Maternal mortality ratio in Sweden

Sweden: Maternal mortality ratio was 4.51 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2020. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2020)
4.51 deaths per 100,000 live births
Change on year
down 0.5%
World rank
174th
of 189 countries
All-time high
1,205 deaths per 100,000 live births
in 1758
All-time low
1.04 deaths per 100,000 live births
in 1979
Years of data
269
1751–2020

Maternal mortality ratio in Sweden, 1751–2020

02505007501.0k1.2k175118852020

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 Sweden is 4.51 deaths per 100,000 live births, measured in 2020.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.5% on the previous year and down 0.5% over ten years.

Over the whole period, maternal mortality ratio in Sweden peaked at 1,205 deaths per 100,000 live births in 1758 and was at its lowest, 1.04 deaths per 100,000 live births, in 1979.

Sweden ranks 174th 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 Sweden, year by year

Annual values for Maternal mortality ratio in Sweden, 1751 to 2020.
Year deaths per 100,000 live births Change
1751 1,046 deaths per 100,000 live births
1752 1,050 deaths per 100,000 live births +0.4%
1753 1,071 deaths per 100,000 live births +1.9%
1754 1,098 deaths per 100,000 live births +2.5%
1755 1,020 deaths per 100,000 live births -7.1%
1756 1,023 deaths per 100,000 live births +0.3%
1757 1,094 deaths per 100,000 live births +7.0%
1758 1,205 deaths per 100,000 live births +10.1%
1759 1,073 deaths per 100,000 live births -10.9%
1760 1,098 deaths per 100,000 live births +2.3%
1761 1,120 deaths per 100,000 live births +2.0%
1762 1,148 deaths per 100,000 live births +2.5%
1763 1,079 deaths per 100,000 live births -6.1%
1764 1,117 deaths per 100,000 live births +3.5%
1765 1,034 deaths per 100,000 live births -7.4%
1766 974.97 deaths per 100,000 live births -5.7%
1767 1,020 deaths per 100,000 live births +4.7%
1768 920.14 deaths per 100,000 live births -9.8%
1769 820.37 deaths per 100,000 live births -10.8%
1770 871.88 deaths per 100,000 live births +6.3%
1771 943.85 deaths per 100,000 live births +8.3%
1772 1,060 deaths per 100,000 live births +12.3%
1773 942.51 deaths per 100,000 live births -11.0%
1774 853.77 deaths per 100,000 live births -9.4%
1775 913.7 deaths per 100,000 live births +7.0%
1776 945.12 deaths per 100,000 live births +3.4%
1777 892.29 deaths per 100,000 live births -5.6%
1778 947.04 deaths per 100,000 live births +6.1%
1779 907.22 deaths per 100,000 live births -4.2%
1780 830.73 deaths per 100,000 live births -8.4%
1781 858.99 deaths per 100,000 live births +3.4%
1782 937.25 deaths per 100,000 live births +9.1%
1783 784.99 deaths per 100,000 live births -16.2%
1784 703.68 deaths per 100,000 live births -10.4%
1785 883.07 deaths per 100,000 live births +25.5%
1786 883.91 deaths per 100,000 live births +0.1%
1787 951.29 deaths per 100,000 live births +7.6%
1788 948.66 deaths per 100,000 live births -0.3%
1789 991 deaths per 100,000 live births +4.5%
1790 986.68 deaths per 100,000 live births -0.4%
1791 1,120 deaths per 100,000 live births +13.5%
1792 1,074 deaths per 100,000 live births -4.1%
1793 961.54 deaths per 100,000 live births -10.5%
1794 950.12 deaths per 100,000 live births -1.2%
1795 1,091 deaths per 100,000 live births +14.8%
1796 911.31 deaths per 100,000 live births -16.4%
1797 823.65 deaths per 100,000 live births -9.6%
1798 842.31 deaths per 100,000 live births +2.3%
1799 844.91 deaths per 100,000 live births +0.3%
1800 895.57 deaths per 100,000 live births +6.0%
