How many years of comparable data are there for South Africa and Zambia?

48 years are reported by both, from 1977 to 2024.

Where does this data come from?

United Nations Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (2025) – processed by Our World in Data, published as Number of neonatal, infant and child deaths. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

South Africa vs Zambia: Number of neonatal, infant and child deaths

South Africa

14,715 deaths

in 2024

Zambia

14,944 deaths

in 2024

South Africa rank

34th

Zambia rank

33rd

Number of neonatal, infant and child deaths over time

South Africa
Zambia

How they compare

Zambia currently reports 14,944 deaths against 14,715 deaths in South Africa, a difference of 229 deaths.

The two have swapped places 3 times across 48 shared years of data; in 1977 it was South Africa ahead.

South Africa ranks 34th and Zambia ranks 33rd of 199 countries.

Across the 6 decades both report, South Africa averaged higher in 4 and Zambia in 2.

Head to head by decade

Decade	South Africa	Zambia	Difference	Ahead
1970s	26,700 deaths	9,058 deaths	17,642 deaths	South Africa
1980s	27,196 deaths	11,165 deaths	16,031 deaths	South Africa
1990s	20,144 deaths	13,833 deaths	6,311 deaths	South Africa
2000s	14,364 deaths	14,308 deaths	56.1 deaths	South Africa
2010s	13,995 deaths	14,325 deaths	330 deaths	Zambia
2020s	14,211 deaths	14,612 deaths	400.6 deaths	Zambia

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher number of neonatal, infant and child deaths, South Africa or Zambia?: Zambia, at 14,944 deaths against 14,715 deaths in South Africa as of 2024.
What is the difference in number of neonatal, infant and child deaths between South Africa and Zambia?: 229 deaths, with Zambia ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for South Africa and Zambia?: 48 years are reported by both, from 1977 to 2024.
How do South Africa and Zambia rank globally for number of neonatal, infant and child deaths?: South Africa ranks 34th and Zambia ranks 33rd of 199 countries.
Where does this data come from?: United Nations Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (2025) – processed by Our World in Data, published as Number of neonatal, infant and child deaths. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

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South Africa vs Zambia: Number of neonatal, infant and child deaths. Statizoid, drawing on United Nations Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (2025) – processed by Our World in Data. Retrieved 10 September 2026, from https://health.statizoid.com/compare/neonatal-infant-and-child-deaths/south-africa/zambia/

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<a href="https://health.statizoid.com/compare/neonatal-infant-and-child-deaths/south-africa/zambia/">South Africa vs Zambia: Number of neonatal, infant and child deaths</a> — Statizoid

About this data

Indicator: Number of neonatal, infant and child deaths
Unit: deaths
Source: United Nations Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (2025) – processed by Our World in Data
Licence: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage: 199 places, 10,164 data points, 1952–2024
Last refreshed: 28 August 2026

Estimated number of deaths of children aged less than 28 days .