| 1938 | 401.92 deaths per 100,000 live births | +4.7% |
| 1939 | 381.48 deaths per 100,000 live births | -5.1% |
| 1940 | 376.01 deaths per 100,000 live births | -1.4% |
| 1941 | 392.58 deaths per 100,000 live births | +4.4% |
| 1942 | 371.08 deaths per 100,000 live births | -5.5% |
| 1943 | 381.03 deaths per 100,000 live births | +2.7% |
| 1944 | 361.86 deaths per 100,000 live births | -5.0% |
| 1945 | 342.46 deaths per 100,000 live births | -5.4% |
| 1946 | 286.35 deaths per 100,000 live births | -16.4% |
| 1947 | 240.97 deaths per 100,000 live births | -15.8% |
| 1948 | 208.09 deaths per 100,000 live births | -13.6% |
| 1949 | 160.29 deaths per 100,000 live births | -23.0% |
| 1950 | 148.28 deaths per 100,000 live births | -7.5% |
| 1951 | 112.43 deaths per 100,000 live births | -24.2% |
| 1952 | 89.69 deaths per 100,000 live births | -20.2% |
| 1953 | 84.17 deaths per 100,000 live births | -6.1% |
| 1954 | 95.03 deaths per 100,000 live births | +12.9% |
| 1955 | 81.03 deaths per 100,000 live births | -14.7% |
| 1956 | 57.46 deaths per 100,000 live births | -29.1% |
| 1957 | 71.65 deaths per 100,000 live births | +24.7% |
| 1958 | 59.62 deaths per 100,000 live births | -16.8% |
| 1959 | 51.55 deaths per 100,000 live births | -13.5% |
| 1960 | 40.85 deaths per 100,000 live births | -20.8% |
| 1961 | 34.77 deaths per 100,000 live births | -14.9% |
| 1962 | 32.91 deaths per 100,000 live births | -5.3% |
| 1963 | 30.91 deaths per 100,000 live births | -6.1% |
| 1964 | 30.12 deaths per 100,000 live births | -2.6% |
| 1965 | 23.35 deaths per 100,000 live births | -22.5% |
| 1966 | 27.42 deaths per 100,000 live births | +17.4% |
| 1967 | 17.99 deaths per 100,000 live births | -34.4% |
| 1968 | 22.06 deaths per 100,000 live births | +22.6% |
| 1969 | 20.62 deaths per 100,000 live births | -6.5% |
| 1970 | 20.48 deaths per 100,000 live births | -0.7% |
| 1971 | 20.55 deaths per 100,000 live births | +0.3% |
| 1972 | 13.26 deaths per 100,000 live births | -35.5% |
| 1973 | 12.42 deaths per 100,000 live births | -6.3% |
| 1974 | 17.06 deaths per 100,000 live births | +37.4% |
| 1975 | 12.61 deaths per 100,000 live births | -26.1% |
| 1976 | 5.84 deaths per 100,000 live births | -53.7% |
| 1977 | 10.77 deaths per 100,000 live births | +84.5% |
| 1978 | 13.17 deaths per 100,000 live births | +22.3% |
| 1979 | 8.96 deaths per 100,000 live births | -32.0% |
| 1980 | 5.67 deaths per 100,000 live births | -36.7% |
| 1981 | 9.74 deaths per 100,000 live births | +71.7% |
| 1982 | 7.48 deaths per 100,000 live births | -23.1% |
| 1983 | 5.11 deaths per 100,000 live births | -31.7% |
| 1984 | 8.63 deaths per 100,000 live births | +68.9% |
| 1985 | 8.51 deaths per 100,000 live births | -1.4% |
| 1986 | 8.24 deaths per 100,000 live births | -3.2% |
| 1987 | 8.13 deaths per 100,000 live births | -1.4% |
| 1988 | 7.84 deaths per 100,000 live births | -3.6% |
| 1989 | 7.81 deaths per 100,000 live births | -0.3% |
| 1990 | 7.88 deaths per 100,000 live births | +0.9% |
| 1991 | 7.64 deaths per 100,000 live births | -3.0% |
| 1992 | 7.92 deaths per 100,000 live births | +3.6% |
| 1993 | 8.11 deaths per 100,000 live births | +2.4% |
| 1994 | 8.62 deaths per 100,000 live births | +6.3% |
| 1995 | 8.88 deaths per 100,000 live births | +3.0% |
| 1996 | 8.87 deaths per 100,000 live births | -0.2% |
| 1997 | 8.52 deaths per 100,000 live births | -4.0% |
| 1998 | 8.63 deaths per 100,000 live births | +1.4% |
| 1999 | 8.25 deaths per 100,000 live births | -4.5% |
| 2000 | 8.27 deaths per 100,000 live births | +0.2% |
| 2001 | 8.01 deaths per 100,000 live births | -3.1% |
| 2002 | 7.83 deaths per 100,000 live births | -2.3% |
| 2003 | 7.4 deaths per 100,000 live births | -5.5% |
| 2004 | 6.94 deaths per 100,000 live births | -6.3% |
| 2005 | 6.75 deaths per 100,000 live births | -2.7% |
| 2006 | 6.41 deaths per 100,000 live births | -5.1% |
| 2007 | 6.69 deaths per 100,000 live births | +4.4% |
| 2008 | 6.19 deaths per 100,000 live births | -7.6% |
| 2009 | 6.12 deaths per 100,000 live births | -1.1% |
| 2010 | 5.93 deaths per 100,000 live births | -3.2% |
| 2011 | 5.79 deaths per 100,000 live births | -2.2% |
| 2012 | 5.26 deaths per 100,000 live births | -9.2% |
| 2013 | 5.55 deaths per 100,000 live births | +5.5% |
| 2014 | 5.26 deaths per 100,000 live births | -5.2% |
| 2015 | 5.2 deaths per 100,000 live births | -1.1% |
| 2016 | 4.93 deaths per 100,000 live births | -5.2% |
| 2017 | 4.91 deaths per 100,000 live births | -0.5% |
| 2018 | 4.91 deaths per 100,000 live births | -0.1% |
| 2019 | 4.6 deaths per 100,000 live births | -6.2% |
| 2020 | 4.76 deaths per 100,000 live births | +3.3% |
Belgium compared with similar countries
- Belgium's 4.76 deaths per 100,000 live births is below the median for high income countries, which is 7.61 deaths per 100,000 live births, 63% of the median. (59 countries reporting)
