Births attended by skilled health staff in South Africa
South Africa: Births attended by skilled health staff was 96.7% in 2016. ▲ Rising
Births attended by skilled health staff in South Africa, 1994–2016
Source: State of the World's Children, UN Children's Fund (UNICEF). Measured in % of total.
Analysis
The most recent figure for births attended by skilled health staff in South Africa is 96.7%, measured in 2016. That is the highest value across all 7 years on record.
The figure is up 6.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, births attended by skilled health staff in South Africa peaked at 96.7% in 2016 and was at its lowest, 82.0%, in 1994.
South Africa ranks 98th of 169 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Births attended by skilled health staff in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % of total | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1994 | 82.0% | — |
| 1995 | 82.0% | +0.0% |
| 1998 | 84.4% | +2.9% |
| 2003 | 91.2% | +8.1% |
| 2004 | 91.2% | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 94.3% | +3.4% |
| 2016 | 96.7% | +2.5% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 96.7% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 99.5%, 97% of the median. (56 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 96.7% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 78.1%, 1.2× the median. (39 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 82.8% | 82.0% | 84.4% | 3 |
| 2000s | 92.2% | 91.2% | 94.3% | 3 |
| 2010s | 96.7% | 96.7% | 96.7% | 1 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More health data for South Africa
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -2.2 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate -0.1386 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,152 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 3,333 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -0.5504 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.045 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 0.0003 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is births attended by skilled health staff in South Africa?
- Births attended by skilled health staff in South Africa was 96.7% in 2016, according to State of the World's Children, UN Children's Fund (UNICEF).
- What is the highest births attended by skilled health staff recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 96.7% in 2016.
- What is the lowest births attended by skilled health staff recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 82.0% in 1994.
- How does South Africa rank for births attended by skilled health staff?
- South Africa ranks 98th out of 169 countries with data for 2016.
- Is births attended by skilled health staff rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 6.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from State of the World's Children, UN Children's Fund (UNICEF), published as part of Births attended by skilled health staff (% of total). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Births attended by skilled health staff are the percentage of deliveries attended by personnel 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.