Maternal mortality in Sweden
Sweden: Maternal mortality was 4.51 in 2020. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2020)
4.51
Change on year
down 0.5%
World rank
174th
of 189 countries
All-time high
1,205
in 1758
All-time low
1.04
in 1979
Years of data
269
1751–2020
Maternal mortality in Sweden, 1751–2020
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for maternal mortality in Sweden is 4.51, 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 in Sweden peaked at 1,205 in 1758 and was at its lowest, 1.04, 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 in Sweden, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1751 | 1,046 | — |
| 1752 | 1,050 | +0.4% |
| 1753 | 1,071 | +1.9% |
| 1754 | 1,098 | +2.5% |
| 1755 | 1,020 | -7.1% |
| 1756 | 1,023 | +0.3% |
| 1757 | 1,094 | +7.0% |
| 1758 | 1,205 | +10.1% |
| 1759 | 1,073 | -10.9% |
| 1760 | 1,098 | +2.3% |
| 1761 | 1,120 | +2.0% |
| 1762 | 1,148 | +2.5% |
| 1763 | 1,079 | -6.1% |
| 1764 | 1,117 | +3.5% |
| 1765 | 1,034 | -7.4% |
| 1766 | 974.97 | -5.7% |
| 1767 | 1,020 | +4.7% |
| 1768 | 920.14 | -9.8% |
| 1769 | 820.37 | -10.8% |
| 1770 | 871.88 | +6.3% |
| 1771 | 943.85 | +8.3% |
| 1772 | 1,060 | +12.3% |
| 1773 | 942.51 | -11.0% |
| 1774 | 853.77 | -9.4% |
| 1775 | 913.7 | +7.0% |
| 1776 | 945.12 | +3.4% |
| 1777 | 892.29 | -5.6% |
| 1778 | 947.04 | +6.1% |
| 1779 | 907.22 | -4.2% |
| 1780 | 830.73 | -8.4% |
| 1781 | 858.99 | +3.4% |
| 1782 | 937.25 | +9.1% |
| 1783 | 784.99 | -16.2% |
| 1784 | 703.68 | -10.4% |
| 1785 | 883.07 | +25.5% |
| 1786 | 883.91 | +0.1% |
| 1787 | 951.29 | +7.6% |
| 1788 | 948.66 | -0.3% |
| 1789 | 991 | +4.5% |
| 1790 | 986.68 | -0.4% |
| 1791 | 1,120 | +13.5% |
| 1792 | 1,074 | -4.1% |
| 1793 | 961.54 | -10.5% |
| 1794 | 950.12 | -1.2% |
| 1795 | 1,091 | +14.8% |
| 1796 | 911.31 | -16.4% |
| 1797 | 823.65 | -9.6% |
| 1798 | 842.31 | +2.3% |
| 1799 | 844.91 | +0.3% |
| 1800 | 895.57 | +6.0% |
| 1801 | 839.6 | -6.2% |
| 1802 | 841.75 | +0.3% |
| 1803 | 818.55 | -2.8% |
| 1804 | 754.81 | -7.8% |
| 1805 | 667.52 | -11.6% |
| 1806 | 866.17 | +29.8% |
| 1807 | 866.27 | +0.0% |
| 1808 | 870.71 | +0.5% |
| 1809 | 1,008 | +15.7% |
| 1810 | 887.02 | -12.0% |
| 1811 | 896.75 | +1.1% |
| 1812 | 828.82 | -7.6% |
| 1813 | 738.67 | -10.9% |
| 1814 | 764.8 | +3.5% |
| 1815 | 746.14 | -2.4% |
| 1816 | 691.43 | -7.3% |
| 1817 | 751.34 | +8.7% |
| 1818 | 757.17 | +0.8% |
| 1819 | 740.65 | -2.2% |
| 1820 | 757.89 | +2.3% |
| 1821 | 754.79 | -0.4% |
| 1822 | 780.41 | +3.4% |
| 1823 | 706.3 | -9.5% |
| 1824 | 570.65 | -19.2% |
| 1825 | 565.22 | -1.0% |
| 1826 | 618.79 | +9.5% |
| 1827 | 645.58 | +4.3% |
| 1828 | 705.79 | +9.3% |
| 1829 | 721.7 | +2.3% |
