Number of child deaths by region in South Africa
South Africa: Number of child deaths by region was 41,435 in 2024. ▼ Falling
Number of child deaths by region in South Africa, 1981–2024
Source: UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UNICEF, WHO, UN Population Division), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for number of child deaths by region in South Africa is 41,435, measured in 2024.
The figure is up 0.8% on the previous year and down 12.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of child deaths by region in South Africa peaked at 90,360 in 1981 and was at its lowest, 39,661, in 2020.
South Africa ranks 28th of 195 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 44 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 82,973 | 72,627 | 90,360 | 9 |
| 1990s | 67,880 | 64,608 | 73,839 | 10 |
| 2000s | 78,650 | 67,219 | 85,153 | 10 |
| 2010s | 46,927 | 40,007 | 58,485 | 10 |
| 2020s | 40,541 | 39,661 | 41,435 | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More health data for South Africa
- 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)
- Deaths in armed conflicts based on where they occurred 0 deaths (2026)
- Deaths in armed conflicts by region 0 deaths (2026)
- Age population, age 25, male, interpolated 541,701 (2025)
- Age population, age 25, female, interpolated 531,146 (2025)
- Age population, age 24, male, interpolated 530,424 (2025)
- Age population, age 24, female, interpolated 516,548 (2025)
- Age population, age 23, male, interpolated 516,787 (2025)
- Age population, age 23, female, interpolated 501,669 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is number of child deaths by region in South Africa?
- Number of child deaths by region in South Africa was 41,435 in 2024, according to UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UNICEF, WHO, UN Population Division), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest number of child deaths by region recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 90,360 in 1981.
- What is the lowest number of child deaths by region recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 39,661 in 2020.
- How does South Africa rank for number of child deaths by region?
- South Africa ranks 28th out of 195 countries with data for 2024.
- Is number of child deaths by region rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 12.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UNICEF, WHO, UN Population Division), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Number of child deaths by region. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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CSV · JSON — 44 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
The estimated number of children under five years old who die each year.