Adolescent mortality rate in South Africa

South Africa: Adolescent mortality rate was 3.04 in 2021. ▲ Rising

Latest (2021)
3.04
Change on year
down 0.9%
World rank
48th
of 198 countries
All-time high
5.32
in 2007
All-time low
2.25
in 1990
Years of data
32
1990–2021

Adolescent mortality rate in South Africa, 1990–2021

02461990200520211990: 2.21991: 2.41992: 2.51993: 2.61994: 2.71995: 2.91996: 31997: 3.21998: 3.41999: 3.62000: 3.82001: 4.12002: 4.42003: 4.72004: 52005: 5.22006: 5.32007: 5.32008: 5.22009: 5.12010: 4.92011: 4.62012: 4.32013: 4.12014: 3.82015: 3.62016: 3.42017: 3.32018: 3.22019: 3.12020: 3.12021: 3

Source: World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory.

Analysis

South Africa recorded 3.04 for adolescent mortality rate in 2021.

That represents a change of down 0.9% on the previous year and down 34.0% over ten years.

Over the whole period, adolescent mortality rate in South Africa peaked at 5.32 in 2007 and was at its lowest, 2.25, in 1990.

That places South Africa 48th out of 198 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the top quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 32 years of available data.

Adolescent mortality rate in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for Adolescent mortality rate (per 1 000 age specific cohort) in South Africa, 1990 to 2021.
Year Value Change
1990 2.25
1991 2.36 +5.1%
1992 2.48 +5.1%
1993 2.61 +5.1%
1994 2.74 +5.0%
1995 2.88 +5.0%
1996 3.03 +5.3%
1997 3.19 +5.3%
1998 3.38 +5.9%
1999 3.59 +6.1%
2000 3.83 +6.8%
2001 4.11 +7.3%
2002 4.4 +7.1%
2003 4.7 +6.9%
2004 4.98 +5.8%
2005 5.19 +4.3%
2006 5.31 +2.3%
2007 5.32 +0.2%
2008 5.23 -1.6%
2009 5.08 -3.0%
2010 4.86 -4.2%
2011 4.61 -5.1%
2012 4.34 -5.8%
2013 4.07 -6.3%
2014 3.81 -6.4%
2015 3.59 -5.9%
2016 3.41 -5.0%
2017 3.27 -4.0%
2018 3.18 -3.0%
2019 3.11 -2.1%
2020 3.07 -1.4%
2021 3.04 -0.9%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 2.85 2.25 3.59 10
2000s 4.81 3.83 5.32 10
2010s 3.83 3.11 4.86 10
2020s 3.06 3.04 3.07 2

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 45 Mauritania 3.48 compare
  2. 46 Congo 3.22 compare
  3. 47 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 3.14 compare
  4. 49 Honduras 2.99 compare
  5. 50 Ethiopia 2.96 compare
  6. 51 Botswana 2.86 compare

See the full ranking of 213 places →

More health data for South Africa

All data for South Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is adolescent mortality rate in South Africa?
Adolescent mortality rate in South Africa was 3.04 in 2021, according to World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory.
What is the highest adolescent mortality rate recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 5.32 in 2007.
What is the lowest adolescent mortality rate recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 2.25 in 1990.
How does South Africa rank for adolescent mortality rate?
South Africa ranks 48th out of 198 countries with data for 2021.
Is adolescent mortality rate rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is down 34.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this South Africa data come from?
The figures come from World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory, published as part of Adolescent mortality rate (per 1 000 age specific cohort). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Adolescent mortality rate in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory. Retrieved 03 September 2026, from https://health.statizoid.com/stat/adolescent-mortality-rate-per-1-000-age-specific-cohort-2/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Adolescent mortality rate (per 1 000 age specific cohort)
Source
World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory
Licence
CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO (WHO)
Coverage
213 places, 6,816 data points, 1990–2021
Last refreshed