Maternal mortality ratio in United Kingdom
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.
Maternal mortality ratio in United Kingdom, year by year
| Year | deaths per 100,000 live births | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1847 | 597.45 deaths per 100,000 live births | — |
| 1848 | 611.84 deaths per 100,000 live births | +2.4% |
| 1849 | 577.52 deaths per 100,000 live births | -5.6% |
| 1850 | 548.01 deaths per 100,000 live births | -5.1% |
| 1851 | 534.21 deaths per 100,000 live births | -2.5% |
| 1852 | 520.34 deaths per 100,000 live births | -2.6% |
| 1853 | 499.68 deaths per 100,000 live births | -4.0% |
| 1854 | 474.3 deaths per 100,000 live births | -5.1% |
| 1855 | 408.98 deaths per 100,000 live births | -13.8% |
| 1856 | 445.4 deaths per 100,000 live births | +8.9% |
| 1857 | 422.16 deaths per 100,000 live births | -5.2% |
| 1858 | 471.96 deaths per 100,000 live births | +11.8% |
| 1859 | 504.25 deaths per 100,000 live births | +6.8% |
| 1860 | 473.24 deaths per 100,000 live births | -6.1% |
| 1861 | 436.32 deaths per 100,000 live births | -7.8% |
| 1862 | 428.38 deaths per 100,000 live births | -1.8% |
| 1863 | 497.01 deaths per 100,000 live births | +16.0% |
| 1864 | 544.67 deaths per 100,000 live births | +9.6% |
| 1865 | 517.61 deaths per 100,000 live births | -5.0% |
| 1866 | 474.73 deaths per 100,000 live births | -8.3% |
| 1867 | 441.48 deaths per 100,000 live births | -7.0% |
| 1868 | 442.99 deaths per 100,000 live births | +0.3% |
| 1869 | 433.77 deaths per 100,000 live births | -2.1% |
| 1870 | 490.84 deaths per 100,000 live births | +13.2% |
| 1871 | 501.28 deaths per 100,000 live births | +2.1% |
| 1872 | 467.07 deaths per 100,000 live births | -6.8% |
| 1873 | 494.04 deaths per 100,000 live births | +5.8% |
| 1874 | 689.43 deaths per 100,000 live births | +39.6% |
| 1875 | 587.56 deaths per 100,000 live births | -14.8% |
| 1876 | 467.9 deaths per 100,000 live births | -20.4% |
| 1877 | 394.06 deaths per 100,000 live births | -15.8% |
| 1878 | 377.34 deaths per 100,000 live births | -4.2% |
| 1879 | 389.7 deaths per 100,000 live births | +3.3% |
| 1880 | 408.57 deaths per 100,000 live births | +4.8% |
| 1881 | 489.31 deaths per 100,000 live births | +19.8% |
| 1882 | 512.25 deaths per 100,000 live births | +4.7% |
| 1883 | 521.79 deaths per 100,000 live births | +1.9% |
| 1884 | 487.83 deaths per 100,000 live births | -6.5% |
| 1885 | 512.27 deaths per 100,000 live births | +5.0% |
| 1886 | 431.47 deaths per 100,000 live births | -15.8% |
| 1887 | 472.14 deaths per 100,000 live births | +9.4% |
| 1888 | 480.44 deaths per 100,000 live births | +1.8% |
| 1889 | 417.11 deaths per 100,000 live births | -13.2% |
| 1890 | 498.42 deaths per 100,000 live births | +19.5% |
| 1891 | 529.27 deaths per 100,000 live births | +6.2% |
| 1892 | 574.95 deaths per 100,000 live births | +8.6% |
| 1893 | 627.57 deaths per 100,000 live births | +9.2% |
| 1894 | 532.38 deaths per 100,000 live births | -15.2% |
| 1895 | 460.17 deaths per 100,000 live births | -13.6% |
| 1896 | 491.95 deaths per 100,000 live births | +6.9% |
| 1897 | 459.38 deaths per 100,000 live births | -6.6% |
| 1898 | 437.3 deaths per 100,000 live births | -4.8% |
| 1899 | 464.75 deaths per 100,000 live births | +6.3% |
| 1900 | 474.4 deaths per 100,000 live births | +2.1% |
| 1901 | 472.75 deaths per 100,000 live births | -0.3% |
| 1902 | 455.47 deaths per 100,000 live births | -3.7% |
| 1903 | 421.95 deaths per 100,000 live births | -7.4% |
| 1904 | 397.25 deaths per 100,000 live births | -5.9% |
| 1905 | 435.8 deaths per 100,000 live births | +9.7% |