1801 839.6 deaths per 100,000 live births -6.2%
1802 841.75 deaths per 100,000 live births +0.3%
1803 818.55 deaths per 100,000 live births -2.8%
1804 754.81 deaths per 100,000 live births -7.8%
1805 667.52 deaths per 100,000 live births -11.6%
1806 866.17 deaths per 100,000 live births +29.8%
1807 866.27 deaths per 100,000 live births +0.0%
1808 870.71 deaths per 100,000 live births +0.5%
1809 1,008 deaths per 100,000 live births +15.7%
1810 887.02 deaths per 100,000 live births -12.0%
1811 896.75 deaths per 100,000 live births +1.1%
1812 828.82 deaths per 100,000 live births -7.6%
1813 738.67 deaths per 100,000 live births -10.9%
1814 764.8 deaths per 100,000 live births +3.5%
1815 746.14 deaths per 100,000 live births -2.4%
1816 691.43 deaths per 100,000 live births -7.3%
1817 751.34 deaths per 100,000 live births +8.7%
1818 757.17 deaths per 100,000 live births +0.8%
1819 740.65 deaths per 100,000 live births -2.2%
1820 757.89 deaths per 100,000 live births +2.3%
1821 754.79 deaths per 100,000 live births -0.4%
1822 780.41 deaths per 100,000 live births +3.4%
1823 706.3 deaths per 100,000 live births -9.5%
1824 570.65 deaths per 100,000 live births -19.2%
1825 565.22 deaths per 100,000 live births -1.0%
1826 618.79 deaths per 100,000 live births +9.5%
1827 645.58 deaths per 100,000 live births +4.3%
1828 705.79 deaths per 100,000 live births +9.3%
1829 721.7 deaths per 100,000 live births +2.3%
1830 658.38 deaths per 100,000 live births -8.8%
1831 627.74 deaths per 100,000 live births -4.7%
1832 569.76 deaths per 100,000 live births -9.2%
1833 593.17 deaths per 100,000 live births +4.1%
1834 574.67 deaths per 100,000 live births -3.1%
1835 514.55 deaths per 100,000 live births -10.5%
1836 543.07 deaths per 100,000 live births +5.5%
1837 547.48 deaths per 100,000 live births +0.8%
1838 467.07 deaths per 100,000 live births -14.7%
1839 507.86 deaths per 100,000 live births +8.7%
1840 610.23 deaths per 100,000 live births +20.2%
1841 622.56 deaths per 100,000 live births +2.0%
1842 669.47 deaths per 100,000 live births +7.5%
1843 459.89 deaths per 100,000 live births -31.3%
1844 426.01 deaths per 100,000 live births -7.4%
1845 430.25 deaths per 100,000 live births +1.0%
1846 494.47 deaths per 100,000 live births +14.9%
1847 441.63 deaths per 100,000 live births -10.7%
1848 415.51 deaths per 100,000 live births -5.9%
1849 471.93 deaths per 100,000 live births +13.6%
1850 467.4 deaths per 100,000 live births -1.0%
1851 472.7 deaths per 100,000 live births +1.1%
1852 453.35 deaths per 100,000 live births -4.1%
1853 421.88 deaths per 100,000 live births -6.9%
1854 445.44 deaths per 100,000 live births +5.6%
1855 441.46 deaths per 100,000 live births -0.9%
1856 352.79 deaths per 100,000 live births -20.1%
1857 370.34 deaths per 100,000 live births +5.0%
1858 509.92 deaths per 100,000 live births +37.7%
1859 528.1 deaths per 100,000 live births +3.6%
1860 488.13 deaths per 100,000 live births -7.6%
1861 514.08 deaths per 100,000 live births +5.3%
1862 560.1 deaths per 100,000 live births +9.0%
1863 565.99 deaths per 100,000 live births +1.1%
1864 597.04 deaths per 100,000 live births +5.5%
1865 595.77 deaths per 100,000 live births -0.2%
1866 511.72 deaths per 100,000 live births -14.1%
1867 496 deaths per 100,000 live births -3.1%
1868 498.46 deaths per 100,000 live births +0.5%
1869 591.45 deaths per 100,000 live births +18.7%
1870 648.38 deaths per 100,000 live births +9.6%
1871 569.37 deaths per 100,000 live births -12.2%
1872 468.57 deaths per 100,000 live births -17.7%
1873 556.05 deaths per 100,000 live births +18.7%
