Maternal mortality ratio in Denmark
Denmark: Maternal mortality ratio was 4.66 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2020. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2020)
4.66 deaths per 100,000 live births
Change on year
up 3.1%
World rank
171st
of 189 countries
All-time high
401 deaths per 100,000 live births
in 1931
All-time low
1.75 deaths per 100,000 live births
in 1980
Years of data
90
1921–2020
Maternal mortality ratio in Denmark, 1921–2020
Source: UN MMEIG (2023) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in deaths per 100,000 live births.
Analysis
In 2020, maternal mortality ratio in Denmark stood at 4.66 deaths per 100,000 live births.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 3.1% on the previous year and down 28.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, maternal mortality ratio in Denmark peaked at 401 deaths per 100,000 live births in 1931 and was at its lowest, 1.75 deaths per 100,000 live births, in 1980.
That places Denmark 171st 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 Denmark, year by year
| Year | deaths per 100,000 live births | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1921 | 187 deaths per 100,000 live births | — |
| 1922 | 263 deaths per 100,000 live births | +40.6% |
| 1923 | 289 deaths per 100,000 live births | +9.9% |
| 1924 | 244 deaths per 100,000 live births | -15.6% |
| 1925 | 244 deaths per 100,000 live births | +0.0% |
| 1926 | 275 deaths per 100,000 live births | +12.7% |
| 1927 | 309 deaths per 100,000 live births | +12.4% |
| 1928 | 271 deaths per 100,000 live births | -12.3% |
| 1929 | 315 deaths per 100,000 live births | +16.2% |
| 1930 | 380 deaths per 100,000 live births | +20.6% |
| 1931 | 401 deaths per 100,000 live births | +5.5% |
| 1932 | 347 deaths per 100,000 live births | -13.5% |
| 1933 | 361 deaths per 100,000 live births | +4.0% |
| 1934 | 383 deaths per 100,000 live births | +6.1% |
| 1935 | 397 deaths per 100,000 live births | +3.7% |
| 1936 | 382 deaths per 100,000 live births | -3.8% |
| 1937 | 348 deaths per 100,000 live births | -8.9% |
| 1938 | 309 deaths per 100,000 live births | -11.2% |
| 1939 | 295 deaths per 100,000 live births | -4.5% |
| 1940 | 239 deaths per 100,000 live births | -19.0% |
| 1951 | 79.27 deaths per 100,000 live births | -66.8% |
| 1952 | 59.62 deaths per 100,000 live births | -24.8% |
| 1953 | 83.03 deaths per 100,000 live births | +39.3% |
| 1954 | 67.77 deaths per 100,000 live births | -18.4% |
| 1955 | 42.77 deaths per 100,000 live births | -36.9% |
| 1956 | 48.05 deaths per 100,000 live births | +12.3% |
| 1957 | 41.23 deaths per 100,000 live births | -14.2% |
| 1958 | 44.58 deaths per 100,000 live births | +8.1% |
| 1959 | 43.72 deaths per 100,000 live births | -1.9% |
| 1960 | 30.34 deaths per 100,000 live births | -30.6% |
| 1961 | 22.32 deaths per 100,000 live births | -26.4% |
| 1962 | 20.61 deaths per 100,000 live births | -7.6% |
| 1963 | 25.45 deaths per 100,000 live births | +23.5% |
| 1964 | 15.6 deaths per 100,000 live births | -38.7% |
| 1965 | 13.97 deaths per 100,000 live births | -10.5% |
| 1966 | 19.31 deaths per 100,000 live births | +38.2% |
| 1967 | 9.83 deaths per 100,000 live births | -49.1% |
| 1968 | 13.39 deaths per 100,000 live births | +36.2% |
| 1969 | 16.83 deaths per 100,000 live births | +25.7% |
| 1970 | 8.46 deaths per 100,000 live births | -49.7% |
| 1971 | 5.32 deaths per 100,000 live births | -37.2% |
| 1972 | 3.99 deaths per 100,000 live births | -25.0% |
| 1973 | 2.78 deaths per 100,000 live births | -30.2% |
| 1974 | 7.01 deaths per 100,000 live births | +152.1% |
| 1975 | 5.57 deaths per 100,000 live births | -20.6% |
| 1976 | 3.06 deaths per 100,000 live births | -45.1% |
| 1977 | 4.84 deaths per 100,000 live births | +58.2% |
| 1978 | 8.1 deaths per 100,000 live births | +67.3% |
| 1979 | 11.79 deaths per 100,000 live births | +45.6% |
| 1980 | 1.75 deaths per 100,000 live births | -85.1% |
| 1981 | 3.76 deaths per 100,000 live births | +114.3% |
| 1982 | 11.45 deaths per 100,000 live births | +204.8% |
| 1983 | 3.93 deaths per 100,000 live births | -65.7% |
| 1984 | 7.73 deaths per 100,000 live births | +96.7% |
| 1985 | 11.47 deaths per 100,000 live births | +48.4% |
| 1986 | 11.23 deaths per 100,000 live births | -2.1% |
| 1987 | 10.77 deaths per 100,000 live births | -4.1% |
| 1988 | 12.99 deaths per 100,000 live births | +20.6% |
| 1989 | 12.68 deaths per 100,000 live births | -2.4% |
| 1990 | 11.67 deaths per 100,000 live births | -8.0% |
| 1991 | 11.31 deaths per 100,000 live births | -3.1% |
| 1992 | 10.68 deaths per 100,000 live births | -5.6% |
| 1993 | 10.59 deaths per 100,000 live births | -0.8% |
| 1994 | 10.32 deaths per 100,000 live births | -2.5% |
| 1995 | 10.42 deaths per 100,000 live births | +1.0% |
| 1996 | 9.88 deaths per 100,000 live births | -5.2% |
| 1997 | 9.65 deaths per 100,000 live births | -2.4% |
| 1998 | 8.69 deaths per 100,000 live births | -10.0% |
| 1999 | 8.81 deaths per 100,000 live births | +1.3% |
| 2000 | 8.03 deaths per 100,000 live births | -8.7% |
