Maternal mortality in Brazil
Brazil: Maternal mortality was 72.15 in 2020. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2020)
72.15
Change on year
up 18.8%
World rank
83rd
of 189 countries
All-time high
227.03
in 1985
All-time low
56.88
in 2012
Years of data
36
1985–2020
Maternal mortality in Brazil, 1985–2020
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for maternal mortality in Brazil is 72.15, 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 in Brazil peaked at 227.03 in 1985 and was at its lowest, 56.88, 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 in Brazil, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 227.03 | — |
| 1986 | 223.42 | -1.6% |
| 1987 | 219.65 | -1.7% |
| 1988 | 201.24 | -8.4% |
| 1989 | 198.27 | -1.5% |
| 1990 | 194.28 | -2.0% |
| 1991 | 175.61 | -9.6% |
| 1992 | 169.71 | -3.4% |
| 1993 | 158.89 | -6.4% |
| 1994 | 146.64 | -7.7% |
| 1995 | 121.07 | -17.4% |
| 1996 | 110.07 | -9.1% |
| 1997 | 99.54 | -9.6% |
| 1998 | 89.94 | -9.6% |
| 1999 | 74.08 | -17.6% |
| 2000 | 68.4 | -7.7% |
| 2001 | 67.92 | -0.7% |
| 2002 | 72.38 | +6.6% |
| 2003 | 68.84 | -4.9% |
| 2004 | 69.77 | +1.4% |
| 2005 | 69.97 | +0.3% |
| 2006 | 71.32 | +1.9% |
| 2007 | 72.02 | +1.0% |
| 2008 | 70.49 | -2.1% |
| 2009 | 67.93 | -3.6% |
| 2010 | 63.86 | -6.0% |
| 2011 | 61.94 | -3.0% |
| 2012 | 56.88 | -8.2% |
| 2013 | 60.87 | +7.0% |
| 2014 | 62.28 | +2.3% |
| 2015 | 62.18 | -0.2% |
| 2016 | 62.71 | +0.9% |
| 2017 | 59.7 | -4.8% |
| 2018 | 59.18 | -0.9% |
| 2019 | 60.74 | +2.6% |
| 2020 | 72.15 | +18.8% |
Brazil compared with similar countries
- Brazil's 72.15 is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 51.11, 1.4× the median. (56 countries reporting)
- Brazil's 72.15 is above the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 71.12, 1.0× the median. (33 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 213.92 | 198.27 | 227.03 | 5 |
| 1990s | 133.98 | 74.08 | 194.28 | 10 |
| 2000s | 69.91 | 67.92 | 72.38 | 10 |
| 2010s | 61.03 | 56.88 | 63.86 | 10 |
| 2020s | 72.15 | 72.15 | 72.15 | 1 |
Countries ranked near Brazil
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)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 3,476 (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)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per capita 0.0309 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is maternal mortality in Brazil?
- Maternal mortality in Brazil was 72.15 in 2020, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest maternal mortality recorded in Brazil?
- The highest recorded value was 227.03 in 1985.
- What is the lowest maternal mortality recorded in Brazil?
- The lowest recorded value was 56.88 in 2012.
- How does Brazil rank for maternal mortality?
- Brazil ranks 83rd out of 189 countries with data for 2020.
- Is maternal mortality 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 Our World in Data, published as part of Maternal mortality. 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).