Maternal mortality ratio in Brazil
Brazil: Maternal mortality ratio was 72.15 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2020. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2020)
72.15 deaths per 100,000 live births
Change on year
up 18.8%
World rank
83rd
of 189 countries
All-time high
227.03 deaths per 100,000 live births
in 1985
All-time low
56.88 deaths per 100,000 live births
in 2012
Years of data
36
1985–2020
Maternal mortality ratio in Brazil, 1985–2020
Source: UN MMEIG (2023) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in deaths per 100,000 live births.
Analysis
The most recent figure for maternal mortality ratio in Brazil is 72.15 deaths per 100,000 live births, measured in 2020.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 18.8% on the previous year and up 13.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, maternal mortality ratio in Brazil peaked at 227.03 deaths per 100,000 live births in 1985 and was at its lowest, 56.88 deaths per 100,000 live births, in 2012.
That places Brazil 83rd out of 189 countries with data for 2020, putting it 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 Brazil, year by year
| Year | deaths per 100,000 live births | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 227.03 deaths per 100,000 live births | — |
| 1986 | 223.42 deaths per 100,000 live births | -1.6% |
| 1987 | 219.65 deaths per 100,000 live births | -1.7% |
| 1988 | 201.24 deaths per 100,000 live births | -8.4% |
| 1989 | 198.27 deaths per 100,000 live births | -1.5% |
| 1990 | 194.28 deaths per 100,000 live births | -2.0% |
| 1991 | 175.61 deaths per 100,000 live births | -9.6% |
| 1992 | 169.71 deaths per 100,000 live births | -3.4% |
| 1993 | 158.89 deaths per 100,000 live births | -6.4% |
| 1994 | 146.64 deaths per 100,000 live births | -7.7% |
| 1995 | 121.07 deaths per 100,000 live births | -17.4% |
| 1996 | 110.07 deaths per 100,000 live births | -9.1% |
| 1997 | 99.54 deaths per 100,000 live births | -9.6% |
| 1998 | 89.94 deaths per 100,000 live births | -9.6% |
| 1999 | 74.08 deaths per 100,000 live births | -17.6% |
| 2000 | 68.4 deaths per 100,000 live births | -7.7% |
| 2001 | 67.92 deaths per 100,000 live births | -0.7% |
| 2002 | 72.38 deaths per 100,000 live births | +6.6% |
| 2003 | 68.84 deaths per 100,000 live births | -4.9% |
| 2004 | 69.77 deaths per 100,000 live births | +1.4% |
| 2005 | 69.97 deaths per 100,000 live births | +0.3% |
| 2006 | 71.32 deaths per 100,000 live births | +1.9% |
| 2007 | 72.02 deaths per 100,000 live births | +1.0% |
| 2008 | 70.49 deaths per 100,000 live births | -2.1% |
| 2009 | 67.93 deaths per 100,000 live births | -3.6% |
| 2010 | 63.86 deaths per 100,000 live births | -6.0% |
| 2011 | 61.94 deaths per 100,000 live births | -3.0% |
| 2012 | 56.88 deaths per 100,000 live births | -8.2% |
| 2013 | 60.87 deaths per 100,000 live births | +7.0% |
| 2014 | 62.28 deaths per 100,000 live births | +2.3% |
| 2015 | 62.18 deaths per 100,000 live births | -0.2% |
| 2016 | 62.71 deaths per 100,000 live births | +0.9% |
| 2017 | 59.7 deaths per 100,000 live births | -4.8% |
| 2018 | 59.18 deaths per 100,000 live births | -0.9% |
| 2019 | 60.74 deaths per 100,000 live births | +2.6% |
| 2020 | 72.15 deaths per 100,000 live births | +18.8% |
Brazil compared with similar countries
- Brazil's 72.15 deaths per 100,000 live births is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 51.11 deaths per 100,000 live births, 1.4× the median. (56 countries reporting)
- Brazil's 72.15 deaths per 100,000 live births is above the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 71.12 deaths per 100,000 live births, 1.0× the median. (33 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 213.92 deaths per 100,000 live births | 198.27 deaths per 100,000 live births | 227.03 deaths per 100,000 live births | 5 |
| 1990s | 133.98 deaths per 100,000 live births | 74.08 deaths per 100,000 live births | 194.28 deaths per 100,000 live births | 10 |
| 2000s | 69.91 deaths per 100,000 live births | 67.92 deaths per 100,000 live births | 72.38 deaths per 100,000 live births | 10 |
| 2010s | 61.03 deaths per 100,000 live births | 56.88 deaths per 100,000 live births | 63.86 deaths per 100,000 live births | 10 |
| 2020s | 72.15 deaths per 100,000 live births | 72.15 deaths per 100,000 live births | 72.15 deaths per 100,000 live births | 1 |
Countries ranked near Brazil
- 80 Colombia 74.76 deaths per 100,000 live births compare
- 81 Micronesia (country) 74.31 deaths per 100,000 live births compare
- 82 Saint Lucia 73.27 deaths per 100,000 live births compare
- 84 Libya 72.13 deaths per 100,000 live births compare
- 85 Morocco 71.85 deaths per 100,000 live births compare
- 86 Honduras 71.82 deaths per 100,000 live births compare
More health data for Brazil
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.86 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.1539 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,496 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 3,476 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -1.66 % 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 0.0296 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -1.63 % 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 Brazil?
- Maternal mortality ratio in Brazil was 72.15 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 Brazil?
- The highest recorded value was 227.03 deaths per 100,000 live births in 1985.
- What is the lowest maternal mortality ratio recorded in Brazil?
- The lowest recorded value was 56.88 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2012.
- How does Brazil rank for maternal mortality ratio?
- Brazil ranks 83rd out of 189 countries with data for 2020.
- Is maternal mortality ratio rising or falling in Brazil?
- Over the last ten years it is up 13.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Brazil 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.