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QuickStats: Rates* of Cesarean Deliveries --- Selected Countries, 2005

In 2005, cesarean deliveries accounted for more than 25% of all live births in 12 industrialized countries, including the United States (30%). Nearly 40% of births were by cesarean delivery in Italy and Mexico. The Netherlands had the lowest rate of cesarean deliveries (14%), and four of the six lowest rates were in Nordic countries.

* Per 100 live births.

Includes rates from 25 of 30 Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development member countries; recent data on cesarean deliveries were not available from France, Greece, Japan, Poland, and Turkey.

§ Based on 2004 data.

Based on 2003 data.

In 2005, cesarean deliveries accounted for more than 25% of all live births in 12 industrialized countries, including the United States (30%). Nearly 40% of births were by cesarean delivery in Italy and Mexico. The Netherlands had the lowest rate of cesarean deliveries (14%), and four of the six lowest rates were in Nordic countries.

SOURCE: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. OECD health data 2008: statistics and indicators for 30 countries. Paris, France: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development; 2008. Available at http://www.oecd.org/health/healthdata.

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Date last reviewed: 9/18/2008

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