International audience ; Background: Ethnic disparities in perinatal mortality are well known. This study aims to explore the contribution of demographic, socioeconomic, health behavioural and pre-existent medical risk factors among different ethnic groups on foetal and early neonatal mortality. Methods: We assessed perinatal mortality from 24.0 weeks gestation onwards in 554,234 singleton pregnancies of nulliparous women in the linked Netherlands Perinatal Registry over the period 2000-2006. Logistic regression modelling was used. Results: Considerable ethnic differences in perinatal mortality exists especially in foetal mortality. Maternal age, socioeconomic status and pre-existent diseases could not explain these ethnic differences. Late booking visit could explain some differences. Compared to the ethnic Dutch, African women had an increased foetal mortality risk of odds ratio 1.7 (95% CI 1.4 to 2.1), South Asian women of 1.8 (1.4 to 2.3), other non-Western women of 1.3 (1.1 to 1.6) and Turkish/Moroccan women of 1.3 (1.1 to 1.4). The risk on early neonatal mortality was only increased in other non-Western women, odds ratio 1.3 (1.0 to 1.8). Ethnic differences were even present in the women without risk factors including preterm births. Mortality risk for East-Asian and other Western women was lower or comparable to the ethnic Dutch. Conclusion: Important ethnic differences in foetal mortality exist, especially among women of African and South Asian origin. Ethnic minorities should be more acquainted with the significance of early start of prenatal care. More research on underlying cause of deaths is needed by ethnic group.