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.

Maternal mortality ratio in Denmark

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

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

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.

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

See the full ranking of 189 places →

More health data for Denmark

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)
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 39,820 (2025)
Age population, age 25, female, interpolated 38,653 (2025)
Age population, age 24, male, interpolated 39,190 (2025)
Age population, age 24, female, interpolated 38,085 (2025)
Age population, age 23, male, interpolated 38,122 (2025)
Age population, age 23, female, interpolated 36,778 (2025)

All data for Denmark →

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.

Download this data

CSV · JSON — 90 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.