Maternal mortality ratio in Switzerland
Switzerland: Maternal mortality ratio was 7.38 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2020. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2020)
7.38 deaths per 100,000 live births
Change on year
up 3.9%
World rank
157th
of 189 countries
All-time high
150.46 deaths per 100,000 live births
in 1951
All-time low
1.35 deaths per 100,000 live births
in 1984
Years of data
70
1951–2020
Maternal mortality ratio in Switzerland, 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
The most recent figure for maternal mortality ratio in Switzerland is 7.38 deaths per 100,000 live births, measured in 2020.
The figure is up 3.9% on the previous year and down 9.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, maternal mortality ratio in Switzerland peaked at 150.46 deaths per 100,000 live births in 1951 and was at its lowest, 1.35 deaths per 100,000 live births, in 1984.
That places Switzerland 157th out of 189 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Maternal mortality ratio in Switzerland, year by year
| Year | deaths per 100,000 live births | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1951 | 150.46 deaths per 100,000 live births | — |
| 1952 | 113.07 deaths per 100,000 live births | -24.8% |
| 1953 | 123.09 deaths per 100,000 live births | +8.9% |
| 1954 | 107.73 deaths per 100,000 live births | -12.5% |
| 1955 | 104.48 deaths per 100,000 live births | -3.0% |
| 1956 | 75.12 deaths per 100,000 live births | -28.1% |
| 1957 | 76.11 deaths per 100,000 live births | +1.3% |
| 1958 | 75.55 deaths per 100,000 live births | -0.7% |
| 1959 | 66.88 deaths per 100,000 live births | -11.5% |
| 1960 | 57.39 deaths per 100,000 live births | -14.2% |
| 1961 | 50.05 deaths per 100,000 live births | -12.8% |
| 1962 | 57.26 deaths per 100,000 live births | +14.4% |
| 1963 | 34.99 deaths per 100,000 live births | -38.9% |
| 1964 | 53.6 deaths per 100,000 live births | +53.2% |
| 1965 | 37.69 deaths per 100,000 live births | -29.7% |
| 1966 | 41.24 deaths per 100,000 live births | +9.4% |
| 1967 | 32.89 deaths per 100,000 live births | -20.2% |
| 1968 | 27.84 deaths per 100,000 live births | -15.3% |
| 1969 | 29.47 deaths per 100,000 live births | +5.8% |
| 1970 | 25.04 deaths per 100,000 live births | -15.0% |
| 1971 | 27.12 deaths per 100,000 live births | +8.3% |
| 1972 | 22.03 deaths per 100,000 live births | -18.8% |
| 1973 | 18.38 deaths per 100,000 live births | -16.6% |
| 1974 | 11.9 deaths per 100,000 live births | -35.3% |
| 1975 | 12.67 deaths per 100,000 live births | +6.5% |
| 1976 | 8.04 deaths per 100,000 live births | -36.5% |
| 1977 | 4.13 deaths per 100,000 live births | -48.7% |
| 1978 | 18.24 deaths per 100,000 live births | +341.9% |
| 1979 | 11.15 deaths per 100,000 live births | -38.9% |
| 1980 | 5.47 deaths per 100,000 live births | -50.9% |
| 1981 | 6.83 deaths per 100,000 live births | +24.7% |
| 1982 | 12.13 deaths per 100,000 live births | +77.7% |
| 1983 | 5.45 deaths per 100,000 live births | -55.1% |
| 1984 | 1.35 deaths per 100,000 live births | -75.3% |
| 1985 | 9.65 deaths per 100,000 live births | +615.9% |
| 1986 | 11.12 deaths per 100,000 live births | +15.2% |
| 1987 | 10.79 deaths per 100,000 live births | -3.0% |
| 1988 | 10.82 deaths per 100,000 live births | +0.3% |
| 1989 | 10.67 deaths per 100,000 live births | -1.4% |
| 1990 | 10.5 deaths per 100,000 live births | -1.6% |
| 1991 | 10.08 deaths per 100,000 live births | -4.0% |
| 1992 | 9.86 deaths per 100,000 live births | -2.2% |
| 1993 | 10.39 deaths per 100,000 live births | +5.4% |
| 1994 | 10.61 deaths per 100,000 live births | +2.1% |
| 1995 | 10.8 deaths per 100,000 live births | +1.8% |
| 1996 | 9.57 deaths per 100,000 live births | -11.4% |
| 1997 | 9.77 deaths per 100,000 live births | +2.0% |
| 1998 | 7.86 deaths per 100,000 live births | -19.5% |
| 1999 | 8.11 deaths per 100,000 live births | +3.1% |
| 2000 | 7.9 deaths per 100,000 live births | -2.5% |
| 2001 | 8.55 deaths per 100,000 live births | +8.2% |
| 2002 | 9.19 deaths per 100,000 live births | +7.4% |
| 2003 | 8.87 deaths per 100,000 live births | -3.5% |
| 2004 | 8.94 deaths per 100,000 live births | +0.9% |
| 2005 | 9.38 deaths per 100,000 live births | +4.9% |