| 1830 | 658.38 | -8.8% |
| 1831 | 627.74 | -4.7% |
| 1832 | 569.76 | -9.2% |
| 1833 | 593.17 | +4.1% |
| 1834 | 574.67 | -3.1% |
| 1835 | 514.55 | -10.5% |
| 1836 | 543.07 | +5.5% |
| 1837 | 547.48 | +0.8% |
| 1838 | 467.07 | -14.7% |
| 1839 | 507.86 | +8.7% |
| 1840 | 610.23 | +20.2% |
| 1841 | 622.56 | +2.0% |
| 1842 | 669.47 | +7.5% |
| 1843 | 459.89 | -31.3% |
| 1844 | 426.01 | -7.4% |
| 1845 | 430.25 | +1.0% |
| 1846 | 494.47 | +14.9% |
| 1847 | 441.63 | -10.7% |
| 1848 | 415.51 | -5.9% |
| 1849 | 471.93 | +13.6% |
| 1850 | 467.4 | -1.0% |
| 1851 | 472.7 | +1.1% |
| 1852 | 453.35 | -4.1% |
| 1853 | 421.88 | -6.9% |
| 1854 | 445.44 | +5.6% |
| 1855 | 441.46 | -0.9% |
| 1856 | 352.79 | -20.1% |
| 1857 | 370.34 | +5.0% |
| 1858 | 509.92 | +37.7% |
| 1859 | 528.1 | +3.6% |
| 1860 | 488.13 | -7.6% |
| 1861 | 514.08 | +5.3% |
| 1862 | 560.1 | +9.0% |
| 1863 | 565.99 | +1.1% |
| 1864 | 597.04 | +5.5% |
| 1865 | 595.77 | -0.2% |
| 1866 | 511.72 | -14.1% |
| 1867 | 496 | -3.1% |
| 1868 | 498.46 | +0.5% |
| 1869 | 591.45 | +18.7% |
| 1870 | 648.38 | +9.6% |
| 1871 | 569.37 | -12.2% |
| 1872 | 468.57 | -17.7% |
| 1873 | 556.05 | +18.7% |
| 1874 | 907.32 | +63.2% |
| 1875 | 673.74 | -25.7% |
| 1876 | 618.15 | -8.3% |
| 1877 | 493.95 | -20.1% |
| 1878 | 429.11 | -13.1% |
| 1879 | 443.75 | +3.4% |
| 1880 | 476.68 | +7.4% |
| 1881 | 488.69 | +2.5% |
| 1882 | 372.3 | -23.8% |
| 1883 | 412.42 | +10.8% |
| 1884 | 355.33 | -13.8% |
| 1885 | 436.25 | +22.8% |
| 1886 | 372.46 | -14.6% |
| 1887 | 443.75 | +19.1% |
| 1888 | 343.71 | -22.5% |
| 1889 | 314.99 | -8.4% |
| 1890 | 303.9 | -3.5% |
| 1891 | 336.49 | +10.7% |
| 1892 | 367.22 | +9.1% |
| 1893 | 369.7 | +0.7% |
| 1894 | 299.07 | -19.1% |
| 1895 | 277.12 | -7.3% |
| 1896 | 246.45 | -11.1% |
| 1897 | 256.39 | +4.0% |
| 1898 | 206.56 | -19.4% |
| 1899 | 248.73 | +20.4% |
| 1900 | 188.22 | -24.3% |
| 1901 | 226.02 | +20.1% |
| 1902 | 222.77 | -1.4% |
| 1903 | 227.79 | +2.3% |
| 1904 | 213.41 | -6.3% |
| 1905 | 245.92 | +15.2% |
| 1906 | 237.89 | -3.3% |
| 1907 | 298.26 | +25.4% |
| 1908 | 212.42 | -28.8% |
| 1909 | 250.17 | +17.8% |
| 1910 | 254.38 | +1.7% |
| 1911 | 266.21 | +4.7% |
| 1912 | 232.56 | -12.6% |
| 1913 | 227.34 | -2.2% |
| 1914 | 260.32 | +14.5% |
| 1915 | 290.25 | +11.5% |
| 1916 | 266.27 | -8.3% |
| 1917 | 245.75 | -7.7% |
| 1918 | 257.73 | +4.9% |
| 1919 | 320.33 | +24.3% |
| 1920 | 400.71 | +25.1% |
| 1921 | 269.33 | -32.8% |
| 1922 | 251.4 | -6.7% |
| 1923 | 231.85 | -7.8% |
| 1924 | 238.41 | +2.8% |
| 1925 | 263.43 | +10.5% |
| 1926 | 294.1 | +11.6% |
| 1927 | 277.57 | -5.6% |
| 1928 | 330.04 | +18.9% |
| 1929 | 379.06 | +14.9% |
| 1930 | 348.12 | -8.2% |
