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.

Maternal mortality ratio in Canada

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

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

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.

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

See the full ranking of 189 places →

More health data for Canada

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)
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 283,794 (2025)
Age population, age 25, female, interpolated 266,829 (2025)
Age population, age 24, male, interpolated 271,934 (2025)
Age population, age 24, female, interpolated 258,927 (2025)
Age population, age 23, male, interpolated 254,587 (2025)
Age population, age 23, female, interpolated 245,661 (2025)

All data for Canada →

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.

Download this data

CSV · JSON — 71 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.