The maternal mortality rate in Australia in 2018 was 5 deaths per 100,000 women giving birth.

In the decade from 2009 to 2018, there were 251 women reported to have died during pregnancy or within 42 days of the end of pregnancy and a maternal mortality rate of 6.7 deaths per 100,000 women giving birth. These deaths are reviewed in this report along with contextual information for maternal deaths in Australia since 2009.

  • Cat. no: PER 99
  • DOI: 10.25816/7q4e-g697
Findings from this report:
  • The most common cause of maternal death for 2018 was cardiovascular disease

  • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women have a higher incidence of maternal death than non-Indigenous women

  • Maternal death was more common in the highest and lowest maternal age groups

  • Maternal death was more common in women of higher parity