What is maternal mortality ratio in United Kingdom?

Maternal mortality ratio in United Kingdom was 9.84 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 United Kingdom?

The highest recorded value was 689.43 deaths per 100,000 live births in 1874.

What is the lowest maternal mortality ratio recorded in United Kingdom?

The lowest recorded value was 6.95 deaths per 100,000 live births in 1982.

How does United Kingdom rank for maternal mortality ratio?

United Kingdom ranks 147th out of 189 countries with data for 2020.

Is maternal mortality ratio rising or falling in United Kingdom?

Over the last ten years it is up 3.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.

Where does this United Kingdom 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.

Maternal mortality ratio in United Kingdom

Name: Maternal mortality ratio in United Kingdom
Creator: UN MMEIG (2023) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data
License: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)

United Kingdom: Maternal mortality ratio was 9.84 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2020. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2020)

9.84 deaths per 100,000 live births

Change on year

up 6.7%

World rank

147th

of 189 countries

All-time high

689.43 deaths per 100,000 live births

in 1874

All-time low

6.95 deaths per 100,000 live births

in 1982

Years of data

174

1847–2020

Maternal mortality ratio in United Kingdom, 1847–2020

Source: UN MMEIG (2023) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in deaths per 100,000 live births.

Analysis

In 2020, maternal mortality ratio in United Kingdom stood at 9.84 deaths per 100,000 live births.

The figure is up 6.7% on the previous year and up 3.3% over ten years.

Over the whole period, maternal mortality ratio in United Kingdom peaked at 689.43 deaths per 100,000 live births in 1874 and was at its lowest, 6.95 deaths per 100,000 live births, in 1982.

That places United Kingdom 147th 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.

Averages by decade

Decade	Average	Lowest	Highest	Years
1840s	595.6 deaths per 100,000 live births	577.52 deaths per 100,000 live births	611.84 deaths per 100,000 live births	3
1850s	482.93 deaths per 100,000 live births	408.98 deaths per 100,000 live births	548.01 deaths per 100,000 live births	10
1860s	469.02 deaths per 100,000 live births	428.38 deaths per 100,000 live births	544.67 deaths per 100,000 live births	10
1870s	485.92 deaths per 100,000 live births	377.34 deaths per 100,000 live births	689.43 deaths per 100,000 live births	10
1880s	473.32 deaths per 100,000 live births	408.57 deaths per 100,000 live births	521.79 deaths per 100,000 live births	10
1890s	507.61 deaths per 100,000 live births	437.3 deaths per 100,000 live births	627.57 deaths per 100,000 live births	10
1900s	424.62 deaths per 100,000 live births	376.6 deaths per 100,000 live births	474.4 deaths per 100,000 live births	10
1910s	423.68 deaths per 100,000 live births	382.03 deaths per 100,000 live births	461.61 deaths per 100,000 live births	10
1920s	437.92 deaths per 100,000 live births	414.53 deaths per 100,000 live births	474.74 deaths per 100,000 live births	10
1930s	418.59 deaths per 100,000 live births	340.36 deaths per 100,000 live births	472.43 deaths per 100,000 live births	10
1940s	204.9 deaths per 100,000 live births	103.05 deaths per 100,000 live births	316.23 deaths per 100,000 live births	10
1950s	66.67 deaths per 100,000 live births	39.01 deaths per 100,000 live births	92.74 deaths per 100,000 live births	10
1960s	28.34 deaths per 100,000 live births	18.91 deaths per 100,000 live births	39.42 deaths per 100,000 live births	10
1970s	13.98 deaths per 100,000 live births	10.48 deaths per 100,000 live births	18.19 deaths per 100,000 live births	10
1980s	9.11 deaths per 100,000 live births	6.95 deaths per 100,000 live births	10.93 deaths per 100,000 live births	10
1990s	9.61 deaths per 100,000 live births	8.69 deaths per 100,000 live births	10.39 deaths per 100,000 live births	10
2000s	10.92 deaths per 100,000 live births	10.1 deaths per 100,000 live births	11.48 deaths per 100,000 live births	10
2010s	8.76 deaths per 100,000 live births	8.31 deaths per 100,000 live births	9.53 deaths per 100,000 live births	10
2020s	9.84 deaths per 100,000 live births	9.84 deaths per 100,000 live births	9.84 deaths per 100,000 live births	1

Countries ranked near United Kingdom

144 Canada 11.01 deaths per 100,000 live births compare
145 Serbia 10.18 deaths per 100,000 live births compare
146 Romania 10.07 deaths per 100,000 live births compare
148 United Arab Emirates 9.34 deaths per 100,000 live births compare
149 Lithuania 8.66 deaths per 100,000 live births compare
150 Finland 8.34 deaths per 100,000 live births compare

See the full ranking of 189 places →

More health data for United Kingdom

Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,134 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
Number of infants who die before age 1 461 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 439,737 (2025)
Age population, age 25, female, interpolated 414,009 (2025)
Age population, age 24, male, interpolated 425,636 (2025)
Age population, age 24, female, interpolated 403,055 (2025)
Age population, age 23, male, interpolated 411,773 (2025)
Age population, age 23, female, interpolated 391,155 (2025)

All data for United Kingdom →

Frequently asked questions

What is maternal mortality ratio in United Kingdom?: Maternal mortality ratio in United Kingdom was 9.84 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 United Kingdom?: The highest recorded value was 689.43 deaths per 100,000 live births in 1874.
What is the lowest maternal mortality ratio recorded in United Kingdom?: The lowest recorded value was 6.95 deaths per 100,000 live births in 1982.
How does United Kingdom rank for maternal mortality ratio?: United Kingdom ranks 147th out of 189 countries with data for 2020.
Is maternal mortality ratio rising or falling in United Kingdom?: Over the last ten years it is up 3.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this United Kingdom 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.

Download this data

CSV · JSON — 174 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).

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: 07 August 2026

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.