Maternal mortality in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Maternal mortality was 9.84 in 2020. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2020)
9.84
Change on year
up 6.7%
World rank
147th
of 189 countries
All-time high
689.43
in 1874
All-time low
6.95
in 1982
Years of data
174
1847–2020
Maternal mortality in United Kingdom, 1847–2020
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2020, maternal mortality in United Kingdom stood at 9.84.
The figure is up 6.7% on the previous year and up 3.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, maternal mortality in United Kingdom peaked at 689.43 in 1874 and was at its lowest, 6.95, 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.
Maternal mortality in United Kingdom, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1847 | 597.45 | — |
| 1848 | 611.84 | +2.4% |
| 1849 | 577.52 | -5.6% |
| 1850 | 548.01 | -5.1% |
| 1851 | 534.21 | -2.5% |
| 1852 | 520.34 | -2.6% |
| 1853 | 499.68 | -4.0% |
| 1854 | 474.3 | -5.1% |
| 1855 | 408.98 | -13.8% |
| 1856 | 445.4 | +8.9% |
| 1857 | 422.16 | -5.2% |
| 1858 | 471.96 | +11.8% |
| 1859 | 504.25 | +6.8% |
| 1860 | 473.24 | -6.1% |
| 1861 | 436.32 | -7.8% |
| 1862 | 428.38 | -1.8% |
| 1863 | 497.01 | +16.0% |
| 1864 | 544.67 | +9.6% |
| 1865 | 517.61 | -5.0% |
| 1866 | 474.73 | -8.3% |
| 1867 | 441.48 | -7.0% |
| 1868 | 442.99 | +0.3% |
| 1869 | 433.77 | -2.1% |
| 1870 | 490.84 | +13.2% |
| 1871 | 501.28 | +2.1% |
| 1872 | 467.07 | -6.8% |
| 1873 | 494.04 | +5.8% |
| 1874 | 689.43 | +39.6% |
| 1875 | 587.56 | -14.8% |
| 1876 | 467.9 | -20.4% |
| 1877 | 394.06 | -15.8% |
| 1878 | 377.34 | -4.2% |
| 1879 | 389.7 | +3.3% |
| 1880 | 408.57 | +4.8% |
| 1881 | 489.31 | +19.8% |
| 1882 | 512.25 | +4.7% |
| 1883 | 521.79 | +1.9% |
| 1884 | 487.83 | -6.5% |
| 1885 | 512.27 | +5.0% |
| 1886 | 431.47 | -15.8% |
| 1887 | 472.14 | +9.4% |
| 1888 | 480.44 | +1.8% |
| 1889 | 417.11 | -13.2% |
| 1890 | 498.42 | +19.5% |
| 1891 | 529.27 | +6.2% |
| 1892 | 574.95 | +8.6% |
| 1893 | 627.57 | +9.2% |
| 1894 | 532.38 | -15.2% |
| 1895 | 460.17 | -13.6% |
| 1896 | 491.95 | +6.9% |
| 1897 | 459.38 | -6.6% |
| 1898 | 437.3 | -4.8% |
| 1899 | 464.75 | +6.3% |
| 1900 | 474.4 | +2.1% |
| 1901 | 472.75 | -0.3% |
| 1902 | 455.47 | -3.7% |
| 1903 | 421.95 | -7.4% |
| 1904 | 397.25 | -5.9% |
| 1905 | 435.8 | +9.7% |
| 1906 | 419.25 | -3.8% |
| 1907 | 401.71 | -4.2% |
| 1908 | 376.6 | -6.3% |
| 1909 | 391.03 | +3.8% |
| 1910 | 382.03 | -2.3% |
| 1911 | 409.72 | +7.2% |
| 1912 | 416.75 | +1.7% |
| 1913 | 419.08 | +0.6% |
| 1914 | 439.86 | +5.0% |
| 1915 | 441.73 | +0.4% |
| 1916 | 431.28 | -2.4% |
| 1917 | 414.45 | -3.9% |
| 1918 | 420.3 | +1.4% |
| 1919 | 461.61 | +9.8% |
| 1920 | 455.71 | -1.3% |
| 1921 | 422.31 | -7.3% |
| 1922 | 415.58 | -1.6% |
| 1923 | 414.57 | -0.2% |
| 1924 | 414.53 | -0.0% |
| 1925 | 434.59 | +4.8% |
| 1926 | 441.31 | +1.5% |
| 1927 | 440.87 | -0.1% |
| 1928 | 474.74 | +7.7% |
| 1929 | 465.03 | -2.0% |
| 1930 | 472.43 | +1.6% |
| 1931 | 419.95 | -11.1% |
| 1932 | 433.56 | +3.2% |
| 1933 | 452.76 | +4.4% |
| 1934 | 464.16 | +2.5% |
| 1935 | 457.85 | -1.4% |
| 1936 | 421.27 | -8.0% |
| 1937 | 367.45 | -12.8% |
| 1938 | 356.09 | -3.1% |
| 1939 | 340.36 | -4.4% |
| 1940 | 298.63 | -12.3% |
| 1941 | 316.23 | +5.9% |
| 1942 | 276.24 | -12.6% |
| 1943 | 253.65 | -8.2% |
| 1944 | 209.35 | -17.5% |
| 1945 | 196.04 | -6.4% |
| 1946 | 155.51 | -20.7% |
| 1947 | 129.38 | -16.8% |
| 1948 | 110.95 | -14.2% |
| 1949 | 103.05 | -7.1% |
| 1950 | 92.74 | -10.0% |
| 1951 | 87.38 | -5.8% |
| 1952 | 78.4 | -10.3% |
| 1953 | 79.28 | +1.1% |
| 1954 | 72.19 | -8.9% |
| 1955 | 63.78 | -11.7% |
| 1956 | 57.08 | -10.5% |
| 1957 | 50.72 | -11.1% |
| 1958 | 46.09 | -9.1% |
| 1959 | 39.01 | -15.4% |
| 1960 | 39.42 | +1.1% |
| 1961 | 34.91 | -11.5% |
| 1962 | 36.23 | +3.8% |
