Maternal mortality ratio in Ireland
Ireland: Maternal mortality ratio was 4.98 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2020. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2020)
4.98 deaths per 100,000 live births
Change on year
down 9.8%
World rank
167th
of 189 countries
All-time high
710 deaths per 100,000 live births
in 1885
All-time low
4.15 deaths per 100,000 live births
in 1981
Years of data
123
1875–2020
Maternal mortality ratio in Ireland, 1875–2020
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 Ireland stood at 4.98 deaths per 100,000 live births.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 9.8% on the previous year and down 23.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, maternal mortality ratio in Ireland peaked at 710 deaths per 100,000 live births in 1885 and was at its lowest, 4.15 deaths per 100,000 live births, in 1981.
Ireland ranks 167th 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 Ireland, year by year
| Year | deaths per 100,000 live births | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1875 | 660 deaths per 100,000 live births | — |
| 1885 | 710 deaths per 100,000 live births | +7.6% |
| 1895 | 660 deaths per 100,000 live births | -7.0% |
| 1901 | 618 deaths per 100,000 live births | -6.4% |
| 1902 | 623 deaths per 100,000 live births | +0.8% |
| 1903 | 563 deaths per 100,000 live births | -9.6% |
| 1904 | 562 deaths per 100,000 live births | -0.2% |
| 1905 | 557 deaths per 100,000 live births | -0.9% |
| 1906 | 586 deaths per 100,000 live births | +5.2% |
| 1907 | 496 deaths per 100,000 live births | -15.4% |
| 1908 | 520 deaths per 100,000 live births | +4.8% |
| 1909 | 546 deaths per 100,000 live births | +5.0% |
| 1910 | 531 deaths per 100,000 live births | -2.7% |
| 1911 | 505 deaths per 100,000 live births | -4.9% |
| 1912 | 543 deaths per 100,000 live births | +7.5% |
| 1913 | 536 deaths per 100,000 live births | -1.3% |
| 1914 | 521 deaths per 100,000 live births | -2.8% |
| 1915 | 530 deaths per 100,000 live births | +1.7% |
| 1916 | 574 deaths per 100,000 live births | +8.3% |
| 1917 | 485 deaths per 100,000 live births | -15.5% |
| 1918 | 483 deaths per 100,000 live births | -0.4% |
| 1919 | 471 deaths per 100,000 live births | -2.5% |
| 1920 | 487 deaths per 100,000 live births | +3.4% |
| 1921 | 495 deaths per 100,000 live births | +1.6% |
| 1922 | 566 deaths per 100,000 live births | +14.3% |
| 1923 | 482 deaths per 100,000 live births | -14.8% |
| 1924 | 478 deaths per 100,000 live births | -0.8% |
| 1925 | 469 deaths per 100,000 live births | -1.9% |
| 1926 | 489 deaths per 100,000 live births | +4.3% |
| 1927 | 451 deaths per 100,000 live births | -7.8% |
| 1928 | 493 deaths per 100,000 live births | +9.3% |
| 1929 | 410 deaths per 100,000 live births | -16.8% |
| 1930 | 477 deaths per 100,000 live births | +16.3% |
| 1931 | 431 deaths per 100,000 live births | -9.6% |
| 1932 | 455 deaths per 100,000 live births | +5.6% |
| 1933 | 444 deaths per 100,000 live births | -2.4% |
| 1934 | 468 deaths per 100,000 live births | +5.4% |
| 1935 | 467 deaths per 100,000 live births | -0.2% |
| 1936 | 470 deaths per 100,000 live births | +0.6% |
| 1937 | 361 deaths per 100,000 live births | -23.2% |
| 1938 | 411 deaths per 100,000 live births | +13.9% |
| 1939 | 339 deaths per 100,000 live births | -17.5% |
| 1940 | 367 deaths per 100,000 live births | +8.3% |
| 1941 | 321 deaths per 100,000 live births | -12.5% |
| 1942 | 247 deaths per 100,000 live births | -23.1% |
| 1943 | 225 deaths per 100,000 live births | -8.9% |
| 1944 | 238 deaths per 100,000 live births | +5.8% |
| 1945 | 237 deaths per 100,000 live births | -0.4% |
| 1946 | 201 deaths per 100,000 live births | -15.2% |
| 1947 | 188 deaths per 100,000 live births | -6.5% |
| 1948 | 158 deaths per 100,000 live births | -16.0% |
| 1949 | 181 deaths per 100,000 live births | +14.6% |
| 1950 | 147.9 deaths per 100,000 live births | -18.3% |
| 1951 | 151.51 deaths per 100,000 live births | +2.4% |
| 1952 | 134.65 deaths per 100,000 live births | -11.1% |
| 1953 | 123.67 deaths per 100,000 live births | -8.1% |