| 1906 | 419.25 deaths per 100,000 live births | -3.8% |
| 1907 | 401.71 deaths per 100,000 live births | -4.2% |
| 1908 | 376.6 deaths per 100,000 live births | -6.3% |
| 1909 | 391.03 deaths per 100,000 live births | +3.8% |
| 1910 | 382.03 deaths per 100,000 live births | -2.3% |
| 1911 | 409.72 deaths per 100,000 live births | +7.2% |
| 1912 | 416.75 deaths per 100,000 live births | +1.7% |
| 1913 | 419.08 deaths per 100,000 live births | +0.6% |
| 1914 | 439.86 deaths per 100,000 live births | +5.0% |
| 1915 | 441.73 deaths per 100,000 live births | +0.4% |
| 1916 | 431.28 deaths per 100,000 live births | -2.4% |
| 1917 | 414.45 deaths per 100,000 live births | -3.9% |
| 1918 | 420.3 deaths per 100,000 live births | +1.4% |
| 1919 | 461.61 deaths per 100,000 live births | +9.8% |
| 1920 | 455.71 deaths per 100,000 live births | -1.3% |
| 1921 | 422.31 deaths per 100,000 live births | -7.3% |
| 1922 | 415.58 deaths per 100,000 live births | -1.6% |
| 1923 | 414.57 deaths per 100,000 live births | -0.2% |
| 1924 | 414.53 deaths per 100,000 live births | -0.0% |
| 1925 | 434.59 deaths per 100,000 live births | +4.8% |
| 1926 | 441.31 deaths per 100,000 live births | +1.5% |
| 1927 | 440.87 deaths per 100,000 live births | -0.1% |
| 1928 | 474.74 deaths per 100,000 live births | +7.7% |
| 1929 | 465.03 deaths per 100,000 live births | -2.0% |
| 1930 | 472.43 deaths per 100,000 live births | +1.6% |
| 1931 | 419.95 deaths per 100,000 live births | -11.1% |
| 1932 | 433.56 deaths per 100,000 live births | +3.2% |
| 1933 | 452.76 deaths per 100,000 live births | +4.4% |
| 1934 | 464.16 deaths per 100,000 live births | +2.5% |
| 1935 | 457.85 deaths per 100,000 live births | -1.4% |
| 1936 | 421.27 deaths per 100,000 live births | -8.0% |
| 1937 | 367.45 deaths per 100,000 live births | -12.8% |
| 1938 | 356.09 deaths per 100,000 live births | -3.1% |
| 1939 | 340.36 deaths per 100,000 live births | -4.4% |
| 1940 | 298.63 deaths per 100,000 live births | -12.3% |
| 1941 | 316.23 deaths per 100,000 live births | +5.9% |
| 1942 | 276.24 deaths per 100,000 live births | -12.6% |
| 1943 | 253.65 deaths per 100,000 live births | -8.2% |
| 1944 | 209.35 deaths per 100,000 live births | -17.5% |
| 1945 | 196.04 deaths per 100,000 live births | -6.4% |
| 1946 | 155.51 deaths per 100,000 live births | -20.7% |
| 1947 | 129.38 deaths per 100,000 live births | -16.8% |
| 1948 | 110.95 deaths per 100,000 live births | -14.2% |
| 1949 | 103.05 deaths per 100,000 live births | -7.1% |
| 1950 | 92.74 deaths per 100,000 live births | -10.0% |
| 1951 | 87.38 deaths per 100,000 live births | -5.8% |
| 1952 | 78.4 deaths per 100,000 live births | -10.3% |
| 1953 | 79.28 deaths per 100,000 live births | +1.1% |
| 1954 | 72.19 deaths per 100,000 live births | -8.9% |
| 1955 | 63.78 deaths per 100,000 live births | -11.7% |
| 1956 | 57.08 deaths per 100,000 live births | -10.5% |
| 1957 | 50.72 deaths per 100,000 live births | -11.1% |
| 1958 | 46.09 deaths per 100,000 live births | -9.1% |
| 1959 | 39.01 deaths per 100,000 live births | -15.4% |
| 1960 | 39.42 deaths per 100,000 live births | +1.1% |
| 1961 | 34.91 deaths per 100,000 live births | -11.5% |
| 1962 | 36.23 deaths per 100,000 live births | +3.8% |
| 1963 | 29.91 deaths per 100,000 live births | -17.4% |
| 1964 | 25.71 deaths per 100,000 live births | -14.0% |
| 1965 | 27.31 deaths per 100,000 live births | +6.2% |
| 1966 | 26 deaths per 100,000 live births | -4.8% |
| 1967 | 21.17 deaths per 100,000 live births | -18.6% |
| 1968 | 23.82 deaths per 100,000 live births | +12.5% |
| 1969 | 18.91 deaths per 100,000 live births | -20.6% |
