Maternal mortality in New Zealand
New Zealand: Maternal mortality was 7.03 in 2020. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2020)
7.03
Change on year
down 2.6%
World rank
160th
of 189 countries
All-time high
640
in 1920
All-time low
5.83
in 1984
Years of data
144
1874–2020
Maternal mortality in New Zealand, 1874–2020
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for maternal mortality in New Zealand is 7.03, measured in 2020.
The figure is down 2.6% on the previous year and down 28.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, maternal mortality in New Zealand peaked at 640 in 1920 and was at its lowest, 5.83, in 1984.
New Zealand ranks 160th 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 New Zealand, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1874 | 510 | — |
| 1875 | 520 | +2.0% |
| 1876 | 620 | +19.2% |
| 1877 | 490 | -21.0% |
| 1878 | 440 | -10.2% |
| 1879 | 450 | +2.3% |
| 1880 | 470 | +4.4% |
| 1881 | 470 | +0.0% |
| 1882 | 520 | +10.6% |
| 1883 | 590 | +13.5% |
| 1884 | 600 | +1.7% |
| 1885 | 600 | +0.0% |
| 1886 | 620 | +3.3% |
| 1887 | 560 | -9.7% |
| 1888 | 590 | +5.4% |
| 1889 | 510 | -13.6% |
| 1890 | 500 | -2.0% |
| 1891 | 470 | -6.0% |
| 1892 | 510 | +8.5% |
| 1893 | 510 | +0.0% |
| 1894 | 500 | -2.0% |
| 1895 | 500 | +0.0% |
| 1896 | 510 | +2.0% |
| 1898 | 440 | -13.7% |
| 1899 | 440 | +0.0% |
| 1900 | 460 | +4.5% |
| 1901 | 480 | +4.3% |
| 1902 | 480 | +0.0% |
| 1903 | 490 | +2.1% |
| 1904 | 480 | -2.0% |
| 1905 | 460 | -4.2% |
| 1906 | 440 | -4.3% |
| 1907 | 450 | +2.3% |
| 1908 | 450 | +0.0% |
| 1909 | 460 | +2.2% |
| 1912 | 360 | -21.7% |
| 1913 | 360 | +0.0% |
| 1914 | 410 | +13.9% |
| 1915 | 470 | +14.6% |
| 1916 | 580 | +23.4% |
| 1917 | 600 | +3.4% |
| 1918 | 520 | -13.3% |
| 1919 | 500 | -3.8% |
| 1920 | 640 | +28.0% |
| 1921 | 510 | -20.3% |
| 1922 | 510 | +0.0% |
| 1923 | 510 | +0.0% |
| 1924 | 500 | -2.0% |
| 1925 | 460 | -8.0% |
| 1926 | 420 | -8.7% |
| 1927 | 490 | +16.7% |
| 1928 | 490 | +0.0% |
| 1929 | 480 | -2.0% |
| 1930 | 510 | +6.2% |
| 1931 | 480 | -5.9% |
| 1932 | 400 | -16.7% |
| 1933 | 440 | +10.0% |
| 1934 | 480 | +9.1% |
| 1935 | 420 | -12.5% |
| 1936 | 370 | -11.9% |
| 1937 | 360 | -2.7% |
| 1938 | 410 | +13.9% |
| 1939 | 360 | -12.2% |
| 1940 | 290 | -19.4% |
| 1941 | 340 | +17.2% |
| 1942 | 250 | -26.5% |
| 1943 | 220 | -12.0% |
| 1944 | 270 | +22.7% |
| 1945 | 220 | -18.5% |
| 1946 | 200 | -9.1% |
| 1947 | 100 | -50.0% |
| 1948 | 100 | +0.0% |
| 1949 | 100 | +0.0% |
| 1950 | 105.9 | +5.9% |
| 1951 | 72.14 | -31.9% |
| 1952 | 91.93 | +27.4% |
| 1953 | 62.18 | -32.4% |
| 1954 | 63.42 | +2.0% |
| 1955 | 61.57 | -2.9% |
| 1956 | 54.63 | -11.3% |
| 1957 | 76.02 | +39.2% |
| 1958 | 51.9 | -31.7% |
| 1959 | 58.51 | +12.7% |
| 1960 | 37.99 | -35.1% |
| 1961 | 38.44 | +1.2% |
| 1962 | 29.59 | -23.0% |
| 1963 | 40.51 | +36.9% |
| 1964 | 32.39 | -20.0% |
| 1965 | 21.72 | -32.9% |
| 1966 | 36.65 | +68.7% |
| 1967 | 22.96 | -37.3% |
| 1968 | 24.04 | +4.7% |
| 1969 | 24 | -0.2% |
| 1970 | 32.19 | +34.1% |
| 1971 | 21.73 | -32.5% |
| 1972 | 15.87 | -27.0% |
| 1973 | 23.38 | +47.4% |
| 1974 | 15.33 | -34.4% |
| 1975 | 23.24 | +51.6% |
| 1976 | 10.85 | -53.3% |
| 1977 | 18.32 | +68.9% |
| 1978 | 9.71 | -47.0% |
| 1979 | 11.43 | +17.7% |
| 1980 | 13.79 | +20.6% |
| 1981 | 5.9 | -57.2% |
| 1982 | 12.03 | +103.7% |
| 1983 | 19.88 | +65.3% |
| 1984 | 5.83 | -70.7% |
| 1985 | 16.9 | +190.0% |
| 1986 | 15.45 | -8.6% |
