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%
Rank
167th
of 189 regions
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 regions on this measure, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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
- 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)
- 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 34,474 (2025)
- Age population, age 25, female, interpolated 33,483 (2025)
- Age population, age 24, male, interpolated 34,837 (2025)
- Age population, age 24, female, interpolated 34,019 (2025)
- Age population, age 23, male, interpolated 35,434 (2025)
- Age population, age 23, female, interpolated 34,705 (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 regions 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
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.