Child mortality in South Africa
South Africa: Child mortality was 3.51 in 2024. ▼ Falling
Latest (2024)
3.51
Change on year
up 0.9%
World rank
53rd
of 200 countries
All-time high
13.23
in 1974
All-time low
3.39
in 2020
Years of data
51
1974–2024
Child mortality in South Africa, 1974–2024
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2024, child mortality in South Africa stood at 3.51.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.9% on the previous year and down 11.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, child mortality in South Africa peaked at 13.23 in 1974 and was at its lowest, 3.39, in 2020.
South Africa ranks 53rd of 200 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 51 years of available data.
Child mortality in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1974 | 13.23 | — |
| 1975 | 12.49 | -5.6% |
| 1976 | 11.78 | -5.7% |
| 1977 | 11.11 | -5.7% |
| 1978 | 10.47 | -5.8% |
| 1979 | 9.88 | -5.6% |
| 1980 | 9.35 | -5.4% |
| 1981 | 8.85 | -5.3% |
| 1982 | 8.38 | -5.3% |
| 1983 | 7.96 | -5.0% |
| 1984 | 7.59 | -4.6% |
| 1985 | 7.23 | -4.7% |
| 1986 | 6.89 | -4.7% |
| 1987 | 6.57 | -4.6% |
| 1988 | 6.27 | -4.6% |
| 1989 | 6.01 | -4.1% |
| 1990 | 5.81 | -3.3% |
| 1991 | 5.68 | -2.2% |
| 1992 | 5.62 | -1.1% |
| 1993 | 5.66 | +0.7% |
| 1994 | 5.78 | +2.1% |
| 1995 | 5.92 | +2.4% |
| 1996 | 6.09 | +2.9% |
| 1997 | 6.29 | +3.3% |
| 1998 | 6.58 | +4.6% |
| 1999 | 6.87 | +4.4% |
| 2000 | 7.14 | +3.9% |
| 2001 | 7.45 | +4.3% |
| 2002 | 7.7 | +3.4% |
| 2003 | 7.92 | +2.9% |
| 2004 | 8.07 | +1.9% |
| 2005 | 7.98 | -1.1% |
| 2006 | 7.69 | -3.6% |
| 2007 | 7.12 | -7.4% |
| 2008 | 6.37 | -10.5% |
| 2009 | 5.69 | -10.7% |
| 2010 | 5.03 | -11.6% |
| 2011 | 4.56 | -9.3% |
| 2012 | 4.31 | -5.5% |
| 2013 | 4.14 | -3.9% |
| 2014 | 3.97 | -4.1% |
| 2015 | 3.82 | -3.8% |
| 2016 | 3.68 | -3.7% |
| 2017 | 3.57 | -3.0% |
| 2018 | 3.49 | -2.2% |
| 2019 | 3.43 | -1.7% |
| 2020 | 3.39 | -1.2% |
| 2021 | 3.4 | +0.3% |
| 2022 | 3.43 | +0.9% |
| 2023 | 3.48 | +1.5% |
| 2024 | 3.51 | +0.9% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 3.51 is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 1.3, 2.7× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 3.51 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 4.89, 72% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 11.49 | 9.88 | 13.23 | 6 |
| 1980s | 7.51 | 6.01 | 9.35 | 10 |
| 1990s | 6.03 | 5.62 | 6.87 | 10 |
| 2000s | 7.31 | 5.69 | 8.07 | 10 |
| 2010s | 4 | 3.43 | 5.03 | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.44 | 3.39 | 3.51 | 5 |
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)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates 1,152 (2090)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 3,333 (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 child mortality in South Africa?
- Child mortality in South Africa was 3.51 in 2024, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest child mortality recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 13.23 in 1974.
- What is the lowest child mortality recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.39 in 2020.
- How does South Africa rank for child mortality?
- South Africa ranks 53rd out of 200 countries with data for 2024.
- Is child mortality rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 11.6%. 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 mortality. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 51 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).