Maternal mortality ratio in Iceland
Iceland: Maternal mortality ratio was 2.65 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2020. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2020)
2.65 deaths per 100,000 live births
Change on year
down 15.0%
World rank
185th
of 189 countries
All-time high
131.03 deaths per 100,000 live births
in 1956
All-time low
2.65 deaths per 100,000 live births
in 2020
Years of data
55
1951–2020
Maternal mortality ratio in Iceland, 1951–2020
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 Iceland stood at 2.65 deaths per 100,000 live births. That is the lowest value across all 55 years on record.
That represents a change of down 15.0% on the previous year and down 9.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, maternal mortality ratio in Iceland peaked at 131.03 deaths per 100,000 live births in 1956 and was at its lowest, 2.65 deaths per 100,000 live births, in 2020.
Iceland ranks 185th of 189 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Maternal mortality ratio in Iceland, year by year
| Year | deaths per 100,000 live births | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1951 | 24.8 deaths per 100,000 live births | — |
| 1952 | 121.66 deaths per 100,000 live births | +390.5% |
| 1953 | 46.92 deaths per 100,000 live births | -61.4% |
| 1954 | 116.44 deaths per 100,000 live births | +148.2% |
| 1955 | 22.34 deaths per 100,000 live births | -80.8% |
| 1956 | 131.03 deaths per 100,000 live births | +486.5% |
| 1957 | 42.96 deaths per 100,000 live births | -67.2% |
| 1958 | 43.4 deaths per 100,000 live births | +1.0% |
| 1959 | 41.84 deaths per 100,000 live births | -3.6% |
| 1961 | 44.13 deaths per 100,000 live births | +5.5% |
| 1962 | 42.5 deaths per 100,000 live births | -3.7% |
| 1963 | 20.8 deaths per 100,000 live births | -51.1% |
| 1964 | 62.89 deaths per 100,000 live births | +202.4% |
| 1965 | 21.23 deaths per 100,000 live births | -66.2% |
| 1966 | 21.4 deaths per 100,000 live births | +0.8% |
| 1969 | 23.61 deaths per 100,000 live births | +10.3% |
| 1971 | 46.85 deaths per 100,000 live births | +98.4% |
| 1973 | 21.77 deaths per 100,000 live births | -53.5% |
| 1975 | 22.88 deaths per 100,000 live births | +5.1% |
| 1985 | 6.76 deaths per 100,000 live births | -70.4% |
| 1986 | 6.25 deaths per 100,000 live births | -7.6% |
| 1987 | 6.73 deaths per 100,000 live births | +7.6% |
| 1988 | 6.21 deaths per 100,000 live births | -7.7% |
| 1989 | 6.31 deaths per 100,000 live births | +1.7% |
| 1990 | 6 deaths per 100,000 live births | -5.0% |
| 1991 | 5.65 deaths per 100,000 live births | -5.8% |
| 1992 | 5.85 deaths per 100,000 live births | +3.5% |
| 1993 | 6.04 deaths per 100,000 live births | +3.4% |
| 1994 | 6.88 deaths per 100,000 live births | +13.8% |
| 1995 | 6.49 deaths per 100,000 live births | -5.7% |
| 1996 | 6.18 deaths per 100,000 live births | -4.8% |
| 1997 | 5.59 deaths per 100,000 live births | -9.4% |
| 1998 | 5.58 deaths per 100,000 live births | -0.2% |
| 1999 | 5.67 deaths per 100,000 live births | +1.6% |
| 2000 | 5.27 deaths per 100,000 live births | -7.1% |
| 2001 | 3.99 deaths per 100,000 live births | -24.2% |
| 2002 | 3.98 deaths per 100,000 live births | -0.3% |
| 2003 | 4.63 deaths per 100,000 live births | +16.1% |
| 2004 | 4.27 deaths per 100,000 live births | -7.7% |
| 2005 | 4.04 deaths per 100,000 live births | -5.3% |
| 2006 | 4.03 deaths per 100,000 live births | -0.3% |
| 2007 | 3.97 deaths per 100,000 live births | -1.6% |
| 2008 | 3.29 deaths per 100,000 live births | -17.1% |
| 2009 | 3.1 deaths per 100,000 live births | -5.8% |
| 2010 | 2.93 deaths per 100,000 live births | -5.5% |
| 2011 | 2.92 deaths per 100,000 live births | -0.2% |
| 2012 | 2.82 deaths per 100,000 live births | -3.5% |
| 2013 | 3.68 deaths per 100,000 live births | +30.6% |
| 2014 | 3.16 deaths per 100,000 live births | -14.2% |
| 2015 | 3.42 deaths per 100,000 live births | +8.2% |
| 2016 | 3 deaths per 100,000 live births | -12.3% |
| 2017 | 2.8 deaths per 100,000 live births | -6.4% |