| 1931 | 367.83 | +5.7% |
| 1932 | 344.18 | -6.4% |
| 1933 | 306.99 | -10.8% |
| 1934 | 332.58 | +8.3% |
| 1935 | 256.09 | -23.0% |
| 1936 | 314.83 | +22.9% |
| 1937 | 309.83 | -1.6% |
| 1938 | 239.5 | -22.7% |
| 1939 | 226.95 | -5.2% |
| 1940 | 216.12 | -4.8% |
| 1941 | 204.56 | -5.4% |
| 1942 | 156.19 | -23.6% |
| 1943 | 154.72 | -0.9% |
| 1944 | 157.79 | +2.0% |
| 1945 | 132.97 | -15.7% |
| 1946 | 95.78 | -28.0% |
| 1947 | 86.97 | -9.2% |
| 1948 | 74.99 | -13.8% |
| 1949 | 66.79 | -10.9% |
| 1950 | 61.52 | -7.9% |
| 1951 | 86.04 | +39.9% |
| 1952 | 58.91 | -31.5% |
| 1953 | 61.82 | +4.9% |
| 1954 | 54.29 | -12.2% |
| 1955 | 49.63 | -8.6% |
| 1956 | 34.33 | -30.8% |
| 1957 | 36.52 | +6.4% |
| 1958 | 30.5 | -16.5% |
| 1959 | 24.16 | -20.8% |
| 1960 | 37.68 | +55.9% |
| 1961 | 21.34 | -43.4% |
| 1962 | 14.12 | -33.8% |
| 1963 | 26.83 | +90.0% |
| 1964 | 19.88 | -25.9% |
| 1965 | 13.98 | -29.7% |
| 1966 | 11.41 | -18.4% |
| 1967 | 14.04 | +23.1% |
| 1968 | 8.85 | -36.9% |
| 1969 | 10.26 | +15.9% |
| 1970 | 10.04 | -2.2% |
| 1971 | 7.88 | -21.5% |
| 1972 | 7.12 | -9.7% |
| 1973 | 2.73 | -61.6% |
| 1974 | 7.32 | +167.7% |
| 1975 | 1.94 | -73.5% |
| 1976 | 4.08 | +110.7% |
| 1977 | 11.52 | +182.6% |
| 1978 | 6.44 | -44.1% |
| 1979 | 1.04 | -83.8% |
| 1980 | 8.28 | +692.8% |
| 1981 | 4.26 | -48.6% |
| 1982 | 4.32 | +1.5% |
| 1984 | 2.13 | -50.7% |
| 1985 | 7.24 | +239.5% |
| 1986 | 7.07 | -2.3% |
| 1987 | 6.86 | -3.0% |
| 1988 | 8.25 | +20.3% |
| 1989 | 7.43 | -10.0% |
| 1990 | 6.93 | -6.7% |
| 1991 | 6.84 | -1.3% |
| 1992 | 6.69 | -2.1% |
| 1993 | 6.93 | +3.6% |
| 1994 | 6.29 | -9.3% |
| 1995 | 6.34 | +0.8% |
| 1996 | 6.46 | +1.8% |
| 1997 | 6.48 | +0.3% |
| 1998 | 5.44 | -15.9% |
| 1999 | 5.57 | +2.3% |
| 2000 | 6.15 | +10.4% |
| 2001 | 5.82 | -5.4% |
| 2002 | 5.67 | -2.5% |
| 2003 | 5.6 | -1.3% |
| 2004 | 5.28 | -5.7% |
| 2005 | 5.08 | -3.8% |
| 2006 | 5.15 | +1.5% |
| 2007 | 5.07 | -1.6% |
| 2008 | 5.01 | -1.3% |
| 2009 | 4.96 | -0.9% |
| 2010 | 4.53 | -8.7% |
| 2011 | 4.89 | +7.9% |
| 2012 | 4.93 | +0.8% |
| 2013 | 4.93 | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 4.78 | -3.0% |
| 2015 | 4.45 | -7.0% |
| 2016 | 4.42 | -0.5% |
| 2017 | 4.51 | +2.0% |
| 2018 | 4.53 | +0.5% |
| 2019 | 4.53 | -0.1% |
| 2020 | 4.51 | -0.5% |
Sweden compared with similar countries
- Sweden's 4.51 is below the median for high income countries, which is 7.61, 59% of the median. (59 countries reporting)
- Sweden's 4.51 is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 7.23, 62% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Maternal mortality 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.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | +692.8% | 1.04 | 8.28 |
