Child deaths by world region un data in South Africa

South Africa: Child deaths by world region un data was 44,801 in 2023. ▼ Falling

Latest (2023)
44,801
Change on year
down 8.6%
World rank
27th
of 236 countries
All-time high
122,929
in 1950
All-time low
34,375
in 2020
Years of data
74
1950–2023

Child deaths by world region un data in South Africa, 1950–2023

40.0k60.0k80.0k100.0k120.0k195019862023

Source: Our World in Data.

Analysis

The most recent figure for child deaths by world region un data in South Africa is 44,801, measured in 2023.

The figure is down 8.6% on the previous year and down 11.7% over ten years.

Over the whole period, child deaths by world region un data in South Africa peaked at 122,929 in 1950 and was at its lowest, 34,375, 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.

Child deaths by world region un data in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for Child deaths by world region un data in South Africa, 1950 to 2023.
Year Value Change
1950 122,929 —
1951 119,521 -2.8%
1952 116,548 -2.5%
1953 113,552 -2.6%
1954 110,350 -2.8%
1955 107,237 -2.8%
1956 104,113 -2.9%
1957 101,256 -2.7%
1958 98,812 -2.4%
1959 96,974 -1.9%
1960 95,733 -1.3%
1961 95,472 -0.3%
1962 95,934 +0.5%
1963 97,088 +1.2%
1964 98,404 +1.4%
1965 99,924 +1.5%
1966 102,041 +2.1%
1967 104,070 +2.0%
1968 105,713 +1.6%
1969 107,133 +1.3%
1970 108,053 +0.9%
1971 108,641 +0.5%
1972 108,549 -0.1%
1973 108,100 -0.4%
1974 106,927 -1.1%
1975 105,211 -1.6%
1976 103,324 -1.8%
1977 100,860 -2.4%
1978 98,405 -2.4%
1979 96,339 -2.1%
1980 94,325 -2.1%
1981 93,418 -1.0%
1982 92,823 -0.6%
1983 91,651 -1.3%
1984 90,485 -1.3%
1985 88,459 -2.2%
1986 86,641 -2.1%
1987 85,305 -1.5%
1988 82,050 -3.8%
1989 79,030 -3.7%
1990 75,518 -4.4%
1991 73,108 -3.2%
1992 71,153 -2.7%
1993 70,819 -0.5%
1994 67,916 -4.1%
1995 70,767 +4.2%
1996 71,832 +1.5%
1997 72,359 +0.7%
1998 72,645 +0.4%
1999 73,772 +1.6%
2000 72,033 -2.4%
2001 74,632 +3.6%
2002 78,704 +5.5%
2003 82,519 +4.8%
2004 84,228 +2.1%
2005 85,178 +1.1%
2006 82,786 -2.8%
2007 80,802 -2.4%
2008 80,558 -0.3%
2009 68,430 -15.1%
2010 62,553 -8.6%
2011 48,923 -21.8%
2012 49,672 +1.5%
2013 50,724 +2.1%
2014 50,162 -1.1%
2015 46,542 -7.2%
2016 42,551 -8.6%
2017 38,178 -10.3%
2018 40,686 +6.6%
2019 42,762 +5.1%
2020 34,375 -19.6%
2021 43,310 +26.0%
2022 49,001 +13.1%
2023 44,801 -8.6%

South Africa compared with similar countries

  • South Africa's 44,801 is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 1,786, 25.1× the median. (58 countries reporting)
  • South Africa's 44,801 is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 25,376, 1.8× the median. (48 countries reporting)

Biggest year-on-year movements

Years where Child deaths by world region un data in South Africa changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.

YearChange FromTo
2021 +26.0% 34,375 43,310

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1950s 109,129 96,974 122,929 10
1960s 100,151 95,472 107,133 10
1970s 104,441 96,339 108,641 10
1980s 88,419 79,030 94,325 10
1990s 71,989 67,916 75,518 10
2000s 78,987 68,430 85,178 10
2010s 47,275 38,178 62,553 10
2020s 42,872 34,375 49,001 4

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 24 Yemen 54,401 compare
  2. 25 Philippines 51,634 compare
  3. 26 Guinea 44,951 compare
  4. 28 Egypt 42,457 compare
  5. 29 Benin 37,100 compare
  6. 30 Ghana 36,223 compare

See the full ranking of 236 places →

More health data for South Africa

All data for South Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is child deaths by world region un data in South Africa?
Child deaths by world region un data in South Africa was 44,801 in 2023, according to Our World in Data.
What is the highest child deaths by world region un data recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 122,929 in 1950.
What is the lowest child deaths by world region un data recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 34,375 in 2020.
How does South Africa rank for child deaths by world region un data?
South Africa ranks 27th out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
Is child deaths by world region un data 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 Our World in Data, published as part of Child deaths by world region un data. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Child deaths by world region un data in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on Our World in Data. Retrieved 10 November 2026, from https://health.statizoid.com/stat/child-deaths-by-world-region-un-data/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Child deaths by world region un data
Source
Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
236 places, 17,462 data points, 1950–2023
Last refreshed