Maternal mortality ratio in Canada
Canada: Maternal mortality ratio was 11.01 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2020. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2020)
11.01 deaths per 100,000 live births
Change on year
down 1.3%
World rank
144th
of 189 countries
All-time high
116.94 deaths per 100,000 live births
in 1950
All-time low
1.9 deaths per 100,000 live births
in 1982
Years of data
71
1950–2020
Maternal mortality ratio in Canada, 1950–2020
Source: UN MMEIG (2023) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in deaths per 100,000 live births.
Analysis
Canada recorded 11.01 deaths per 100,000 live births for maternal mortality ratio in 2020.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 1.3% on the previous year and down 7.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, maternal mortality ratio in Canada peaked at 116.94 deaths per 100,000 live births in 1950 and was at its lowest, 1.9 deaths per 100,000 live births, in 1982.
That places Canada 144th 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 Canada, year by year
| Year | deaths per 100,000 live births | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 116.94 deaths per 100,000 live births | — |
| 1951 | 109.79 deaths per 100,000 live births | -6.1% |
| 1952 | 95.99 deaths per 100,000 live births | -12.6% |
| 1953 | 80.22 deaths per 100,000 live births | -16.4% |
| 1954 | 74.11 deaths per 100,000 live births | -7.6% |
| 1955 | 78.55 deaths per 100,000 live births | +6.0% |
| 1956 | 64.06 deaths per 100,000 live births | -18.4% |
| 1957 | 56.61 deaths per 100,000 live births | -11.6% |
| 1958 | 57.88 deaths per 100,000 live births | +2.2% |
| 1959 | 56.74 deaths per 100,000 live births | -2.0% |
| 1960 | 46.5 deaths per 100,000 live births | -18.1% |
| 1961 | 47.75 deaths per 100,000 live births | +2.7% |
| 1962 | 42.18 deaths per 100,000 live births | -11.7% |
| 1963 | 36.83 deaths per 100,000 live births | -12.7% |
| 1964 | 31.44 deaths per 100,000 live births | -14.6% |
| 1965 | 33.63 deaths per 100,000 live births | +7.0% |
| 1966 | 36.36 deaths per 100,000 live births | +8.1% |
| 1967 | 24.68 deaths per 100,000 live births | -32.1% |
| 1968 | 28.19 deaths per 100,000 live births | +14.2% |
| 1969 | 21.61 deaths per 100,000 live births | -23.3% |
| 1970 | 21.06 deaths per 100,000 live births | -2.5% |
| 1971 | 18.92 deaths per 100,000 live births | -10.2% |
| 1972 | 16.04 deaths per 100,000 live births | -15.2% |
| 1973 | 11.11 deaths per 100,000 live births | -30.7% |
| 1974 | 10.09 deaths per 100,000 live births | -9.2% |
| 1975 | 7.75 deaths per 100,000 live births | -23.2% |
| 1976 | 6.85 deaths per 100,000 live births | -11.6% |
| 1977 | 5.08 deaths per 100,000 live births | -25.8% |
| 1978 | 6.51 deaths per 100,000 live births | +28.2% |
| 1979 | 7.53 deaths per 100,000 live births | +15.5% |
| 1980 | 7.72 deaths per 100,000 live births | +2.5% |
| 1981 | 6.31 deaths per 100,000 live births | -18.2% |
| 1982 | 1.9 deaths per 100,000 live births | -69.9% |
| 1983 | 5.41 deaths per 100,000 live births | +184.0% |
| 1984 | 3.21 deaths per 100,000 live births | -40.6% |
| 1985 | 6.95 deaths per 100,000 live births | +116.5% |
| 1986 | 7.02 deaths per 100,000 live births | +0.9% |
| 1987 | 6 deaths per 100,000 live births | -14.6% |
| 1988 | 7.01 deaths per 100,000 live births | +16.8% |
| 1989 | 7.15 deaths per 100,000 live births | +2.0% |
| 1990 | 6.89 deaths per 100,000 live births | -3.6% |
| 1991 | 6.59 deaths per 100,000 live births | -4.3% |
| 1992 | 6.9 deaths per 100,000 live births | +4.6% |
| 1993 | 7.46 deaths per 100,000 live births | +8.1% |
| 1994 | 7.64 deaths per 100,000 live births | +2.3% |
| 1995 | 8.22 deaths per 100,000 live births | +7.6% |
| 1996 | 8.93 deaths per 100,000 live births | +8.7% |
| 1997 | 7.8 deaths per 100,000 live births | -12.7% |
| 1998 | 8.17 deaths per 100,000 live births | +4.8% |
| 1999 | 8.64 deaths per 100,000 live births | +5.7% |
| 2000 | 9.3 deaths per 100,000 live births | +7.7% |
| 2001 | 9.82 deaths per 100,000 live births | +5.6% |
| 2002 | 10.38 deaths per 100,000 live births | +5.7% |
| 2003 | 10.59 deaths per 100,000 live births | +2.1% |