| 1985 | +239.5% | 2.13 | 7.24 |
| 1977 | +182.6% | 4.08 | 11.52 |
| 1974 | +167.7% | 2.73 | 7.32 |
| 1976 | +110.7% | 1.94 | 4.08 |
| 1963 | +90.0% | 14.12 | 26.83 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1750s | 1,076 | 1,020 | 1,205 | 9 |
| 1760s | 1,033 | 820.37 | 1,148 | 10 |
| 1770s | 927.69 | 853.77 | 1,060 | 10 |
| 1780s | 877.36 | 703.68 | 991 | 10 |
| 1790s | 960.51 | 823.65 | 1,120 | 10 |
| 1800s | 842.87 | 667.52 | 1,008 | 10 |
| 1810s | 780.28 | 691.43 | 896.75 | 10 |
| 1820s | 682.71 | 565.22 | 780.41 | 10 |
| 1830s | 560.38 | 467.07 | 658.38 | 10 |
| 1840s | 504.19 | 415.51 | 669.47 | 10 |
| 1850s | 446.34 | 352.79 | 528.1 | 10 |
| 1860s | 541.87 | 488.13 | 597.04 | 10 |
| 1870s | 580.84 | 429.11 | 907.32 | 10 |
| 1880s | 401.66 | 314.99 | 488.69 | 10 |
| 1890s | 291.16 | 206.56 | 369.7 | 10 |
| 1900s | 232.29 | 188.22 | 298.26 | 10 |
| 1910s | 262.11 | 227.34 | 320.33 | 10 |
| 1920s | 293.59 | 231.85 | 400.71 | 10 |
| 1930s | 304.69 | 226.95 | 367.83 | 10 |
| 1940s | 134.69 | 66.79 | 216.12 | 10 |
| 1950s | 49.77 | 24.16 | 86.04 | 10 |
| 1960s | 17.84 | 8.85 | 37.68 | 10 |
| 1970s | 6.01 | 1.04 | 11.52 | 10 |
| 1980s | 6.21 | 2.13 | 8.28 | 9 |
| 1990s | 6.4 | 5.44 | 6.93 | 10 |
| 2000s | 5.38 | 4.96 | 6.15 | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.65 | 4.42 | 4.93 | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.51 | 4.51 | 4.51 | 1 |
Countries ranked near Sweden
More health data for Sweden
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate -0.8581 % change on previous year (2090)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 30 (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -3.12 % 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 0.0243 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -3.2 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per capita 0.0256 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is maternal mortality in Sweden?
- Maternal mortality in Sweden was 4.51 in 2020, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest maternal mortality recorded in Sweden?
- The highest recorded value was 1,205 in 1758.
- What is the lowest maternal mortality recorded in Sweden?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.04 in 1979.
- How does Sweden rank for maternal mortality?
- Sweden ranks 174th out of 189 countries with data for 2020.
- Is maternal mortality 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 Our World in Data, published as part of Maternal mortality. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 269 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).