What is maternal mortality ratio in Portugal?

Maternal mortality ratio in Portugal was 11.8 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 Portugal?

The highest recorded value was 154.65 deaths per 100,000 live births in 1955.

What is the lowest maternal mortality ratio recorded in Portugal?

The lowest recorded value was 8.69 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2006.

How does Portugal rank for maternal mortality ratio?

Portugal ranks 143rd out of 189 countries with data for 2020.

Is maternal mortality ratio rising or falling in Portugal?

Over the last ten years it is up 19.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.

Where does this Portugal 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.

Maternal mortality ratio in Portugal

Name: Maternal mortality ratio in Portugal
Creator: UN MMEIG (2023) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data
License: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)

Portugal: Maternal mortality ratio was 11.8 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2020. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2020)

11.8 deaths per 100,000 live births

Change on year

up 4.1%

World rank

143rd

of 189 countries

All-time high

154.65 deaths per 100,000 live births

in 1955

All-time low

8.69 deaths per 100,000 live births

in 2006

Years of data

1955–2020

Maternal mortality ratio in Portugal, 1955–2020

Source: UN MMEIG (2023) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in deaths per 100,000 live births.

Analysis

Portugal recorded 11.8 deaths per 100,000 live births for maternal mortality ratio in 2020.

The figure is up 4.1% on the previous year and up 19.2% over ten years.

Over the whole period, maternal mortality ratio in Portugal peaked at 154.65 deaths per 100,000 live births in 1955 and was at its lowest, 8.69 deaths per 100,000 live births, in 2006.

Portugal ranks 143rd 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
1950s	133.44 deaths per 100,000 live births	120.75 deaths per 100,000 live births	154.65 deaths per 100,000 live births	5
1960s	93.15 deaths per 100,000 live births	73.53 deaths per 100,000 live births	118.54 deaths per 100,000 live births	10
1970s	48.47 deaths per 100,000 live births	30.5 deaths per 100,000 live births	69.32 deaths per 100,000 live births	10
1980s	16.92 deaths per 100,000 live births	14.72 deaths per 100,000 live births	22.71 deaths per 100,000 live births	10
1990s	12.23 deaths per 100,000 live births	9.54 deaths per 100,000 live births	14.98 deaths per 100,000 live births	10
2000s	9.31 deaths per 100,000 live births	8.69 deaths per 100,000 live births	10.82 deaths per 100,000 live births	10
2010s	10.17 deaths per 100,000 live births	8.73 deaths per 100,000 live births	11.33 deaths per 100,000 live births	10
2020s	11.8 deaths per 100,000 live births	11.8 deaths per 100,000 live births	11.8 deaths per 100,000 live births	1

Countries ranked near Portugal

140 Russia 13.72 deaths per 100,000 live births compare
141 Kazakhstan 13.38 deaths per 100,000 live births compare
142 Moldova 12.26 deaths per 100,000 live births compare
144 Canada 11.01 deaths per 100,000 live births compare
145 Serbia 10.18 deaths per 100,000 live births compare
146 Romania 10.07 deaths per 100,000 live births compare

See the full ranking of 189 places →

More health data for Portugal

Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,112 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
Number of infants who die before age 1 38 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 60,235 (2025)
Age population, age 25, female, interpolated 57,946 (2025)
Age population, age 24, male, interpolated 59,238 (2025)
Age population, age 24, female, interpolated 56,650 (2025)
Age population, age 23, male, interpolated 57,554 (2025)
Age population, age 23, female, interpolated 54,971 (2025)

All data for Portugal →

Frequently asked questions

What is maternal mortality ratio in Portugal?: Maternal mortality ratio in Portugal was 11.8 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 Portugal?: The highest recorded value was 154.65 deaths per 100,000 live births in 1955.
What is the lowest maternal mortality ratio recorded in Portugal?: The lowest recorded value was 8.69 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2006.
How does Portugal rank for maternal mortality ratio?: Portugal ranks 143rd out of 189 countries with data for 2020.
Is maternal mortality ratio rising or falling in Portugal?: Over the last ten years it is up 19.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Portugal 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.

Download this data

CSV · JSON — 66 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).

About this data

Indicator: Maternal mortality ratio
Unit: deaths per 100,000 live births
Source: UN MMEIG (2023) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data
Licence: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage: 189 places, 8,868 data points, 1751–2020
Last refreshed: 07 August 2026

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.