1874 907.32 deaths per 100,000 live births +63.2%
1875 673.74 deaths per 100,000 live births -25.7%
1876 618.15 deaths per 100,000 live births -8.3%
1877 493.95 deaths per 100,000 live births -20.1%
1878 429.11 deaths per 100,000 live births -13.1%
1879 443.75 deaths per 100,000 live births +3.4%
1880 476.68 deaths per 100,000 live births +7.4%
1881 488.69 deaths per 100,000 live births +2.5%
1882 372.3 deaths per 100,000 live births -23.8%
1883 412.42 deaths per 100,000 live births +10.8%
1884 355.33 deaths per 100,000 live births -13.8%
1885 436.25 deaths per 100,000 live births +22.8%
1886 372.46 deaths per 100,000 live births -14.6%
1887 443.75 deaths per 100,000 live births +19.1%
1888 343.71 deaths per 100,000 live births -22.5%
1889 314.99 deaths per 100,000 live births -8.4%
1890 303.9 deaths per 100,000 live births -3.5%
1891 336.49 deaths per 100,000 live births +10.7%
1892 367.22 deaths per 100,000 live births +9.1%
1893 369.7 deaths per 100,000 live births +0.7%
1894 299.07 deaths per 100,000 live births -19.1%
1895 277.12 deaths per 100,000 live births -7.3%
1896 246.45 deaths per 100,000 live births -11.1%
1897 256.39 deaths per 100,000 live births +4.0%
1898 206.56 deaths per 100,000 live births -19.4%
1899 248.73 deaths per 100,000 live births +20.4%
1900 188.22 deaths per 100,000 live births -24.3%
1901 226.02 deaths per 100,000 live births +20.1%
1902 222.77 deaths per 100,000 live births -1.4%
1903 227.79 deaths per 100,000 live births +2.3%
1904 213.41 deaths per 100,000 live births -6.3%
1905 245.92 deaths per 100,000 live births +15.2%
1906 237.89 deaths per 100,000 live births -3.3%
1907 298.26 deaths per 100,000 live births +25.4%
1908 212.42 deaths per 100,000 live births -28.8%
1909 250.17 deaths per 100,000 live births +17.8%
1910 254.38 deaths per 100,000 live births +1.7%
1911 266.21 deaths per 100,000 live births +4.7%
1912 232.56 deaths per 100,000 live births -12.6%
1913 227.34 deaths per 100,000 live births -2.2%
1914 260.32 deaths per 100,000 live births +14.5%
1915 290.25 deaths per 100,000 live births +11.5%
1916 266.27 deaths per 100,000 live births -8.3%
1917 245.75 deaths per 100,000 live births -7.7%
1918 257.73 deaths per 100,000 live births +4.9%
1919 320.33 deaths per 100,000 live births +24.3%
1920 400.71 deaths per 100,000 live births +25.1%
1921 269.33 deaths per 100,000 live births -32.8%
1922 251.4 deaths per 100,000 live births -6.7%
1923 231.85 deaths per 100,000 live births -7.8%
1924 238.41 deaths per 100,000 live births +2.8%
1925 263.43 deaths per 100,000 live births +10.5%
1926 294.1 deaths per 100,000 live births +11.6%
1927 277.57 deaths per 100,000 live births -5.6%
1928 330.04 deaths per 100,000 live births +18.9%
1929 379.06 deaths per 100,000 live births +14.9%
1930 348.12 deaths per 100,000 live births -8.2%
1931 367.83 deaths per 100,000 live births +5.7%
1932 344.18 deaths per 100,000 live births -6.4%
1933 306.99 deaths per 100,000 live births -10.8%
1934 332.58 deaths per 100,000 live births +8.3%
1935 256.09 deaths per 100,000 live births -23.0%
1936 314.83 deaths per 100,000 live births +22.9%
1937 309.83 deaths per 100,000 live births -1.6%
1938 239.5 deaths per 100,000 live births -22.7%
1939 226.95 deaths per 100,000 live births -5.2%
1940 216.12 deaths per 100,000 live births -4.8%
1941 204.56 deaths per 100,000 live births -5.4%
1942 156.19 deaths per 100,000 live births -23.6%
1943 154.72 deaths per 100,000 live births -0.9%
1944 157.79 deaths per 100,000 live births +2.0%
1945 132.97 deaths per 100,000 live births -15.7%
