Number of maternal deaths in New Zealand
New Zealand: Number of maternal deaths was 4.16 Deaths in 2023. ▼ Falling
Number of maternal deaths in New Zealand, 1985–2023
Source: World Health Organization - Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in Deaths.
Analysis
New Zealand recorded 4.16 Deaths for number of maternal deaths in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 39 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 68.8% on the previous year and down 14.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of maternal deaths in New Zealand peaked at 13.33 Deaths in 2022 and was at its lowest, 4.16 Deaths, in 2023.
That places New Zealand 142nd out of 195 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 39 years of available data.
Number of maternal deaths in New Zealand, year by year
| Year | Deaths | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 10.07 Deaths | — |
| 1986 | 9.4 Deaths | -6.6% |
| 1987 | 10.48 Deaths | +11.5% |
| 1988 | 10.68 Deaths | +1.9% |
| 1989 | 10.33 Deaths | -3.3% |
| 1990 | 10.48 Deaths | +1.5% |
| 1991 | 9.72 Deaths | -7.3% |
| 1992 | 8.69 Deaths | -10.6% |
| 1993 | 8.22 Deaths | -5.4% |
| 1994 | 7.42 Deaths | -9.8% |
| 1995 | 8.03 Deaths | +8.2% |
| 1996 | 7.74 Deaths | -3.6% |
| 1997 | 7.28 Deaths | -5.9% |
| 1998 | 6.55 Deaths | -10.1% |
| 1999 | 6.7 Deaths | +2.4% |
| 2000 | 6.04 Deaths | -9.8% |
| 2001 | 5.76 Deaths | -4.7% |
| 2002 | 5.68 Deaths | -1.4% |
| 2003 | 6.01 Deaths | +5.8% |
| 2004 | 6.11 Deaths | +1.6% |
| 2005 | 6.06 Deaths | -0.7% |
| 2006 | 5.98 Deaths | -1.4% |
| 2007 | 6.61 Deaths | +10.6% |
| 2008 | 6.29 Deaths | -4.9% |
| 2009 | 6.27 Deaths | -0.3% |
| 2010 | 6.29 Deaths | +0.4% |
| 2011 | 6.17 Deaths | -1.9% |
| 2012 | 5.64 Deaths | -8.6% |
| 2013 | 4.85 Deaths | -14.1% |
| 2014 | 4.23 Deaths | -12.8% |
| 2015 | 4.82 Deaths | +14.0% |
| 2016 | 4.49 Deaths | -6.8% |
| 2017 | 4.42 Deaths | -1.5% |
| 2018 | 4.29 Deaths | -2.9% |
| 2019 | 4.43 Deaths | +3.2% |
| 2020 | 4.36 Deaths | -1.7% |
| 2021 | 4.46 Deaths | +2.5% |
| 2022 | 13.33 Deaths | +198.7% |
| 2023 | 4.16 Deaths | -68.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 10.19 Deaths | 9.4 Deaths | 10.68 Deaths | 5 |
| 1990s | 8.08 Deaths | 6.55 Deaths | 10.48 Deaths | 10 |
| 2000s | 6.08 Deaths | 5.68 Deaths | 6.61 Deaths | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.96 Deaths | 4.23 Deaths | 6.29 Deaths | 10 |
| 2020s | 6.58 Deaths | 4.16 Deaths | 13.33 Deaths | 4 |
Countries ranked near New Zealand
More health data for New Zealand
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -2.94 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate -0.4815 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,116 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 33 deaths (2100)
- Population ages 60-64, female, annual growth rate 0.2856 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 60-64, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 60-64, female, per capita 0.0313 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 60-64, male, annual growth rate 0.3541 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 60-64, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 60-64, male, per capita 0.0292 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is number of maternal deaths in New Zealand?
- Number of maternal deaths in New Zealand was 4.16 Deaths in 2023, according to World Health Organization - Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest number of maternal deaths recorded in New Zealand?
- The highest recorded value was 13.33 Deaths in 2022.
- What is the lowest number of maternal deaths recorded in New Zealand?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.16 Deaths in 2023.
- How does New Zealand rank for number of maternal deaths?
- New Zealand ranks 142nd out of 195 countries with data for 2023.
- Is number of maternal deaths rising or falling in New Zealand?
- Over the last ten years it is down 14.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this New Zealand data come from?
- The figures come from World Health Organization - Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Number of maternal deaths. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Estimated annual number of women who die from maternal conditions.