| 2001 | 8.2 deaths per 100,000 live births | +2.1% |
| 2002 | 8.21 deaths per 100,000 live births | +0.1% |
| 2003 | 7.66 deaths per 100,000 live births | -6.7% |
| 2004 | 7.42 deaths per 100,000 live births | -3.1% |
| 2005 | 6.9 deaths per 100,000 live births | -7.1% |
| 2006 | 6.63 deaths per 100,000 live births | -3.9% |
| 2007 | 7.05 deaths per 100,000 live births | +6.3% |
| 2008 | 6.82 deaths per 100,000 live births | -3.3% |
| 2009 | 6.82 deaths per 100,000 live births | -0.0% |
| 2010 | 6.52 deaths per 100,000 live births | -4.3% |
| 2011 | 6.65 deaths per 100,000 live births | +2.0% |
| 2012 | 6.31 deaths per 100,000 live births | -5.1% |
| 2013 | 5.13 deaths per 100,000 live births | -18.8% |
| 2014 | 5.11 deaths per 100,000 live births | -0.3% |
| 2015 | 5.6 deaths per 100,000 live births | +9.7% |
| 2016 | 5.48 deaths per 100,000 live births | -2.2% |
| 2017 | 5 deaths per 100,000 live births | -8.7% |
| 2018 | 5.01 deaths per 100,000 live births | +0.3% |
| 2019 | 4.52 deaths per 100,000 live births | -9.9% |
| 2020 | 4.66 deaths per 100,000 live births | +3.1% |
Denmark compared with similar countries
- Denmark's 4.66 deaths per 100,000 live births is below the median for high income countries, which is 7.61 deaths per 100,000 live births, 61% of the median. (59 countries reporting)
- Denmark's 4.66 deaths per 100,000 live births is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 7.23 deaths per 100,000 live births, 64% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Maternal mortality ratio in Denmark 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1982 | +204.8% | 3.76 deaths per 100,000 live births | 11.45 deaths per 100,000 live births |
| 1974 | +152.1% | 2.78 deaths per 100,000 live births | 7.01 deaths per 100,000 live births |
| 1981 | +114.3% | 1.75 deaths per 100,000 live births | 3.76 deaths per 100,000 live births |
| 1984 | +96.7% | 3.93 deaths per 100,000 live births | 7.73 deaths per 100,000 live births |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1920s | 266.33 deaths per 100,000 live births | 187 deaths per 100,000 live births | 315 deaths per 100,000 live births | 9 |
| 1930s | 360.3 deaths per 100,000 live births | 295 deaths per 100,000 live births | 401 deaths per 100,000 live births | 10 |
| 1940s | 239 deaths per 100,000 live births | 239 deaths per 100,000 live births | 239 deaths per 100,000 live births | 1 |
| 1950s | 56.67 deaths per 100,000 live births | 41.23 deaths per 100,000 live births | 83.03 deaths per 100,000 live births | 9 |
| 1960s | 18.77 deaths per 100,000 live births | 9.83 deaths per 100,000 live births | 30.34 deaths per 100,000 live births | 10 |
| 1970s | 6.09 deaths per 100,000 live births | 2.78 deaths per 100,000 live births | 11.79 deaths per 100,000 live births | 10 |
| 1980s | 8.78 deaths per 100,000 live births | 1.75 deaths per 100,000 live births | 12.99 deaths per 100,000 live births | 10 |
| 1990s | 10.2 deaths per 100,000 live births | 8.69 deaths per 100,000 live births | 11.67 deaths per 100,000 live births | 10 |
| 2000s | 7.37 deaths per 100,000 live births | 6.63 deaths per 100,000 live births | 8.21 deaths per 100,000 live births | 10 |
| 2010s | 5.53 deaths per 100,000 live births | 4.52 deaths per 100,000 live births | 6.65 deaths per 100,000 live births | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.66 deaths per 100,000 live births | 4.66 deaths per 100,000 live births | 4.66 deaths per 100,000 live births | 1 |
Countries ranked near Denmark
- 168 Slovakia 4.82 deaths per 100,000 live births compare
- 169 Croatia 4.82 deaths per 100,000 live births compare
- 170 Belgium 4.76 deaths per 100,000 live births compare
- 172 Italy 4.59 deaths per 100,000 live births compare
- 173 Slovenia 4.53 deaths per 100,000 live births compare
- 174 Sweden 4.51 deaths per 100,000 live births compare
More health data for Denmark
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -3.12 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.1019 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,179 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 31 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -0.4524 % 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 0.0247 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -0.4338 % 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 Denmark?
- Maternal mortality ratio in Denmark was 4.66 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 Denmark?
- The highest recorded value was 401 deaths per 100,000 live births in 1931.
- What is the lowest maternal mortality ratio recorded in Denmark?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.75 deaths per 100,000 live births in 1980.
- How does Denmark rank for maternal mortality ratio?
- Denmark ranks 171st out of 189 countries with data for 2020.
- Is maternal mortality ratio rising or falling in Denmark?
- Over the last ten years it is down 28.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Denmark 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.