Estimated number of children (aged 0-17 years) who have lost one or in South Africa
South Africa: Estimated number of children (aged 0-17 years) who have lost one or was 630,000 in 2024. ▼ Falling
Estimated number of children (aged 0-17 years) who have lost one or in South Africa, 2010–2024
Source: UNICEF.
Analysis
In 2024, estimated number of children (aged 0-17 years) who have lost one or in South Africa stood at 630,000. That is the lowest value across all 15 years on record.
That represents a change of down 10.0% on the previous year and down 56.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, estimated number of children (aged 0-17 years) who have lost one or in South Africa peaked at 1.73 million in 2010 and was at its lowest, 630,000, in 2024.
South Africa ranks 5th of 104 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 15 years of available data.
Estimated number of children (aged 0-17 years) who have lost one or in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 1.73 million | — |
| 2011 | 1.70 million | -1.7% |
| 2012 | 1.63 million | -4.1% |
| 2013 | 1.53 million | -6.1% |
| 2014 | 1.45 million | -5.2% |
| 2015 | 1.36 million | -6.2% |
| 2016 | 1.28 million | -5.9% |
| 2017 | 1.19 million | -7.0% |
| 2018 | 1.09 million | -8.4% |
| 2019 | 1.03 million | -5.5% |
| 2020 | 950,000 | -7.8% |
| 2021 | 860,000 | -9.5% |
| 2022 | 780,000 | -9.3% |
| 2023 | 700,000 | -10.3% |
| 2024 | 630,000 | -10.0% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 630,000 is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 8,500, 74.1× the median. (26 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 630,000 is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 86,000, 7.3× the median. (43 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 1.40 million | 1.03 million | 1.73 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 784,000 | 630,000 | 950,000 | 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)
- 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)
- 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 estimated number of children (aged 0-17 years) who have lost one or in South Africa?
- Estimated number of children (aged 0-17 years) who have lost one or in South Africa was 630,000 in 2024, according to UNICEF.
- What is the highest estimated number of children (aged 0-17 years) who have lost one or recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 1.73 million in 2010.
- What is the lowest estimated number of children (aged 0-17 years) who have lost one or recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 630,000 in 2024.
- How does South Africa rank for estimated number of children (aged 0-17 years) who have lost one or?
- South Africa ranks 5th out of 104 countries with data for 2024.
- Is estimated number of children (aged 0-17 years) who have lost one or rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 56.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from UNICEF, published as part of Estimated number of children (aged 0-17 years) who have lost one or both parents due to AIDS. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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