Maternal mortality in Iceland
Iceland: Maternal mortality was 2.65 in 2020. ◆ Volatile
Maternal mortality in Iceland, 1951–2020
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2020, maternal mortality in Iceland stood at 2.65. 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 in Iceland peaked at 131.03 in 1956 and was at its lowest, 2.65, 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 in Iceland, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1951 | 24.8 | — |
| 1952 | 121.66 | +390.5% |
| 1953 | 46.92 | -61.4% |
| 1954 | 116.44 | +148.2% |
| 1955 | 22.34 | -80.8% |
| 1956 | 131.03 | +486.5% |
| 1957 | 42.96 | -67.2% |
| 1958 | 43.4 | +1.0% |
| 1959 | 41.84 | -3.6% |
| 1961 | 44.13 | +5.5% |
| 1962 | 42.5 | -3.7% |
| 1963 | 20.8 | -51.1% |
| 1964 | 62.89 | +202.4% |
| 1965 | 21.23 | -66.2% |
| 1966 | 21.4 | +0.8% |
| 1969 | 23.61 | +10.3% |
| 1971 | 46.85 | +98.4% |
| 1973 | 21.77 | -53.5% |
| 1975 | 22.88 | +5.1% |
| 1985 | 6.76 | -70.4% |
| 1986 | 6.25 | -7.6% |
| 1987 | 6.73 | +7.6% |
| 1988 | 6.21 | -7.7% |
| 1989 | 6.31 | +1.7% |
| 1990 | 6 | -5.0% |
| 1991 | 5.65 | -5.8% |
| 1992 | 5.85 | +3.5% |
| 1993 | 6.04 | +3.4% |
| 1994 | 6.88 | +13.8% |
| 1995 | 6.49 | -5.7% |
| 1996 | 6.18 | -4.8% |
| 1997 | 5.59 | -9.4% |
| 1998 | 5.58 | -0.2% |
| 1999 | 5.67 | +1.6% |
| 2000 | 5.27 | -7.1% |
| 2001 | 3.99 | -24.2% |
| 2002 | 3.98 | -0.3% |
| 2003 | 4.63 | +16.1% |
| 2004 | 4.27 | -7.7% |
| 2005 | 4.04 | -5.3% |
| 2006 | 4.03 | -0.3% |
| 2007 | 3.97 | -1.6% |
| 2008 | 3.29 | -17.1% |
| 2009 | 3.1 | -5.8% |
| 2010 | 2.93 | -5.5% |
| 2011 | 2.92 | -0.2% |
| 2012 | 2.82 | -3.5% |
| 2013 | 3.68 | +30.6% |
| 2014 | 3.16 | -14.2% |
| 2015 | 3.42 | +8.2% |
| 2016 | 3 | -12.3% |
| 2017 | 2.8 | -6.4% |
| 2018 | 2.8 | -0.1% |
| 2019 | 3.12 | +11.4% |
| 2020 | 2.65 | -15.0% |
Iceland compared with similar countries
- Iceland's 2.65 is below the median for high income countries, which is 7.61, 35% of the median. (59 countries reporting)
- Iceland's 2.65 is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 7.23, 37% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Maternal mortality 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 | 131.03 |
| 1952 | +390.5% | 24.8 | 121.66 |
| 1964 | +202.4% | 20.8 | 62.89 |
| 1954 | +148.2% | 46.92 | 116.44 |
| 1971 | +98.4% | 23.61 | 46.85 |
| 1955 | -80.8% | 116.44 | 22.34 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 65.71 | 22.34 | 131.03 | 9 |
| 1960s | 33.79 | 20.8 | 62.89 | 7 |
| 1970s | 30.5 | 21.77 | 46.85 | 3 |
| 1980s | 6.45 | 6.21 | 6.76 | 5 |
| 1990s | 5.99 | 5.58 | 6.88 | 10 |
| 2000s | 4.06 | 3.1 | 5.27 | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.07 | 2.8 | 3.68 | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.65 | 2.65 | 2.65 | 1 |
Countries ranked near Iceland
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)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 0 (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)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per capita 0.0302 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is maternal mortality in Iceland?
- Maternal mortality in Iceland was 2.65 in 2020, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest maternal mortality recorded in Iceland?
- The highest recorded value was 131.03 in 1956.
- What is the lowest maternal mortality recorded in Iceland?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.65 in 2020.
- How does Iceland rank for maternal mortality?
- Iceland ranks 185th out of 189 countries with data for 2020.
- Is maternal mortality 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 Our World in Data, published as part of Maternal mortality. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 55 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).