Maternal mortality ratio in Italy
Italy: Maternal mortality ratio was 4.59 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2020. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2020)
4.59 deaths per 100,000 live births
Change on year
down 2.8%
World rank
172nd
of 189 countries
All-time high
152.27 deaths per 100,000 live births
in 1952
All-time low
4.59 deaths per 100,000 live births
in 2020
Years of data
70
1951–2020
Maternal mortality ratio in Italy, 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 Italy stood at 4.59 deaths per 100,000 live births. That is the lowest value across all 70 years on record.
That represents a change of down 2.8% on the previous year and down 31.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, maternal mortality ratio in Italy peaked at 152.27 deaths per 100,000 live births in 1952 and was at its lowest, 4.59 deaths per 100,000 live births, in 2020.
Italy ranks 172nd 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 Italy, year by year
| Year | deaths per 100,000 live births | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1951 | 147.93 deaths per 100,000 live births | — |
| 1952 | 152.27 deaths per 100,000 live births | +2.9% |
| 1953 | 137.47 deaths per 100,000 live births | -9.7% |
| 1954 | 129.2 deaths per 100,000 live births | -6.0% |
| 1955 | 131.96 deaths per 100,000 live births | +2.1% |
| 1956 | 117.13 deaths per 100,000 live births | -11.2% |
| 1957 | 113.4 deaths per 100,000 live births | -3.2% |
| 1958 | 109.76 deaths per 100,000 live births | -3.2% |
| 1959 | 108.19 deaths per 100,000 live births | -1.4% |
| 1960 | 115.82 deaths per 100,000 live births | +7.1% |
| 1961 | 107.28 deaths per 100,000 live births | -7.4% |
| 1962 | 98.83 deaths per 100,000 live births | -7.9% |
| 1963 | 88.85 deaths per 100,000 live births | -10.1% |
| 1964 | 81.48 deaths per 100,000 live births | -8.3% |
| 1965 | 77.4 deaths per 100,000 live births | -5.0% |
| 1966 | 74.2 deaths per 100,000 live births | -4.1% |
| 1967 | 68.79 deaths per 100,000 live births | -7.3% |
| 1968 | 63.9 deaths per 100,000 live births | -7.1% |
| 1969 | 60.88 deaths per 100,000 live births | -4.7% |
| 1970 | 54.54 deaths per 100,000 live births | -10.4% |
| 1971 | 51.85 deaths per 100,000 live births | -4.9% |
| 1972 | 46.36 deaths per 100,000 live births | -10.6% |
| 1973 | 42.69 deaths per 100,000 live births | -7.9% |
| 1974 | 30.16 deaths per 100,000 live births | -29.3% |
| 1975 | 25.95 deaths per 100,000 live births | -14.0% |
| 1976 | 24.05 deaths per 100,000 live births | -7.3% |
| 1977 | 16.9 deaths per 100,000 live births | -29.8% |
| 1978 | 17.13 deaths per 100,000 live births | +1.4% |
| 1979 | 12.26 deaths per 100,000 live births | -28.4% |
| 1980 | 13.13 deaths per 100,000 live births | +7.1% |
| 1981 | 13.15 deaths per 100,000 live births | +0.1% |
| 1982 | 9.52 deaths per 100,000 live births | -27.6% |
| 1983 | 9.11 deaths per 100,000 live births | -4.2% |
| 1984 | 9.16 deaths per 100,000 live births | +0.5% |
| 1985 | 18.08 deaths per 100,000 live births | +97.4% |
| 1986 | 18.73 deaths per 100,000 live births | +3.6% |
| 1987 | 18 deaths per 100,000 live births | -3.9% |
| 1988 | 16.96 deaths per 100,000 live births | -5.8% |
| 1989 | 16.33 deaths per 100,000 live births | -3.7% |
| 1990 | 15.61 deaths per 100,000 live births | -4.4% |
| 1991 | 15.67 deaths per 100,000 live births | +0.4% |
| 1992 | 14.85 deaths per 100,000 live births | -5.3% |
| 1993 | 14.75 deaths per 100,000 live births | -0.7% |
| 1994 | 14.54 deaths per 100,000 live births | -1.4% |
| 1995 | 14.66 deaths per 100,000 live births | +0.8% |
| 1996 | 13.98 deaths per 100,000 live births | -4.6% |
| 1997 | 12.17 deaths per 100,000 live births | -12.9% |
| 1998 | 11.64 deaths per 100,000 live births | -4.4% |
| 1999 | 10.49 deaths per 100,000 live births | -9.9% |
| 2000 | 10.07 deaths per 100,000 live births | -4.0% |
| 2001 | 9.78 deaths per 100,000 live births | -2.9% |
| 2002 | 9.38 deaths per 100,000 live births | -4.1% |
| 2003 | 8.8 deaths per 100,000 live births | -6.2% |
| 2004 | 7.9 deaths per 100,000 live births | -10.3% |