1946 95.78 deaths per 100,000 live births -28.0%
1947 86.97 deaths per 100,000 live births -9.2%
1948 74.99 deaths per 100,000 live births -13.8%
1949 66.79 deaths per 100,000 live births -10.9%
1950 61.52 deaths per 100,000 live births -7.9%
1951 86.04 deaths per 100,000 live births +39.9%
1952 58.91 deaths per 100,000 live births -31.5%
1953 61.82 deaths per 100,000 live births +4.9%
1954 54.29 deaths per 100,000 live births -12.2%
1955 49.63 deaths per 100,000 live births -8.6%
1956 34.33 deaths per 100,000 live births -30.8%
1957 36.52 deaths per 100,000 live births +6.4%
1958 30.5 deaths per 100,000 live births -16.5%
1959 24.16 deaths per 100,000 live births -20.8%
1960 37.68 deaths per 100,000 live births +55.9%
1961 21.34 deaths per 100,000 live births -43.4%
1962 14.12 deaths per 100,000 live births -33.8%
1963 26.83 deaths per 100,000 live births +90.0%
1964 19.88 deaths per 100,000 live births -25.9%
1965 13.98 deaths per 100,000 live births -29.7%
1966 11.41 deaths per 100,000 live births -18.4%
1967 14.04 deaths per 100,000 live births +23.1%
1968 8.85 deaths per 100,000 live births -36.9%
1969 10.26 deaths per 100,000 live births +15.9%
1970 10.04 deaths per 100,000 live births -2.2%
1971 7.88 deaths per 100,000 live births -21.5%
1972 7.12 deaths per 100,000 live births -9.7%
1973 2.73 deaths per 100,000 live births -61.6%
1974 7.32 deaths per 100,000 live births +167.7%
1975 1.94 deaths per 100,000 live births -73.5%
1976 4.08 deaths per 100,000 live births +110.7%
1977 11.52 deaths per 100,000 live births +182.6%
1978 6.44 deaths per 100,000 live births -44.1%
1979 1.04 deaths per 100,000 live births -83.8%
1980 8.28 deaths per 100,000 live births +692.8%
1981 4.26 deaths per 100,000 live births -48.6%
1982 4.32 deaths per 100,000 live births +1.5%
1984 2.13 deaths per 100,000 live births -50.7%
1985 7.24 deaths per 100,000 live births +239.5%
1986 7.07 deaths per 100,000 live births -2.3%
1987 6.86 deaths per 100,000 live births -3.0%
1988 8.25 deaths per 100,000 live births +20.3%
1989 7.43 deaths per 100,000 live births -10.0%
1990 6.93 deaths per 100,000 live births -6.7%
1991 6.84 deaths per 100,000 live births -1.3%
1992 6.69 deaths per 100,000 live births -2.1%
1993 6.93 deaths per 100,000 live births +3.6%
1994 6.29 deaths per 100,000 live births -9.3%
1995 6.34 deaths per 100,000 live births +0.8%
1996 6.46 deaths per 100,000 live births +1.8%
1997 6.48 deaths per 100,000 live births +0.3%
1998 5.44 deaths per 100,000 live births -15.9%
1999 5.57 deaths per 100,000 live births +2.3%
2000 6.15 deaths per 100,000 live births +10.4%
2001 5.82 deaths per 100,000 live births -5.4%
2002 5.67 deaths per 100,000 live births -2.5%
2003 5.6 deaths per 100,000 live births -1.3%
2004 5.28 deaths per 100,000 live births -5.7%
2005 5.08 deaths per 100,000 live births -3.8%
2006 5.15 deaths per 100,000 live births +1.5%
2007 5.07 deaths per 100,000 live births -1.6%
2008 5.01 deaths per 100,000 live births -1.3%
2009 4.96 deaths per 100,000 live births -0.9%
2010 4.53 deaths per 100,000 live births -8.7%
2011 4.89 deaths per 100,000 live births +7.9%
2012 4.93 deaths per 100,000 live births +0.8%
2013 4.93 deaths per 100,000 live births +0.0%
2014 4.78 deaths per 100,000 live births -3.0%
2015 4.45 deaths per 100,000 live births -7.0%
2016 4.42 deaths per 100,000 live births -0.5%
2017 4.51 deaths per 100,000 live births +2.0%
2018 4.53 deaths per 100,000 live births +0.5%
2019 4.53 deaths per 100,000 live births -0.1%
2020 4.51 deaths per 100,000 live births -0.5%

