Cause of death, by communicable diseases and maternal, prenatal and in South Africa

South Africa: Cause of death, by communicable diseases and maternal, prenatal and was 76.2% in 2021. ▼ Falling

Latest (2021)
76.2%
Change on year
down 1.8%
World rank
58th
of 185 countries
All-time high
90.0%
in 2000
All-time low
76.2%
in 2021
Years of data
6
2000–2021

Cause of death, by communicable diseases and maternal, prenatal and in South Africa, 2000–2021

0204060801002000201020212000: 90 % of total female deaths ages 0-42010: 88.1 % of total female deaths ages 0-42015: 79.3 % of total female deaths ages 0-42019: 77.7 % of total female deaths ages 0-42020: 77.6 % of total female deaths ages 0-42021: 76.2 % of total female deaths ages 0-4

Source: Global Health Estimates, World Health Organization (WHO). Measured in % of total female deaths ages 0-4.

Analysis

The most recent figure for cause of death, by communicable diseases and maternal, prenatal and in South Africa is 76.2%, measured in 2021. That is the lowest value across all 6 years on record.

That represents a change of down 1.8% on the previous year and down 13.6% over ten years.

Over the whole period, cause of death, by communicable diseases and maternal, prenatal and in South Africa peaked at 90.0% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 76.2%, in 2021.

South Africa ranks 58th of 185 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

Cause of death, by communicable diseases and maternal, prenatal and in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for Cause of death, by communicable diseases and maternal, prenatal and nutrition conditions, ages 0-4, female (% of total female deaths ages 0-4) in South Africa, 2000 to 2021.
Year % of total female deaths ages 0-4 Change
2000 90.0%
2010 88.1% -2.1%
2015 79.3% -10.1%
2019 77.7% -2.0%
2020 77.6% -0.2%
2021 76.2% -1.8%

South Africa compared with similar countries

  • South Africa's 76.2% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 61.7%, 1.2× the median. (55 countries reporting)
  • South Africa's 76.2% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 87.1%, 87% of the median. (48 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 90.0% 90.0% 90.0% 1
2010s 81.7% 77.7% 88.1% 3
2020s 76.9% 76.2% 77.6% 2

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 55 Micronesia (country) 79.4% compare
  2. 56 Dominican Republic 78.2% compare
  3. 57 Turkmenistan 78.1% compare
  4. 59 Jamaica 76.0% compare
  5. 60 Solomon Islands 75.9% compare
  6. 61 Bangladesh 75.8% compare

See the full ranking of 232 places →

More health data for South Africa

All data for South Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is cause of death, by communicable diseases and maternal, prenatal and in South Africa?
Cause of death, by communicable diseases and maternal, prenatal and in South Africa was 76.2% in 2021, according to Global Health Estimates, World Health Organization (WHO).
What is the highest cause of death, by communicable diseases and maternal, prenatal and recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 90.0% in 2000.
What is the lowest cause of death, by communicable diseases and maternal, prenatal and recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 76.2% in 2021.
How does South Africa rank for cause of death, by communicable diseases and maternal, prenatal and?
South Africa ranks 58th out of 185 countries with data for 2021.
Is cause of death, by communicable diseases and maternal, prenatal and rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is down 13.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this South Africa data come from?
The figures come from Global Health Estimates, World Health Organization (WHO), published as part of Cause of death, by communicable diseases and maternal, prenatal and nutrition conditions, ages 0-4, female (% of total female deaths ages 0-4). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Cause of death, by communicable diseases and maternal, prenatal and in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on Global Health Estimates, World Health Organization (WHO). Retrieved 17 September 2026, from https://health.statizoid.com/stat/cause-of-death-by-communicable-diseases-and-maternal-prenatal-and-nutrition-conditions-2/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Cause of death, by communicable diseases and maternal, prenatal and nutrition conditions, ages 0-4, female (% of total female deaths ages 0-4)
Unit
% of total female deaths ages 0-4
Source
Global Health Estimates, World Health Organization (WHO)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
232 places, 1,392 data points, 2000–2021
Last refreshed

Number of female deaths ages 0-4 due to communicable diseases and maternal, prenatal and nutrition conditions divided by number of all female deaths ages 0-4, expressed by percentage. Communicable diseases and maternal, prenatal and nutrition conditions included infectious and parasitic diseases, respiratory infections, and nutritional deficiencies such as underweight and stunting.