| 2006 | 8.91 deaths per 100,000 live births | -5.1% |
| 2007 | 8.37 deaths per 100,000 live births | -6.0% |
| 2008 | 8.24 deaths per 100,000 live births | -1.5% |
| 2009 | 7.82 deaths per 100,000 live births | -5.1% |
| 2010 | 8.12 deaths per 100,000 live births | +3.8% |
| 2011 | 8.11 deaths per 100,000 live births | -0.1% |
| 2012 | 7.39 deaths per 100,000 live births | -8.8% |
| 2013 | 7.24 deaths per 100,000 live births | -2.1% |
| 2014 | 6.7 deaths per 100,000 live births | -7.4% |
| 2015 | 6.46 deaths per 100,000 live births | -3.6% |
| 2016 | 8.06 deaths per 100,000 live births | +24.7% |
| 2017 | 6.14 deaths per 100,000 live births | -23.7% |
| 2018 | 7.43 deaths per 100,000 live births | +21.0% |
| 2019 | 7.1 deaths per 100,000 live births | -4.4% |
| 2020 | 7.38 deaths per 100,000 live births | +3.9% |
Switzerland compared with similar countries
- Switzerland's 7.38 deaths per 100,000 live births is below the median for high income countries, which is 7.61 deaths per 100,000 live births, 97% of the median. (59 countries reporting)
- Switzerland's 7.38 deaths per 100,000 live births is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 7.23 deaths per 100,000 live births, 1.0× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Maternal mortality ratio in Switzerland 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | +615.9% | 1.35 deaths per 100,000 live births | 9.65 deaths per 100,000 live births |
| 1978 | +341.9% | 4.13 deaths per 100,000 live births | 18.24 deaths per 100,000 live births |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 99.17 deaths per 100,000 live births | 66.88 deaths per 100,000 live births | 150.46 deaths per 100,000 live births | 9 |
| 1960s | 42.24 deaths per 100,000 live births | 27.84 deaths per 100,000 live births | 57.39 deaths per 100,000 live births | 10 |
| 1970s | 15.87 deaths per 100,000 live births | 4.13 deaths per 100,000 live births | 27.12 deaths per 100,000 live births | 10 |
| 1980s | 8.43 deaths per 100,000 live births | 1.35 deaths per 100,000 live births | 12.13 deaths per 100,000 live births | 10 |
| 1990s | 9.76 deaths per 100,000 live births | 7.86 deaths per 100,000 live births | 10.8 deaths per 100,000 live births | 10 |
| 2000s | 8.62 deaths per 100,000 live births | 7.82 deaths per 100,000 live births | 9.38 deaths per 100,000 live births | 10 |
| 2010s | 7.28 deaths per 100,000 live births | 6.14 deaths per 100,000 live births | 8.12 deaths per 100,000 live births | 10 |
| 2020s | 7.38 deaths per 100,000 live births | 7.38 deaths per 100,000 live births | 7.38 deaths per 100,000 live births | 1 |
Countries ranked near Switzerland
- 154 Greece 7.65 deaths per 100,000 live births compare
- 155 Qatar 7.61 deaths per 100,000 live births compare
- 156 Singapore 7.45 deaths per 100,000 live births compare
- 158 Kuwait 7.17 deaths per 100,000 live births compare
- 159 Bulgaria 7.09 deaths per 100,000 live births compare
- 160 New Zealand 7.03 deaths per 100,000 live births compare
More health data for Switzerland
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -2.13 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate -1.27 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,104 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 46 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 1 (2023)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 0.0481 % 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 0.0233 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -0.0927 % 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 Switzerland?
- Maternal mortality ratio in Switzerland was 7.38 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 Switzerland?
- The highest recorded value was 150.46 deaths per 100,000 live births in 1951.
- What is the lowest maternal mortality ratio recorded in Switzerland?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.35 deaths per 100,000 live births in 1984.
- How does Switzerland rank for maternal mortality ratio?
- Switzerland ranks 157th out of 189 countries with data for 2020.
- Is maternal mortality ratio rising or falling in Switzerland?
- Over the last ten years it is down 9.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Switzerland 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.