| 2018 | 2.8 deaths per 100,000 live births | -0.1% |
| 2019 | 3.12 deaths per 100,000 live births | +11.4% |
| 2020 | 2.65 deaths per 100,000 live births | -15.0% |
Iceland compared with similar countries
- Iceland's 2.65 deaths per 100,000 live births is below the median for high income countries, which is 7.61 deaths per 100,000 live births, 35% of the median. (59 countries reporting)
- Iceland's 2.65 deaths per 100,000 live births is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 7.23 deaths per 100,000 live births, 37% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Maternal mortality ratio in Iceland 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1956 | +486.5% | 22.34 deaths per 100,000 live births | 131.03 deaths per 100,000 live births |
| 1952 | +390.5% | 24.8 deaths per 100,000 live births | 121.66 deaths per 100,000 live births |
| 1964 | +202.4% | 20.8 deaths per 100,000 live births | 62.89 deaths per 100,000 live births |
| 1954 | +148.2% | 46.92 deaths per 100,000 live births | 116.44 deaths per 100,000 live births |
| 1971 | +98.4% | 23.61 deaths per 100,000 live births | 46.85 deaths per 100,000 live births |
| 1955 | -80.8% | 116.44 deaths per 100,000 live births | 22.34 deaths per 100,000 live births |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 65.71 deaths per 100,000 live births | 22.34 deaths per 100,000 live births | 131.03 deaths per 100,000 live births | 9 |
| 1960s | 33.79 deaths per 100,000 live births | 20.8 deaths per 100,000 live births | 62.89 deaths per 100,000 live births | 7 |
| 1970s | 30.5 deaths per 100,000 live births | 21.77 deaths per 100,000 live births | 46.85 deaths per 100,000 live births | 3 |
| 1980s | 6.45 deaths per 100,000 live births | 6.21 deaths per 100,000 live births | 6.76 deaths per 100,000 live births | 5 |
| 1990s | 5.99 deaths per 100,000 live births | 5.58 deaths per 100,000 live births | 6.88 deaths per 100,000 live births | 10 |
| 2000s | 4.06 deaths per 100,000 live births | 3.1 deaths per 100,000 live births | 5.27 deaths per 100,000 live births | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.07 deaths per 100,000 live births | 2.8 deaths per 100,000 live births | 3.68 deaths per 100,000 live births | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.65 deaths per 100,000 live births | 2.65 deaths per 100,000 live births | 2.65 deaths per 100,000 live births | 1 |
Countries ranked near Iceland
- 182 Australia 2.94 deaths per 100,000 live births compare
- 183 Malta 2.89 deaths per 100,000 live births compare
- 184 Israel 2.84 deaths per 100,000 live births compare
- 186 Poland 1.96 deaths per 100,000 live births compare
- 187 Norway 1.66 deaths per 100,000 live births compare
- 188 Hong Kong 1.35 deaths per 100,000 live births compare
More health data for Iceland
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -100 % change on previous year (2085)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate -0.4982 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,358 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 0 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 0.1533 % 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 0.0283 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 0.1097 % 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 Iceland?
- Maternal mortality ratio in Iceland was 2.65 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 Iceland?
- The highest recorded value was 131.03 deaths per 100,000 live births in 1956.
- What is the lowest maternal mortality ratio recorded in Iceland?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.65 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2020.
- How does Iceland rank for maternal mortality ratio?
- Iceland ranks 185th out of 189 countries with data for 2020.
- Is maternal mortality ratio rising or falling in Iceland?
- Over the last ten years it is down 9.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Iceland 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.