| 1954 | 106.1 deaths per 100,000 live births | -14.2% |
| 1955 | 112.38 deaths per 100,000 live births | +5.9% |
| 1956 | 84.5 deaths per 100,000 live births | -24.8% |
| 1957 | 130.42 deaths per 100,000 live births | +54.4% |
| 1958 | 100.93 deaths per 100,000 live births | -22.6% |
| 1959 | 63.75 deaths per 100,000 live births | -36.8% |
| 1960 | 56.67 deaths per 100,000 live births | -11.1% |
| 1961 | 45.01 deaths per 100,000 live births | -20.6% |
| 1962 | 43.91 deaths per 100,000 live births | -2.4% |
| 1963 | 35.01 deaths per 100,000 live births | -20.3% |
| 1964 | 47.12 deaths per 100,000 live births | +34.6% |
| 1965 | 28.49 deaths per 100,000 live births | -39.5% |
| 1966 | 29.13 deaths per 100,000 live births | +2.2% |
| 1967 | 23 deaths per 100,000 live births | -21.0% |
| 1968 | 36.18 deaths per 100,000 live births | +57.3% |
| 1969 | 31.82 deaths per 100,000 live births | -12.0% |
| 1970 | 31.02 deaths per 100,000 live births | -2.5% |
| 1971 | 25.35 deaths per 100,000 live births | -18.3% |
| 1972 | 41.22 deaths per 100,000 live births | +62.6% |
| 1973 | 11.72 deaths per 100,000 live births | -71.6% |
| 1974 | 21.86 deaths per 100,000 live births | +86.6% |
| 1975 | 7.46 deaths per 100,000 live births | -65.9% |
| 1976 | 16.25 deaths per 100,000 live births | +117.9% |
| 1977 | 11.61 deaths per 100,000 live births | -28.5% |
| 1978 | 17.06 deaths per 100,000 live births | +47.0% |
| 1979 | 9.65 deaths per 100,000 live births | -43.4% |
| 1980 | 6.75 deaths per 100,000 live births | -30.1% |
| 1981 | 4.15 deaths per 100,000 live births | -38.5% |
| 1982 | 5.64 deaths per 100,000 live births | +35.9% |
| 1983 | 11.89 deaths per 100,000 live births | +110.9% |
| 1984 | 6.23 deaths per 100,000 live births | -47.6% |
| 1985 | 11.06 deaths per 100,000 live births | +77.6% |
| 1986 | 10.02 deaths per 100,000 live births | -9.3% |
| 1987 | 9.89 deaths per 100,000 live births | -1.4% |
| 1988 | 10.14 deaths per 100,000 live births | +2.6% |
| 1989 | 9.8 deaths per 100,000 live births | -3.4% |
| 1990 | 10.84 deaths per 100,000 live births | +10.7% |
| 1991 | 10.44 deaths per 100,000 live births | -3.7% |
| 1992 | 10.86 deaths per 100,000 live births | +4.0% |
| 1993 | 9.12 deaths per 100,000 live births | -16.0% |
| 1994 | 9.3 deaths per 100,000 live births | +2.0% |
| 1995 | 9.96 deaths per 100,000 live births | +7.0% |
| 1996 | 8.63 deaths per 100,000 live births | -13.3% |
| 1997 | 10.47 deaths per 100,000 live births | +21.3% |
| 1998 | 9.62 deaths per 100,000 live births | -8.1% |
| 1999 | 8.28 deaths per 100,000 live births | -13.9% |
| 2000 | 10.45 deaths per 100,000 live births | +26.3% |
| 2001 | 9.32 deaths per 100,000 live births | -10.8% |
| 2002 | 8.45 deaths per 100,000 live births | -9.3% |
| 2003 | 7.42 deaths per 100,000 live births | -12.2% |
| 2004 | 7.98 deaths per 100,000 live births | +7.6% |
| 2005 | 8.61 deaths per 100,000 live births | +7.9% |
| 2006 | 7.91 deaths per 100,000 live births | -8.1% |
| 2007 | 7.03 deaths per 100,000 live births | -11.2% |
| 2008 | 7.59 deaths per 100,000 live births | +8.0% |
| 2009 | 7.14 deaths per 100,000 live births | -5.9% |
| 2010 | 6.55 deaths per 100,000 live births | -8.3% |
| 2011 | 7.42 deaths per 100,000 live births | +13.3% |
| 2012 | 7.04 deaths per 100,000 live births | -5.1% |
| 2013 | 6.46 deaths per 100,000 live births | -8.3% |
| 2014 | 6.27 deaths per 100,000 live births | -2.9% |
| 2015 | 6.49 deaths per 100,000 live births | +3.4% |
| 2016 | 5.34 deaths per 100,000 live births | -17.6% |
| 2017 | 5.58 deaths per 100,000 live births | +4.5% |
| 2018 | 5.43 deaths per 100,000 live births | -2.7% |
| 2019 | 5.52 deaths per 100,000 live births | +1.7% |
| 2020 | 4.98 deaths per 100,000 live births | -9.8% |
Ireland compared with similar countries
- Ireland's 4.98 deaths per 100,000 live births is below the median for high income countries, which is 7.61 deaths per 100,000 live births, 66% of the median. (59 countries reporting)
