New Zealand vs South Africa: Share of births attended by skilled health staff
New Zealand
96.5%
in 2019
South Africa
96.7%
in 2016
New Zealand rank
100th
South Africa rank
98th
Share of births attended by skilled health staff over time
- New Zealand
- South Africa
How they compare
South Africa currently reports 96.7% against 96.5% in New Zealand, a difference of 0.2%.
The two have swapped places 1 time across 6 shared years of data; in 1994 it was New Zealand ahead.
New Zealand ranks 100th and South Africa ranks 98th of 169 countries.
Across the 3 decades both report, New Zealand averaged higher in 2 and South Africa in 1.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | New Zealand | South Africa | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 97.5% | 82.0% | 15.5% | New Zealand |
| 2000s | 96.3% | 92.2% | 4.1% | New Zealand |
| 2010s | 96.5% | 96.7% | 0.2% | South Africa |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher share of births attended by skilled health staff, New Zealand or South Africa?
- South Africa, at 96.7% against 96.5% in New Zealand as of 2016.
- What is the difference in share of births attended by skilled health staff between New Zealand and South Africa?
- 0.2%, with South Africa ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for New Zealand and South Africa?
- 6 years are reported by both, from 1994 to 2016.
- How do New Zealand and South Africa rank globally for share of births attended by skilled health staff?
- New Zealand ranks 100th and South Africa ranks 98th of 169 countries.
- Where does this data come from?
- Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) and UNICEF, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as Share of births attended by skilled health staff. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.
Individual pages
About this data
Skilled health staff refers to professionals trained to give the necessary supervision, care, and advice to women during pregnancy, labor, and the postpartum period; to conduct deliveries on their own; and to care for newborns.