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
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.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | 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
- 171 Denmark 4.66 deaths per 100,000 live births compare
- 172 Italy 4.59 deaths per 100,000 live births compare
- 173 Slovenia 4.53 deaths per 100,000 live births compare
- 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
More health data for Sweden
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,109 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 30 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 66,073 (2025)
- Age population, age 25, female, interpolated 56,430 (2025)
- Age population, age 24, male, interpolated 62,494 (2025)
- Age population, age 24, female, interpolated 56,433 (2025)
- Age population, age 23, male, interpolated 61,970 (2025)
- Age population, age 23, female, interpolated 57,504 (2025)
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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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.