| 2005 | 7.75 deaths per 100,000 live births | -1.9% |
| 2006 | 7.24 deaths per 100,000 live births | -6.5% |
| 2007 | 7.07 deaths per 100,000 live births | -2.3% |
| 2008 | 6.76 deaths per 100,000 live births | -4.5% |
| 2009 | 6.93 deaths per 100,000 live births | +2.6% |
| 2010 | 6.73 deaths per 100,000 live births | -2.9% |
| 2011 | 6.84 deaths per 100,000 live births | +1.7% |
| 2012 | 6.78 deaths per 100,000 live births | -0.8% |
| 2013 | 6.78 deaths per 100,000 live births | -0.1% |
| 2014 | 6.46 deaths per 100,000 live births | -4.7% |
| 2015 | 6.5 deaths per 100,000 live births | +0.6% |
| 2016 | 6.32 deaths per 100,000 live births | -2.9% |
| 2017 | 6.37 deaths per 100,000 live births | +0.8% |
| 2018 | 4.89 deaths per 100,000 live births | -23.2% |
| 2019 | 4.72 deaths per 100,000 live births | -3.4% |
| 2020 | 4.59 deaths per 100,000 live births | -2.8% |
Italy compared with similar countries
- Italy's 4.59 deaths per 100,000 live births is below the median for high income countries, which is 7.61 deaths per 100,000 live births, 60% of the median. (59 countries reporting)
- Italy's 4.59 deaths per 100,000 live births is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 7.23 deaths per 100,000 live births, 63% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Maternal mortality ratio in Italy 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | +97.4% | 9.16 deaths per 100,000 live births | 18.08 deaths per 100,000 live births |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 127.48 deaths per 100,000 live births | 108.19 deaths per 100,000 live births | 152.27 deaths per 100,000 live births | 9 |
| 1960s | 83.74 deaths per 100,000 live births | 60.88 deaths per 100,000 live births | 115.82 deaths per 100,000 live births | 10 |
| 1970s | 32.19 deaths per 100,000 live births | 12.26 deaths per 100,000 live births | 54.54 deaths per 100,000 live births | 10 |
| 1980s | 14.22 deaths per 100,000 live births | 9.11 deaths per 100,000 live births | 18.73 deaths per 100,000 live births | 10 |
| 1990s | 13.84 deaths per 100,000 live births | 10.49 deaths per 100,000 live births | 15.67 deaths per 100,000 live births | 10 |
| 2000s | 8.17 deaths per 100,000 live births | 6.76 deaths per 100,000 live births | 10.07 deaths per 100,000 live births | 10 |
| 2010s | 6.24 deaths per 100,000 live births | 4.72 deaths per 100,000 live births | 6.84 deaths per 100,000 live births | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.59 deaths per 100,000 live births | 4.59 deaths per 100,000 live births | 4.59 deaths per 100,000 live births | 1 |
Countries ranked near Italy
- 169 Croatia 4.82 deaths per 100,000 live births compare
- 170 Belgium 4.76 deaths per 100,000 live births compare
- 171 Denmark 4.66 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
- 175 Germany 4.43 deaths per 100,000 live births compare
More health data for Italy
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -2.44 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate -0.1206 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,408 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 80 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -1.23 % 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 0.0164 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -1.07 % 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 Italy?
- Maternal mortality ratio in Italy was 4.59 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 Italy?
- The highest recorded value was 152.27 deaths per 100,000 live births in 1952.
- What is the lowest maternal mortality ratio recorded in Italy?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.59 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2020.
- How does Italy rank for maternal mortality ratio?
- Italy ranks 172nd out of 189 countries with data for 2020.
- Is maternal mortality ratio rising or falling in Italy?
- Over the last ten years it is down 31.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Italy 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.