Number of children who die before age 5, by world region in South Africa
South Africa: Number of children who die before age 5, by world region was 44,801 deaths in 2023. ▼ Falling
Latest (2023)
44,801 deaths
Change on year
down 8.6%
World rank
27th
of 236 countries
All-time high
122,929 deaths
in 1950
All-time low
34,375 deaths
in 2020
Years of data
74
1950–2023
Number of children who die before age 5, by world region in South Africa, 1950–2023
Source: UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in deaths.
Analysis
The most recent figure for number of children who die before age 5, by world region in South Africa is 44,801 deaths, measured in 2023.
The figure is down 8.6% on the previous year and down 11.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of children who die before age 5, by world region in South Africa peaked at 122,929 deaths in 1950 and was at its lowest, 34,375 deaths, in 2020.
South Africa ranks 27th of 236 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 74 years of available data.
Number of children who die before age 5, by world region in South Africa, year by year
| Year | deaths | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 122,929 deaths | — |
| 1951 | 119,521 deaths | -2.8% |
| 1952 | 116,548 deaths | -2.5% |
| 1953 | 113,552 deaths | -2.6% |
| 1954 | 110,350 deaths | -2.8% |
| 1955 | 107,237 deaths | -2.8% |
| 1956 | 104,113 deaths | -2.9% |
| 1957 | 101,256 deaths | -2.7% |
| 1958 | 98,812 deaths | -2.4% |
| 1959 | 96,974 deaths | -1.9% |
| 1960 | 95,733 deaths | -1.3% |
| 1961 | 95,472 deaths | -0.3% |
| 1962 | 95,934 deaths | +0.5% |
| 1963 | 97,088 deaths | +1.2% |
| 1964 | 98,404 deaths | +1.4% |
| 1965 | 99,924 deaths | +1.5% |
| 1966 | 102,041 deaths | +2.1% |
| 1967 | 104,070 deaths | +2.0% |
| 1968 | 105,713 deaths | +1.6% |
| 1969 | 107,133 deaths | +1.3% |
| 1970 | 108,053 deaths | +0.9% |
| 1971 | 108,641 deaths | +0.5% |
| 1972 | 108,549 deaths | -0.1% |
| 1973 | 108,100 deaths | -0.4% |
| 1974 | 106,927 deaths | -1.1% |
| 1975 | 105,211 deaths | -1.6% |
| 1976 | 103,324 deaths | -1.8% |
| 1977 | 100,860 deaths | -2.4% |
| 1978 | 98,405 deaths | -2.4% |
| 1979 | 96,339 deaths | -2.1% |
| 1980 | 94,325 deaths | -2.1% |
| 1981 | 93,418 deaths | -1.0% |
| 1982 | 92,823 deaths | -0.6% |
| 1983 | 91,651 deaths | -1.3% |
| 1984 | 90,485 deaths | -1.3% |
| 1985 | 88,459 deaths | -2.2% |
| 1986 | 86,641 deaths | -2.1% |
| 1987 | 85,305 deaths | -1.5% |
| 1988 | 82,050 deaths | -3.8% |
| 1989 | 79,030 deaths | -3.7% |
| 1990 | 75,518 deaths | -4.4% |
| 1991 | 73,108 deaths | -3.2% |
| 1992 | 71,153 deaths | -2.7% |
| 1993 | 70,819 deaths | -0.5% |
| 1994 | 67,916 deaths | -4.1% |
| 1995 | 70,767 deaths | +4.2% |
| 1996 | 71,832 deaths | +1.5% |
| 1997 | 72,359 deaths | +0.7% |
| 1998 | 72,645 deaths | +0.4% |
| 1999 | 73,772 deaths | +1.6% |
| 2000 | 72,033 deaths | -2.4% |
| 2001 | 74,632 deaths | +3.6% |
| 2002 | 78,704 deaths | +5.5% |
| 2003 | 82,519 deaths | +4.8% |
| 2004 | 84,228 deaths | +2.1% |
| 2005 | 85,178 deaths | +1.1% |
| 2006 | 82,786 deaths | -2.8% |
| 2007 | 80,802 deaths | -2.4% |
| 2008 | 80,558 deaths | -0.3% |
| 2009 | 68,430 deaths | -15.1% |
| 2010 | 62,553 deaths | -8.6% |
| 2011 | 48,923 deaths | -21.8% |
| 2012 | 49,672 deaths | +1.5% |
| 2013 | 50,724 deaths | +2.1% |
| 2014 | 50,162 deaths | -1.1% |
| 2015 | 46,542 deaths | -7.2% |
| 2016 | 42,551 deaths | -8.6% |
| 2017 | 38,178 deaths | -10.3% |
| 2018 | 40,686 deaths | +6.6% |
| 2019 | 42,762 deaths | +5.1% |
| 2020 | 34,375 deaths | -19.6% |
| 2021 | 43,310 deaths | +26.0% |
| 2022 | 49,001 deaths | +13.1% |
| 2023 | 44,801 deaths | -8.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 109,129 deaths | 96,974 deaths | 122,929 deaths | 10 |
| 1960s | 100,151 deaths | 95,472 deaths | 107,133 deaths | 10 |
| 1970s | 104,441 deaths | 96,339 deaths | 108,641 deaths | 10 |
| 1980s | 88,419 deaths | 79,030 deaths | 94,325 deaths | 10 |
| 1990s | 71,989 deaths | 67,916 deaths | 75,518 deaths | 10 |
| 2000s | 78,987 deaths | 68,430 deaths | 85,178 deaths | 10 |
| 2010s | 47,275 deaths | 38,178 deaths | 62,553 deaths | 10 |
| 2020s | 42,872 deaths | 34,375 deaths | 49,001 deaths | 4 |
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)
- Population ages 80 and above, female, per capita 0.0081 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 80 and above, male, annual growth rate 2.35 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 80 and above, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 80 and above, male, per capita 0.0035 units per person (2025)
- Pertussis - number of reported cases, gaps filled 5,666 (2025)
- Pertussis - number of reported cases, per capita 0.0001 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is number of children who die before age 5, by world region in South Africa?
- Number of children who die before age 5, by world region in South Africa was 44,801 deaths in 2023, according to UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest number of children who die before age 5, by world region recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 122,929 deaths in 1950.
- What is the lowest number of children who die before age 5, by world region recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 34,375 deaths in 2020.
- How does South Africa rank for number of children who die before age 5, by world region?
- South Africa ranks 27th out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is number of children who die before age 5, by world region rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 11.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Number of children who die before age 5, by world region. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Number of deaths in a calendar year. This only includes people aged 0-4.