| 1970 | 18.19 deaths per 100,000 live births | -3.8% |
| 1971 | 17.45 deaths per 100,000 live births | -4.1% |
| 1972 | 15.5 deaths per 100,000 live births | -11.2% |
| 1973 | 14.01 deaths per 100,000 live births | -9.6% |
| 1974 | 14 deaths per 100,000 live births | -0.1% |
| 1975 | 12.06 deaths per 100,000 live births | -13.8% |
| 1976 | 13.52 deaths per 100,000 live births | +12.1% |
| 1977 | 13.38 deaths per 100,000 live births | -1.1% |
| 1978 | 10.48 deaths per 100,000 live births | -21.6% |
| 1979 | 11.2 deaths per 100,000 live births | +6.8% |
| 1980 | 10.93 deaths per 100,000 live births | -2.4% |
| 1981 | 9.75 deaths per 100,000 live births | -10.8% |
| 1982 | 6.95 deaths per 100,000 live births | -28.7% |
| 1983 | 9.16 deaths per 100,000 live births | +31.7% |
| 1984 | 8.65 deaths per 100,000 live births | -5.5% |
| 1985 | 8.43 deaths per 100,000 live births | -2.6% |
| 1986 | 8.4 deaths per 100,000 live births | -0.3% |
| 1987 | 9.58 deaths per 100,000 live births | +14.0% |
| 1988 | 9.59 deaths per 100,000 live births | +0.1% |
| 1989 | 9.68 deaths per 100,000 live births | +0.9% |
| 1990 | 9.53 deaths per 100,000 live births | -1.5% |
| 1991 | 9.81 deaths per 100,000 live births | +2.9% |
| 1992 | 8.69 deaths per 100,000 live births | -11.4% |
| 1993 | 9.1 deaths per 100,000 live births | +4.7% |
| 1994 | 9.37 deaths per 100,000 live births | +3.0% |
| 1995 | 9.73 deaths per 100,000 live births | +3.9% |
| 1996 | 9.75 deaths per 100,000 live births | +0.2% |
| 1997 | 9.81 deaths per 100,000 live births | +0.6% |
| 1998 | 9.94 deaths per 100,000 live births | +1.3% |
| 1999 | 10.39 deaths per 100,000 live births | +4.5% |
| 2000 | 10.98 deaths per 100,000 live births | +5.7% |
| 2001 | 11.09 deaths per 100,000 live births | +1.0% |
| 2002 | 11.48 deaths per 100,000 live births | +3.5% |
| 2003 | 11.34 deaths per 100,000 live births | -1.2% |
| 2004 | 11.06 deaths per 100,000 live births | -2.4% |
| 2005 | 11.05 deaths per 100,000 live births | -0.2% |
| 2006 | 10.96 deaths per 100,000 live births | -0.8% |
| 2007 | 10.65 deaths per 100,000 live births | -2.8% |
| 2008 | 10.52 deaths per 100,000 live births | -1.2% |
| 2009 | 10.1 deaths per 100,000 live births | -4.0% |
| 2010 | 9.53 deaths per 100,000 live births | -5.7% |
| 2011 | 9.05 deaths per 100,000 live births | -5.0% |
| 2012 | 8.31 deaths per 100,000 live births | -8.2% |
| 2013 | 8.36 deaths per 100,000 live births | +0.6% |
| 2014 | 8.46 deaths per 100,000 live births | +1.2% |
| 2015 | 8.39 deaths per 100,000 live births | -0.8% |
| 2016 | 8.51 deaths per 100,000 live births | +1.5% |
| 2017 | 8.52 deaths per 100,000 live births | +0.1% |
| 2018 | 9.21 deaths per 100,000 live births | +8.1% |
| 2019 | 9.22 deaths per 100,000 live births | +0.2% |
| 2020 | 9.84 deaths per 100,000 live births | +6.7% |
United Kingdom compared with similar countries
- United Kingdom's 9.84 deaths per 100,000 live births is above the median for high income countries, which is 7.61 deaths per 100,000 live births, 1.3× the median. (59 countries reporting)
- United Kingdom's 9.84 deaths per 100,000 live births is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 7.23 deaths per 100,000 live births, 1.4× the median. (48 countries reporting)
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
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)
- 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)
- 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)
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
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.