- Belgium's 4.76 deaths per 100,000 live births is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 7.23 deaths per 100,000 live births, 66% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Maternal mortality ratio in Belgium 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1864 | +89.3% | 440 deaths per 100,000 live births | 833.02 deaths per 100,000 live births |
| 1977 | +84.5% | 5.84 deaths per 100,000 live births | 10.77 deaths per 100,000 live births |
| 1981 | +71.7% | 5.67 deaths per 100,000 live births | 9.74 deaths per 100,000 live births |
| 1984 | +68.9% | 5.11 deaths per 100,000 live births | 8.63 deaths per 100,000 live births |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1850s | 550 deaths per 100,000 live births | 440 deaths per 100,000 live births | 660 deaths per 100,000 live births | 3 |
| 1860s | 686.9 deaths per 100,000 live births | 536.79 deaths per 100,000 live births | 833.02 deaths per 100,000 live births | 6 |
| 1870s | 766.95 deaths per 100,000 live births | 675.07 deaths per 100,000 live births | 936.27 deaths per 100,000 live births | 10 |
| 1880s | 726.93 deaths per 100,000 live births | 641.02 deaths per 100,000 live births | 789.22 deaths per 100,000 live births | 9 |
| 1890s | 560.56 deaths per 100,000 live births | 462.08 deaths per 100,000 live births | 661.99 deaths per 100,000 live births | 10 |
| 1900s | 541.75 deaths per 100,000 live births | 460.65 deaths per 100,000 live births | 622.02 deaths per 100,000 live births | 10 |
| 1910s | 584.14 deaths per 100,000 live births | 543.67 deaths per 100,000 live births | 650.35 deaths per 100,000 live births | 4 |
| 1920s | 575.16 deaths per 100,000 live births | 498.29 deaths per 100,000 live births | 619.1 deaths per 100,000 live births | 10 |
| 1930s | 458.62 deaths per 100,000 live births | 381.48 deaths per 100,000 live births | 535.52 deaths per 100,000 live births | 10 |
| 1940s | 312.07 deaths per 100,000 live births | 160.29 deaths per 100,000 live births | 392.58 deaths per 100,000 live births | 10 |
| 1950s | 85.09 deaths per 100,000 live births | 51.55 deaths per 100,000 live births | 148.28 deaths per 100,000 live births | 10 |
| 1960s | 28.1 deaths per 100,000 live births | 17.99 deaths per 100,000 live births | 40.85 deaths per 100,000 live births | 10 |
| 1970s | 13.51 deaths per 100,000 live births | 5.84 deaths per 100,000 live births | 20.55 deaths per 100,000 live births | 10 |
| 1980s | 7.72 deaths per 100,000 live births | 5.11 deaths per 100,000 live births | 9.74 deaths per 100,000 live births | 10 |
| 1990s | 8.33 deaths per 100,000 live births | 7.64 deaths per 100,000 live births | 8.88 deaths per 100,000 live births | 10 |
| 2000s | 7.06 deaths per 100,000 live births | 6.12 deaths per 100,000 live births | 8.27 deaths per 100,000 live births | 10 |
| 2010s | 5.23 deaths per 100,000 live births | 4.6 deaths per 100,000 live births | 5.93 deaths per 100,000 live births | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.76 deaths per 100,000 live births | 4.76 deaths per 100,000 live births | 4.76 deaths per 100,000 live births | 1 |
Countries ranked near Belgium
- 167 Ireland 4.98 deaths per 100,000 live births compare
- 168 Slovakia 4.82 deaths per 100,000 live births compare
- 169 Croatia 4.82 deaths per 100,000 live births compare
- 171 Denmark 4.66 deaths per 100,000 live births compare
- 172 Italy 4.59 deaths per 100,000 live births compare
- 173 Slovenia 4.53 deaths per 100,000 live births compare
More health data for Belgium
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -3.28 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate -0.2923 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,160 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 59 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -2.11 % 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 0.0229 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -1.96 % 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 Belgium?
- Maternal mortality ratio in Belgium was 4.76 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 Belgium?
- The highest recorded value was 936.27 deaths per 100,000 live births in 1871.
- What is the lowest maternal mortality ratio recorded in Belgium?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.6 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2019.
- How does Belgium rank for maternal mortality ratio?
- Belgium ranks 170th out of 189 countries with data for 2020.
- Is maternal mortality ratio rising or falling in Belgium?
- Over the last ten years it is down 19.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Belgium 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.