Maternal mortality ratio in New Zealand
New Zealand: Maternal mortality ratio was 7.03 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2020. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2020)
7.03 deaths per 100,000 live births
Change on year
down 2.6%
World rank
160th
of 189 countries
All-time high
640 deaths per 100,000 live births
in 1920
All-time low
5.83 deaths per 100,000 live births
in 1984
Years of data
144
1874–2020
Maternal mortality ratio in New Zealand, 1874–2020
Source: UN MMEIG (2023) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in deaths per 100,000 live births.
Analysis
The most recent figure for maternal mortality ratio in New Zealand is 7.03 deaths per 100,000 live births, 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 ratio in New Zealand peaked at 640 deaths per 100,000 live births in 1920 and was at its lowest, 5.83 deaths per 100,000 live births, 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.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1870s | 505 deaths per 100,000 live births | 440 deaths per 100,000 live births | 620 deaths per 100,000 live births | 6 |
| 1880s | 553 deaths per 100,000 live births | 470 deaths per 100,000 live births | 620 deaths per 100,000 live births | 10 |
| 1890s | 486.67 deaths per 100,000 live births | 440 deaths per 100,000 live births | 510 deaths per 100,000 live births | 9 |
| 1900s | 465 deaths per 100,000 live births | 440 deaths per 100,000 live births | 490 deaths per 100,000 live births | 10 |
| 1910s | 475 deaths per 100,000 live births | 360 deaths per 100,000 live births | 600 deaths per 100,000 live births | 8 |
| 1920s | 501 deaths per 100,000 live births | 420 deaths per 100,000 live births | 640 deaths per 100,000 live births | 10 |
| 1930s | 423 deaths per 100,000 live births | 360 deaths per 100,000 live births | 510 deaths per 100,000 live births | 10 |
| 1940s | 209 deaths per 100,000 live births | 100 deaths per 100,000 live births | 340 deaths per 100,000 live births | 10 |
| 1950s | 69.82 deaths per 100,000 live births | 51.9 deaths per 100,000 live births | 105.9 deaths per 100,000 live births | 10 |
| 1960s | 30.83 deaths per 100,000 live births | 21.72 deaths per 100,000 live births | 40.51 deaths per 100,000 live births | 10 |
| 1970s | 18.2 deaths per 100,000 live births | 9.71 deaths per 100,000 live births | 32.19 deaths per 100,000 live births | 10 |
| 1980s | 13.94 deaths per 100,000 live births | 5.83 deaths per 100,000 live births | 19.88 deaths per 100,000 live births | 10 |
| 1990s | 13.48 deaths per 100,000 live births | 12.28 deaths per 100,000 live births | 16.25 deaths per 100,000 live births | 10 |
| 2000s | 10.5 deaths per 100,000 live births | 9.55 deaths per 100,000 live births | 11.51 deaths per 100,000 live births | 10 |
| 2010s | 8.47 deaths per 100,000 live births | 7.22 deaths per 100,000 live births | 10.41 deaths per 100,000 live births | 10 |
| 2020s | 7.03 deaths per 100,000 live births | 7.03 deaths per 100,000 live births | 7.03 deaths per 100,000 live births | 1 |
Countries ranked near New Zealand
- 157 Switzerland 7.38 deaths per 100,000 live births compare
- 158 Kuwait 7.17 deaths per 100,000 live births compare
- 159 Bulgaria 7.09 deaths per 100,000 live births compare
- 161 Luxembourg 6.49 deaths per 100,000 live births compare
- 162 Montenegro 6.17 deaths per 100,000 live births compare
- 163 Bosnia and Herzegovina 5.67 deaths per 100,000 live births compare
More health data for New Zealand
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,116 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 33 deaths (2100)
- Deaths in armed conflicts by region 0 deaths (2026)
- Deaths in armed conflicts based on where they occurred 0 deaths (2026)
- Age population, age 10, female, interpolated 31,139 (2025)
- Age population, age 13, male, interpolated 34,390 (2025)
- Age population, age 12, male, interpolated 33,945 (2025)
- Age population, age 12, female, interpolated 32,324 (2025)
- Age population, age 11, male, interpolated 33,497 (2025)
- Age population, age 11, female, interpolated 31,599 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is maternal mortality ratio in New Zealand?
- Maternal mortality ratio in New Zealand was 7.03 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 New Zealand?
- The highest recorded value was 640 deaths per 100,000 live births in 1920.
- What is the lowest maternal mortality ratio recorded in New Zealand?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.83 deaths per 100,000 live births in 1984.
- How does New Zealand rank for maternal mortality ratio?
- New Zealand ranks 160th out of 189 countries with data for 2020.
- Is maternal mortality ratio 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 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.