Maternal mortality ratio in Spain
Spain: Maternal mortality ratio was 3.44 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2020. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2020)
3.44 deaths per 100,000 live births
Change on year
up 8.6%
World rank
178th
of 189 countries
All-time high
105.46 deaths per 100,000 live births
in 1953
All-time low
3.17 deaths per 100,000 live births
in 2019
Years of data
70
1951–2020
Maternal mortality ratio in Spain, 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
Spain recorded 3.44 deaths per 100,000 live births for maternal mortality ratio in 2020.
The figure is up 8.6% on the previous year and down 12.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, maternal mortality ratio in Spain peaked at 105.46 deaths per 100,000 live births in 1953 and was at its lowest, 3.17 deaths per 100,000 live births, in 2019.
Spain ranks 178th 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 Spain, year by year
| Year | deaths per 100,000 live births | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1951 | 105.29 deaths per 100,000 live births | — |
| 1952 | 99.11 deaths per 100,000 live births | -5.9% |
| 1953 | 105.46 deaths per 100,000 live births | +6.4% |
| 1954 | 97.71 deaths per 100,000 live births | -7.4% |
| 1955 | 84.07 deaths per 100,000 live births | -14.0% |
| 1956 | 81.17 deaths per 100,000 live births | -3.5% |
| 1957 | 81.51 deaths per 100,000 live births | +0.4% |
| 1958 | 71.36 deaths per 100,000 live births | -12.4% |
| 1959 | 69.35 deaths per 100,000 live births | -2.8% |
| 1960 | 74.82 deaths per 100,000 live births | +7.9% |
| 1961 | 73.3 deaths per 100,000 live births | -2.0% |
| 1962 | 53.53 deaths per 100,000 live births | -27.0% |
| 1963 | 59.25 deaths per 100,000 live births | +10.7% |
| 1964 | 38.01 deaths per 100,000 live births | -35.9% |
| 1965 | 53.27 deaths per 100,000 live births | +40.1% |
| 1966 | 49.24 deaths per 100,000 live births | -7.6% |
| 1967 | 43.69 deaths per 100,000 live births | -11.3% |
| 1968 | 37.81 deaths per 100,000 live births | -13.5% |
| 1969 | 33.33 deaths per 100,000 live births | -11.8% |
| 1970 | 32.79 deaths per 100,000 live births | -1.6% |
| 1971 | 29.79 deaths per 100,000 live births | -9.1% |
| 1972 | 32.18 deaths per 100,000 live births | +8.0% |
| 1973 | 26.92 deaths per 100,000 live births | -16.3% |
| 1974 | 26.51 deaths per 100,000 live births | -1.5% |
| 1975 | 21.57 deaths per 100,000 live births | -18.6% |
| 1976 | 20.5 deaths per 100,000 live births | -5.0% |
| 1977 | 13.37 deaths per 100,000 live births | -34.8% |
| 1978 | 12.86 deaths per 100,000 live births | -3.8% |
| 1979 | 11.27 deaths per 100,000 live births | -12.3% |
| 1980 | 11.03 deaths per 100,000 live births | -2.2% |
| 1981 | 9.57 deaths per 100,000 live births | -13.2% |
| 1982 | 10.49 deaths per 100,000 live births | +9.6% |
| 1983 | 7.6 deaths per 100,000 live births | -27.5% |
| 1984 | 5.06 deaths per 100,000 live births | -33.4% |
| 1985 | 5.91 deaths per 100,000 live births | +16.8% |
| 1986 | 6.32 deaths per 100,000 live births | +6.9% |
| 1987 | 6.63 deaths per 100,000 live births | +4.9% |
| 1988 | 5.61 deaths per 100,000 live births | -15.4% |
| 1989 | 5.78 deaths per 100,000 live births | +3.2% |
| 1990 | 5.82 deaths per 100,000 live births | +0.6% |
| 1991 | 6.04 deaths per 100,000 live births | +3.8% |
| 1992 | 5.82 deaths per 100,000 live births | -3.7% |
| 1993 | 5.98 deaths per 100,000 live births | +2.8% |
| 1994 | 6.25 deaths per 100,000 live births | +4.5% |
| 1995 | 6.43 deaths per 100,000 live births | +2.9% |
| 1996 | 6.44 deaths per 100,000 live births | +0.1% |
| 1997 | 5.66 deaths per 100,000 live births | -12.0% |
| 1998 | 4.29 deaths per 100,000 live births | -24.3% |
| 1999 | 5.25 deaths per 100,000 live births | +22.6% |
| 2000 | 5.04 deaths per 100,000 live births | -4.1% |
| 2001 | 5.01 deaths per 100,000 live births | -0.6% |
| 2002 | 4.86 deaths per 100,000 live births | -2.9% |
| 2003 | 4.94 deaths per 100,000 live births | +1.6% |