| 1987 | 16.1 | +4.3% |
| 1988 | 16.99 | +5.5% |
| 1989 | 16.49 | -3.0% |
| 1990 | 16.25 | -1.4% |
| 1991 | 14.26 | -12.2% |
| 1992 | 13.06 | -8.4% |
| 1993 | 12.79 | -2.1% |
| 1994 | 12.57 | -1.7% |
| 1995 | 13.88 | +10.4% |
| 1996 | 13.77 | -0.9% |
| 1997 | 13.13 | -4.6% |
| 1998 | 12.8 | -2.5% |
| 1999 | 12.28 | -4.0% |
| 2000 | 11.09 | -9.7% |
| 2001 | 11.02 | -0.7% |
| 2002 | 10.23 | -7.2% |
| 2003 | 10.36 | +1.3% |
| 2004 | 11.51 | +11.1% |
| 2005 | 10.01 | -13.1% |
| 2006 | 10.79 | +7.8% |
| 2007 | 10.26 | -4.9% |
| 2008 | 9.55 | -6.9% |
| 2009 | 10.18 | +6.6% |
| 2010 | 9.89 | -2.9% |
| 2011 | 10.41 | +5.3% |
| 2012 | 9.58 | -7.9% |
| 2013 | 7.86 | -18.0% |
| 2014 | 7.98 | +1.5% |
| 2015 | 8.65 | +8.4% |
| 2016 | 7.81 | -9.7% |
| 2017 | 7.39 | -5.4% |
| 2018 | 7.89 | +6.6% |
| 2019 | 7.22 | -8.4% |
| 2020 | 7.03 | -2.6% |
New Zealand compared with similar countries
- New Zealand's 7.03 is below the median for high income countries, which is 7.61, 92% of the median. (59 countries reporting)
- New Zealand's 7.03 is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 59.08, 12% of the median. (27 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Maternal mortality in New Zealand 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 | +190.0% | 5.83 | 16.9 |
| 1982 | +103.7% | 5.9 | 12.03 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1870s | 505 | 440 | 620 | 6 |
| 1880s | 553 | 470 | 620 | 10 |
| 1890s | 486.67 | 440 | 510 | 9 |
| 1900s | 465 | 440 | 490 | 10 |
| 1910s | 475 | 360 | 600 | 8 |
| 1920s | 501 | 420 | 640 | 10 |
| 1930s | 423 | 360 | 510 | 10 |
| 1940s | 209 | 100 | 340 | 10 |
| 1950s | 69.82 | 51.9 | 105.9 | 10 |
| 1960s | 30.83 | 21.72 | 40.51 | 10 |
| 1970s | 18.2 | 9.71 | 32.19 | 10 |
| 1980s | 13.94 | 5.83 | 19.88 | 10 |
| 1990s | 13.48 | 12.28 | 16.25 | 10 |
| 2000s | 10.5 | 9.55 | 11.51 | 10 |
| 2010s | 8.47 | 7.22 | 10.41 | 10 |
| 2020s | 7.03 | 7.03 | 7.03 | 1 |
Countries ranked near New Zealand
- 157 Switzerland 7.38 compare
- 158 Kuwait 7.17 compare
- 159 Bulgaria 7.09 compare
- 161 Luxembourg 6.49 compare
- 162 Montenegro 6.17 compare
- 163 Bosnia and Herzegovina 5.67 compare
More health data for New Zealand
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -2.94 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate -0.4815 % change on previous year (2090)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 33 (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -0.1187 % 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 0.0277 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 0.018 % 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 0.0291 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is maternal mortality in New Zealand?
- Maternal mortality in New Zealand was 7.03 in 2020, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest maternal mortality recorded in New Zealand?
- The highest recorded value was 640 in 1920.
- What is the lowest maternal mortality recorded in New Zealand?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.83 in 1984.
- How does New Zealand rank for maternal mortality?
- New Zealand ranks 160th out of 189 countries with data for 2020.
- Is maternal mortality rising or falling in New Zealand?
- Over the last ten years it is down 28.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this New Zealand 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 — 144 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).