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.

Maternal mortality ratio in Brazil

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

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

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.

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

See the full ranking of 189 places →

More health data for Brazil

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)
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 1.64 million (2025)
Age population, age 25, female, interpolated 1.60 million (2025)
Age population, age 24, male, interpolated 1.61 million (2025)
Age population, age 24, female, interpolated 1.58 million (2025)
Age population, age 23, male, interpolated 1.59 million (2025)
Age population, age 23, female, interpolated 1.55 million (2025)

All data for Brazil →

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.

Download this data

CSV · JSON — 36 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.