| 1963 | 29.91 | -17.4% |
| 1964 | 25.71 | -14.0% |
| 1965 | 27.31 | +6.2% |
| 1966 | 26 | -4.8% |
| 1967 | 21.17 | -18.6% |
| 1968 | 23.82 | +12.5% |
| 1969 | 18.91 | -20.6% |
| 1970 | 18.19 | -3.8% |
| 1971 | 17.45 | -4.1% |
| 1972 | 15.5 | -11.2% |
| 1973 | 14.01 | -9.6% |
| 1974 | 14 | -0.1% |
| 1975 | 12.06 | -13.8% |
| 1976 | 13.52 | +12.1% |
| 1977 | 13.38 | -1.1% |
| 1978 | 10.48 | -21.6% |
| 1979 | 11.2 | +6.8% |
| 1980 | 10.93 | -2.4% |
| 1981 | 9.75 | -10.8% |
| 1982 | 6.95 | -28.7% |
| 1983 | 9.16 | +31.7% |
| 1984 | 8.65 | -5.5% |
| 1985 | 8.43 | -2.6% |
| 1986 | 8.4 | -0.3% |
| 1987 | 9.58 | +14.0% |
| 1988 | 9.59 | +0.1% |
| 1989 | 9.68 | +0.9% |
| 1990 | 9.53 | -1.5% |
| 1991 | 9.81 | +2.9% |
| 1992 | 8.69 | -11.4% |
| 1993 | 9.1 | +4.7% |
| 1994 | 9.37 | +3.0% |
| 1995 | 9.73 | +3.9% |
| 1996 | 9.75 | +0.2% |
| 1997 | 9.81 | +0.6% |
| 1998 | 9.94 | +1.3% |
| 1999 | 10.39 | +4.5% |
| 2000 | 10.98 | +5.7% |
| 2001 | 11.09 | +1.0% |
| 2002 | 11.48 | +3.5% |
| 2003 | 11.34 | -1.2% |
| 2004 | 11.06 | -2.4% |
| 2005 | 11.05 | -0.2% |
| 2006 | 10.96 | -0.8% |
| 2007 | 10.65 | -2.8% |
| 2008 | 10.52 | -1.2% |
| 2009 | 10.1 | -4.0% |
| 2010 | 9.53 | -5.7% |
| 2011 | 9.05 | -5.0% |
| 2012 | 8.31 | -8.2% |
| 2013 | 8.36 | +0.6% |
| 2014 | 8.46 | +1.2% |
| 2015 | 8.39 | -0.8% |
| 2016 | 8.51 | +1.5% |
| 2017 | 8.52 | +0.1% |
| 2018 | 9.21 | +8.1% |
| 2019 | 9.22 | +0.2% |
| 2020 | 9.84 | +6.7% |
United Kingdom compared with similar countries
- United Kingdom's 9.84 is above the median for high income countries, which is 7.61, 1.3× the median. (59 countries reporting)
- United Kingdom's 9.84 is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 7.23, 1.4× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1840s | 595.6 | 577.52 | 611.84 | 3 |
| 1850s | 482.93 | 408.98 | 548.01 | 10 |
| 1860s | 469.02 | 428.38 | 544.67 | 10 |
| 1870s | 485.92 | 377.34 | 689.43 | 10 |
| 1880s | 473.32 | 408.57 | 521.79 | 10 |
| 1890s | 507.61 | 437.3 | 627.57 | 10 |
| 1900s | 424.62 | 376.6 | 474.4 | 10 |
| 1910s | 423.68 | 382.03 | 461.61 | 10 |
| 1920s | 437.92 | 414.53 | 474.74 | 10 |
| 1930s | 418.59 | 340.36 | 472.43 | 10 |
| 1940s | 204.9 | 103.05 | 316.23 | 10 |
| 1950s | 66.67 | 39.01 | 92.74 | 10 |
| 1960s | 28.34 | 18.91 | 39.42 | 10 |
| 1970s | 13.98 | 10.48 | 18.19 | 10 |
| 1980s | 9.11 | 6.95 | 10.93 | 10 |
| 1990s | 9.61 | 8.69 | 10.39 | 10 |
| 2000s | 10.92 | 10.1 | 11.48 | 10 |
| 2010s | 8.76 | 8.31 | 9.53 | 10 |
| 2020s | 9.84 | 9.84 | 9.84 | 1 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom
More health data for United Kingdom
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.71 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.0265 % change on previous year (2090)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 461 (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -0.7128 % 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 0.0247 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -0.7724 % 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 0.0261 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is maternal mortality in United Kingdom?
- Maternal mortality in United Kingdom was 9.84 in 2020, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest maternal mortality recorded in United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 689.43 in 1874.
- What is the lowest maternal mortality recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was 6.95 in 1982.
- How does United Kingdom rank for maternal mortality?
- United Kingdom ranks 147th out of 189 countries with data for 2020.
- Is maternal mortality 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 Our World in Data, published as part of Maternal mortality. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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