- Ireland's 4.98 deaths per 100,000 live births is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 7.23 deaths per 100,000 live births, 69% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Maternal mortality ratio in Ireland 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1976 | +117.9% | 7.46 deaths per 100,000 live births | 16.25 deaths per 100,000 live births |
| 1983 | +110.9% | 5.64 deaths per 100,000 live births | 11.89 deaths per 100,000 live births |
| 1974 | +86.6% | 11.72 deaths per 100,000 live births | 21.86 deaths per 100,000 live births |
| 1985 | +77.6% | 6.23 deaths per 100,000 live births | 11.06 deaths per 100,000 live births |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1870s | 660 deaths per 100,000 live births | 660 deaths per 100,000 live births | 660 deaths per 100,000 live births | 1 |
| 1880s | 710 deaths per 100,000 live births | 710 deaths per 100,000 live births | 710 deaths per 100,000 live births | 1 |
| 1890s | 660 deaths per 100,000 live births | 660 deaths per 100,000 live births | 660 deaths per 100,000 live births | 1 |
| 1900s | 563.44 deaths per 100,000 live births | 496 deaths per 100,000 live births | 623 deaths per 100,000 live births | 9 |
| 1910s | 517.9 deaths per 100,000 live births | 471 deaths per 100,000 live births | 574 deaths per 100,000 live births | 10 |
| 1920s | 482 deaths per 100,000 live births | 410 deaths per 100,000 live births | 566 deaths per 100,000 live births | 10 |
| 1930s | 432.3 deaths per 100,000 live births | 339 deaths per 100,000 live births | 477 deaths per 100,000 live births | 10 |
| 1940s | 236.3 deaths per 100,000 live births | 158 deaths per 100,000 live births | 367 deaths per 100,000 live births | 10 |
| 1950s | 115.58 deaths per 100,000 live births | 63.75 deaths per 100,000 live births | 151.51 deaths per 100,000 live births | 10 |
| 1960s | 37.63 deaths per 100,000 live births | 23 deaths per 100,000 live births | 56.67 deaths per 100,000 live births | 10 |
| 1970s | 19.32 deaths per 100,000 live births | 7.46 deaths per 100,000 live births | 41.22 deaths per 100,000 live births | 10 |
| 1980s | 8.56 deaths per 100,000 live births | 4.15 deaths per 100,000 live births | 11.89 deaths per 100,000 live births | 10 |
| 1990s | 9.75 deaths per 100,000 live births | 8.28 deaths per 100,000 live births | 10.86 deaths per 100,000 live births | 10 |
| 2000s | 8.19 deaths per 100,000 live births | 7.03 deaths per 100,000 live births | 10.45 deaths per 100,000 live births | 10 |
| 2010s | 6.21 deaths per 100,000 live births | 5.34 deaths per 100,000 live births | 7.42 deaths per 100,000 live births | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.98 deaths per 100,000 live births | 4.98 deaths per 100,000 live births | 4.98 deaths per 100,000 live births | 1 |
Countries ranked near Ireland
- 164 Austria 5.23 deaths per 100,000 live births compare
- 165 Estonia 5.18 deaths per 100,000 live births compare
- 166 Turkmenistan 5.15 deaths per 100,000 live births compare
- 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
More health data for Ireland
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -4.76 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.89 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,122 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 20 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -0.7228 % 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 0.026 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -0.6489 % 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 Ireland?
- Maternal mortality ratio in Ireland was 4.98 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 Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 710 deaths per 100,000 live births in 1885.
- What is the lowest maternal mortality ratio recorded in Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.15 deaths per 100,000 live births in 1981.
- How does Ireland rank for maternal mortality ratio?
- Ireland ranks 167th out of 189 countries with data for 2020.
- Is maternal mortality ratio rising or falling in Ireland?
- Over the last ten years it is down 23.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Ireland 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.