The maternal mortality ratio in 1985 and 2020 in Australia

Australia: The maternal mortality ratio in 1985 and 2020 was 2.94 in 2020. ▼ Falling

Latest (2020)
2.94
Change on year
down 42.2%
World rank
179th
of 185 countries
All-time high
9.35
in 1994
All-time low
2.94
in 2020
Years of data
36
1985–2020

The maternal mortality ratio in 1985 and 2020 in Australia, 1985–2020

2468101985200220201985: 81986: 81987: 8.41988: 8.51989: 8.71990: 8.31991: 8.81992: 8.81993: 91994: 9.31995: 8.11996: 7.81997: 7.91998: 7.51999: 7.22000: 6.72001: 62002: 5.62003: 5.52004: 5.12005: 4.62006: 4.62007: 5.12008: 4.92009: 5.42010: 5.52011: 5.92012: 5.92013: 62014: 5.42015: 5.22016: 5.22017: 4.82018: 4.42019: 5.12020: 2.9

Source: Our World in Data.

Analysis

Australia recorded 2.94 for the maternal mortality ratio in 1985 and 2020 in 2020. That is the lowest value across all 36 years on record.

That represents a change of down 42.2% on the previous year and down 46.0% over ten years.

Over the whole period, the maternal mortality ratio in 1985 and 2020 in Australia peaked at 9.35 in 1994 and was at its lowest, 2.94, in 2020.

Australia ranks 179th of 185 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 36 years of available data.

The maternal mortality ratio in 1985 and 2020 in Australia, year by year

Annual values for The maternal mortality ratio in 1985 and 2020 in Australia, 1985 to 2020.
Year Value Change
1985 8.02
1986 8.01 -0.1%
1987 8.4 +4.9%
1988 8.54 +1.7%
1989 8.71 +2.0%
1990 8.26 -5.3%
1991 8.79 +6.4%
1992 8.79 +0.1%
1993 8.96 +1.9%
1994 9.35 +4.4%
1995 8.09 -13.5%
1996 7.79 -3.7%
1997 7.88 +1.2%
1998 7.47 -5.3%
1999 7.18 -3.9%
2000 6.69 -6.7%
2001 5.97 -10.8%
2002 5.57 -6.8%
2003 5.51 -1.0%
2004 5.12 -7.2%
2005 4.6 -10.2%
2006 4.57 -0.6%
2007 5.11 +11.8%
2008 4.89 -4.3%
2009 5.38 +10.0%
2010 5.45 +1.3%
2011 5.94 +8.9%
2012 5.86 -1.3%
2013 5.99 +2.3%
2014 5.39 -10.1%
2015 5.24 -2.7%
2016 5.18 -1.3%
2017 4.77 -7.8%
2018 4.42 -7.3%
2019 5.09 +14.9%
2020 2.94 -42.2%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1980s 8.34 8.01 8.71 5
1990s 8.25 7.18 9.35 10
2000s 5.34 4.57 6.69 10
2010s 5.33 4.42 5.99 10
2020s 2.94 2.94 2.94 1

Countries ranked near Australia

  1. 176 Czechia 3.37 compare
  2. 177 Seychelles 3.33 compare
  3. 178 North Macedonia 3.04 compare
  4. 180 Malta 2.89 compare
  5. 181 Israel 2.84 compare
  6. 182 Iceland 2.65 compare

See the full ranking of 185 places →

More health data for Australia

All data for Australia →

Frequently asked questions

What is the maternal mortality ratio in 1985 and 2020 in Australia?
The maternal mortality ratio in 1985 and 2020 in Australia was 2.94 in 2020, according to Our World in Data.
What is the highest the maternal mortality ratio in 1985 and 2020 recorded in Australia?
The highest recorded value was 9.35 in 1994.
What is the lowest the maternal mortality ratio in 1985 and 2020 recorded in Australia?
The lowest recorded value was 2.94 in 2020.
How does Australia rank for the maternal mortality ratio in 1985 and 2020?
Australia ranks 179th out of 185 countries with data for 2020.
Is the maternal mortality ratio in 1985 and 2020 rising or falling in Australia?
Over the last ten years it is down 46.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this Australia data come from?
The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of The maternal mortality ratio in 1985 and 2020. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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The maternal mortality ratio in 1985 and 2020 in Australia. Statizoid, drawing on Our World in Data. Retrieved 26 August 2026, from https://health.statizoid.com/stat/the-maternal-mortality-ratio-in-1985-and-2020/australia/

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About this data

Indicator
The maternal mortality ratio in 1985 and 2020
Source
Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
185 places, 6,660 data points, 1985–2020
Last refreshed