Sweden compared with similar countries

  • Sweden's 4.51 deaths per 100,000 live births is below the median for high income countries, which is 7.61 deaths per 100,000 live births, 59% of the median. (59 countries reporting)
  • Sweden's 4.51 deaths per 100,000 live births is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 7.23 deaths per 100,000 live births, 62% of the median. (48 countries reporting)

Biggest year-on-year movements

Years where Maternal mortality ratio in Sweden 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.

YearChange FromTo
1980 +692.8% 1.04 deaths per 100,000 live births 8.28 deaths per 100,000 live births
1985 +239.5% 2.13 deaths per 100,000 live births 7.24 deaths per 100,000 live births
1977 +182.6% 4.08 deaths per 100,000 live births 11.52 deaths per 100,000 live births
1974 +167.7% 2.73 deaths per 100,000 live births 7.32 deaths per 100,000 live births
1976 +110.7% 1.94 deaths per 100,000 live births 4.08 deaths per 100,000 live births
1963 +90.0% 14.12 deaths per 100,000 live births 26.83 deaths per 100,000 live births

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1750s 1,076 deaths per 100,000 live births 1,020 deaths per 100,000 live births 1,205 deaths per 100,000 live births 9
1760s 1,033 deaths per 100,000 live births 820.37 deaths per 100,000 live births 1,148 deaths per 100,000 live births 10
1770s 927.69 deaths per 100,000 live births 853.77 deaths per 100,000 live births 1,060 deaths per 100,000 live births 10
1780s 877.36 deaths per 100,000 live births 703.68 deaths per 100,000 live births 991 deaths per 100,000 live births 10
1790s 960.51 deaths per 100,000 live births 823.65 deaths per 100,000 live births 1,120 deaths per 100,000 live births 10
1800s 842.87 deaths per 100,000 live births 667.52 deaths per 100,000 live births 1,008 deaths per 100,000 live births 10
1810s 780.28 deaths per 100,000 live births 691.43 deaths per 100,000 live births 896.75 deaths per 100,000 live births 10
1820s 682.71 deaths per 100,000 live births 565.22 deaths per 100,000 live births 780.41 deaths per 100,000 live births 10
1830s 560.38 deaths per 100,000 live births 467.07 deaths per 100,000 live births 658.38 deaths per 100,000 live births 10
1840s 504.19 deaths per 100,000 live births 415.51 deaths per 100,000 live births 669.47 deaths per 100,000 live births 10
1850s 446.34 deaths per 100,000 live births 352.79 deaths per 100,000 live births 528.1 deaths per 100,000 live births 10
1860s 541.87 deaths per 100,000 live births 488.13 deaths per 100,000 live births 597.04 deaths per 100,000 live births 10
1870s 580.84 deaths per 100,000 live births 429.11 deaths per 100,000 live births 907.32 deaths per 100,000 live births 10
1880s 401.66 deaths per 100,000 live births 314.99 deaths per 100,000 live births 488.69 deaths per 100,000 live births 10
1890s 291.16 deaths per 100,000 live births 206.56 deaths per 100,000 live births 369.7 deaths per 100,000 live births 10
1900s 232.29 deaths per 100,000 live births 188.22 deaths per 100,000 live births 298.26 deaths per 100,000 live births 10
