Maternal mortality in Italy
Italy: Maternal mortality was 4.59 in 2020. ◆ Volatile
Maternal mortality in Italy, 1951–2020
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2020, maternal mortality in Italy stood at 4.59. 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 in Italy peaked at 152.27 in 1952 and was at its lowest, 4.59, 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 in Italy, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1951 | 147.93 | — |
| 1952 | 152.27 | +2.9% |
| 1953 | 137.47 | -9.7% |
| 1954 | 129.2 | -6.0% |
| 1955 | 131.96 | +2.1% |
| 1956 | 117.13 | -11.2% |
| 1957 | 113.4 | -3.2% |
| 1958 | 109.76 | -3.2% |
| 1959 | 108.19 | -1.4% |
| 1960 | 115.82 | +7.1% |
| 1961 | 107.28 | -7.4% |
| 1962 | 98.83 | -7.9% |
| 1963 | 88.85 | -10.1% |
| 1964 | 81.48 | -8.3% |
| 1965 | 77.4 | -5.0% |
| 1966 | 74.2 | -4.1% |
| 1967 | 68.79 | -7.3% |
| 1968 | 63.9 | -7.1% |
| 1969 | 60.88 | -4.7% |
| 1970 | 54.54 | -10.4% |
| 1971 | 51.85 | -4.9% |
| 1972 | 46.36 | -10.6% |
| 1973 | 42.69 | -7.9% |
| 1974 | 30.16 | -29.3% |
| 1975 | 25.95 | -14.0% |
| 1976 | 24.05 | -7.3% |
| 1977 | 16.9 | -29.8% |
| 1978 | 17.13 | +1.4% |
| 1979 | 12.26 | -28.4% |
| 1980 | 13.13 | +7.1% |
| 1981 | 13.15 | +0.1% |
| 1982 | 9.52 | -27.6% |
| 1983 | 9.11 | -4.2% |
| 1984 | 9.16 | +0.5% |
| 1985 | 18.08 | +97.4% |
| 1986 | 18.73 | +3.6% |
| 1987 | 18 | -3.9% |
| 1988 | 16.96 | -5.8% |
| 1989 | 16.33 | -3.7% |
| 1990 | 15.61 | -4.4% |
| 1991 | 15.67 | +0.4% |
| 1992 | 14.85 | -5.3% |
| 1993 | 14.75 | -0.7% |
| 1994 | 14.54 | -1.4% |
| 1995 | 14.66 | +0.8% |
| 1996 | 13.98 | -4.6% |
| 1997 | 12.17 | -12.9% |
| 1998 | 11.64 | -4.4% |
| 1999 | 10.49 | -9.9% |
| 2000 | 10.07 | -4.0% |
| 2001 | 9.78 | -2.9% |
| 2002 | 9.38 | -4.1% |
| 2003 | 8.8 | -6.2% |
| 2004 | 7.9 | -10.3% |
| 2005 | 7.75 | -1.9% |
| 2006 | 7.24 | -6.5% |
| 2007 | 7.07 | -2.3% |
| 2008 | 6.76 | -4.5% |
| 2009 | 6.93 | +2.6% |
| 2010 | 6.73 | -2.9% |
| 2011 | 6.84 | +1.7% |
| 2012 | 6.78 | -0.8% |
| 2013 | 6.78 | -0.1% |
| 2014 | 6.46 | -4.7% |
| 2015 | 6.5 | +0.6% |
| 2016 | 6.32 | -2.9% |
| 2017 | 6.37 | +0.8% |
| 2018 | 4.89 | -23.2% |
| 2019 | 4.72 | -3.4% |
| 2020 | 4.59 | -2.8% |
Italy compared with similar countries
- Italy's 4.59 is below the median for high income countries, which is 7.61, 60% of the median. (59 countries reporting)
- Italy's 4.59 is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 7.23, 63% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Maternal mortality 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 | 18.08 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 127.48 | 108.19 | 152.27 | 9 |
| 1960s | 83.74 | 60.88 | 115.82 | 10 |
| 1970s | 32.19 | 12.26 | 54.54 | 10 |
| 1980s | 14.22 | 9.11 | 18.73 | 10 |
| 1990s | 13.84 | 10.49 | 15.67 | 10 |
| 2000s | 8.17 | 6.76 | 10.07 | 10 |
| 2010s | 6.24 | 4.72 | 6.84 | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.59 | 4.59 | 4.59 | 1 |
Countries ranked near Italy
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)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 80 (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)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per capita 0.0174 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is maternal mortality in Italy?
- Maternal mortality in Italy was 4.59 in 2020, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest maternal mortality recorded in Italy?
- The highest recorded value was 152.27 in 1952.
- What is the lowest maternal mortality recorded in Italy?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.59 in 2020.
- How does Italy rank for maternal mortality?
- Italy ranks 172nd out of 189 countries with data for 2020.
- Is maternal mortality 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 Our World in Data, published as part of Maternal mortality. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 70 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).