| 2004 | 10.66 deaths per 100,000 live births | +0.6% |
| 2005 | 11.33 deaths per 100,000 live births | +6.3% |
| 2006 | 10.97 deaths per 100,000 live births | -3.2% |
| 2007 | 10.56 deaths per 100,000 live births | -3.8% |
| 2008 | 12.77 deaths per 100,000 live births | +21.0% |
| 2009 | 12.61 deaths per 100,000 live births | -1.3% |
| 2010 | 11.94 deaths per 100,000 live births | -5.3% |
| 2011 | 11.86 deaths per 100,000 live births | -0.7% |
| 2012 | 11.83 deaths per 100,000 live births | -0.3% |
| 2013 | 11.48 deaths per 100,000 live births | -2.9% |
| 2014 | 11.68 deaths per 100,000 live births | +1.8% |
| 2015 | 11.66 deaths per 100,000 live births | -0.2% |
| 2016 | 12.52 deaths per 100,000 live births | +7.4% |
| 2017 | 12.58 deaths per 100,000 live births | +0.4% |
| 2018 | 11 deaths per 100,000 live births | -12.5% |
| 2019 | 11.16 deaths per 100,000 live births | +1.4% |
| 2020 | 11.01 deaths per 100,000 live births | -1.3% |
Canada compared with similar countries
- Canada's 11.01 deaths per 100,000 live births is above the median for high income countries, which is 7.61 deaths per 100,000 live births, 1.4× the median. (59 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Maternal mortality ratio in Canada 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | +184.0% | 1.9 deaths per 100,000 live births | 5.41 deaths per 100,000 live births |
| 1985 | +116.5% | 3.21 deaths per 100,000 live births | 6.95 deaths per 100,000 live births |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 79.09 deaths per 100,000 live births | 56.61 deaths per 100,000 live births | 116.94 deaths per 100,000 live births | 10 |
| 1960s | 34.92 deaths per 100,000 live births | 21.61 deaths per 100,000 live births | 47.75 deaths per 100,000 live births | 10 |
| 1970s | 11.09 deaths per 100,000 live births | 5.08 deaths per 100,000 live births | 21.06 deaths per 100,000 live births | 10 |
| 1980s | 5.87 deaths per 100,000 live births | 1.9 deaths per 100,000 live births | 7.72 deaths per 100,000 live births | 10 |
| 1990s | 7.72 deaths per 100,000 live births | 6.59 deaths per 100,000 live births | 8.93 deaths per 100,000 live births | 10 |
| 2000s | 10.9 deaths per 100,000 live births | 9.3 deaths per 100,000 live births | 12.77 deaths per 100,000 live births | 10 |
| 2010s | 11.77 deaths per 100,000 live births | 11 deaths per 100,000 live births | 12.58 deaths per 100,000 live births | 10 |
| 2020s | 11.01 deaths per 100,000 live births | 11.01 deaths per 100,000 live births | 11.01 deaths per 100,000 live births | 1 |
Countries ranked near Canada
- 141 Kazakhstan 13.38 deaths per 100,000 live births compare
- 142 Moldova 12.26 deaths per 100,000 live births compare
- 143 Portugal 11.8 deaths per 100,000 live births compare
- 145 Serbia 10.18 deaths per 100,000 live births compare
- 146 Romania 10.07 deaths per 100,000 live births compare
- 147 United Kingdom 9.84 deaths per 100,000 live births compare
More health data for Canada
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.79 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate -0.3588 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,083 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 385 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 0.5214 % 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 0.023 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 0.5024 % 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 Canada?
- Maternal mortality ratio in Canada was 11.01 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 Canada?
- The highest recorded value was 116.94 deaths per 100,000 live births in 1950.
- What is the lowest maternal mortality ratio recorded in Canada?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.9 deaths per 100,000 live births in 1982.
- How does Canada rank for maternal mortality ratio?
- Canada ranks 144th out of 189 countries with data for 2020.
- Is maternal mortality ratio rising or falling in Canada?
- Over the last ten years it is down 7.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Canada 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.