1910s 262.11 deaths per 100,000 live births 227.34 deaths per 100,000 live births 320.33 deaths per 100,000 live births 10
1920s 293.59 deaths per 100,000 live births 231.85 deaths per 100,000 live births 400.71 deaths per 100,000 live births 10
1930s 304.69 deaths per 100,000 live births 226.95 deaths per 100,000 live births 367.83 deaths per 100,000 live births 10
1940s 134.69 deaths per 100,000 live births 66.79 deaths per 100,000 live births 216.12 deaths per 100,000 live births 10
1950s 49.77 deaths per 100,000 live births 24.16 deaths per 100,000 live births 86.04 deaths per 100,000 live births 10
1960s 17.84 deaths per 100,000 live births 8.85 deaths per 100,000 live births 37.68 deaths per 100,000 live births 10
1970s 6.01 deaths per 100,000 live births 1.04 deaths per 100,000 live births 11.52 deaths per 100,000 live births 10
1980s 6.21 deaths per 100,000 live births 2.13 deaths per 100,000 live births 8.28 deaths per 100,000 live births 9
1990s 6.4 deaths per 100,000 live births 5.44 deaths per 100,000 live births 6.93 deaths per 100,000 live births 10
2000s 5.38 deaths per 100,000 live births 4.96 deaths per 100,000 live births 6.15 deaths per 100,000 live births 10
2010s 4.65 deaths per 100,000 live births 4.42 deaths per 100,000 live births 4.93 deaths per 100,000 live births 10
2020s 4.51 deaths per 100,000 live births 4.51 deaths per 100,000 live births 4.51 deaths per 100,000 live births 1

Countries ranked near Sweden

  1. 171 Denmark 4.66 deaths per 100,000 live births compare
  2. 172 Italy 4.59 deaths per 100,000 live births compare
  3. 173 Slovenia 4.53 deaths per 100,000 live births compare
  4. 175 Germany 4.43 deaths per 100,000 live births compare
  5. 176 Japan 4.31 deaths per 100,000 live births compare
  6. 177 Netherlands 4.31 deaths per 100,000 live births compare

See the full ranking of 189 places →

More health data for Sweden

All data for Sweden →

Frequently asked questions

What is maternal mortality ratio in Sweden?
Maternal mortality ratio in Sweden was 4.51 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 Sweden?
The highest recorded value was 1,205 deaths per 100,000 live births in 1758.
What is the lowest maternal mortality ratio recorded in Sweden?
The lowest recorded value was 1.04 deaths per 100,000 live births in 1979.
How does Sweden rank for maternal mortality ratio?
Sweden ranks 174th out of 189 countries with data for 2020.
Is maternal mortality ratio rising or falling in Sweden?
Over the last ten years it is down 0.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Sweden 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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Maternal mortality ratio in Sweden. Statizoid, drawing on UN MMEIG (2023) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data. Retrieved 22 September 2026, from https://health.statizoid.com/stat/maternal-mortality/sweden/

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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

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.