| 2004 | 4.55 deaths per 100,000 live births | -7.9% |
| 2005 | 4.49 deaths per 100,000 live births | -1.4% |
| 2006 | 4.3 deaths per 100,000 live births | -4.1% |
| 2007 | 4.16 deaths per 100,000 live births | -3.3% |
| 2008 | 4 deaths per 100,000 live births | -3.8% |
| 2009 | 4.1 deaths per 100,000 live births | +2.4% |
| 2010 | 3.92 deaths per 100,000 live births | -4.4% |
| 2011 | 4.07 deaths per 100,000 live births | +3.9% |
| 2012 | 4.06 deaths per 100,000 live births | -0.3% |
| 2013 | 4.12 deaths per 100,000 live births | +1.4% |
| 2014 | 4.01 deaths per 100,000 live births | -2.7% |
| 2015 | 3.88 deaths per 100,000 live births | -3.1% |
| 2016 | 3.83 deaths per 100,000 live births | -1.3% |
| 2017 | 3.97 deaths per 100,000 live births | +3.7% |
| 2018 | 4.05 deaths per 100,000 live births | +2.1% |
| 2019 | 3.17 deaths per 100,000 live births | -21.9% |
| 2020 | 3.44 deaths per 100,000 live births | +8.6% |
Spain compared with similar countries
- Spain's 3.44 deaths per 100,000 live births is below the median for high income countries, which is 7.61 deaths per 100,000 live births, 45% of the median. (59 countries reporting)
- Spain's 3.44 deaths per 100,000 live births is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 7.23 deaths per 100,000 live births, 48% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 88.34 deaths per 100,000 live births | 69.35 deaths per 100,000 live births | 105.46 deaths per 100,000 live births | 9 |
| 1960s | 51.63 deaths per 100,000 live births | 33.33 deaths per 100,000 live births | 74.82 deaths per 100,000 live births | 10 |
| 1970s | 22.78 deaths per 100,000 live births | 11.27 deaths per 100,000 live births | 32.79 deaths per 100,000 live births | 10 |
| 1980s | 7.4 deaths per 100,000 live births | 5.06 deaths per 100,000 live births | 11.03 deaths per 100,000 live births | 10 |
| 1990s | 5.8 deaths per 100,000 live births | 4.29 deaths per 100,000 live births | 6.44 deaths per 100,000 live births | 10 |
| 2000s | 4.55 deaths per 100,000 live births | 4 deaths per 100,000 live births | 5.04 deaths per 100,000 live births | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.91 deaths per 100,000 live births | 3.17 deaths per 100,000 live births | 4.12 deaths per 100,000 live births | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.44 deaths per 100,000 live births | 3.44 deaths per 100,000 live births | 3.44 deaths per 100,000 live births | 1 |
Countries ranked near Spain
- 175 Germany 4.43 deaths per 100,000 live births compare
- 176 Japan 4.31 deaths per 100,000 live births compare
- 177 Netherlands 4.31 deaths per 100,000 live births compare
- 179 Czechia 3.37 deaths per 100,000 live births compare
- 180 Seychelles 3.33 deaths per 100,000 live births compare
- 181 North Macedonia 3.04 deaths per 100,000 live births compare
More health data for Spain
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.82 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate -0.2629 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,290 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 108 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -0.0396 % 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 0.0173 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -0.0227 % 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 Spain?
- Maternal mortality ratio in Spain was 3.44 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 Spain?
- The highest recorded value was 105.46 deaths per 100,000 live births in 1953.
- What is the lowest maternal mortality ratio recorded in Spain?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.17 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2019.
- How does Spain rank for maternal mortality ratio?
- Spain ranks 178th out of 189 countries with data for 2020.
- Is maternal mortality ratio rising or falling in Spain?
- Over the last ten years it is down 12.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Spain 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.