Health worker distribution, by sex and type of occupation in South Africa
South Africa: Health worker distribution, by sex and type of occupation was 88.0% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Health worker distribution, by sex and type of occupation in South Africa, 2000–2024
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 88.0% for health worker distribution, by sex and type of occupation in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 17 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 2.3% on the previous year and down 3.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, health worker distribution, by sex and type of occupation in South Africa peaked at 93.9% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 88.0%, in 2024.
That places South Africa 32nd out of 90 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 17 years of available data.
Health worker distribution, by sex and type of occupation in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 93.9% | — |
| 2001 | 93.8% | -0.1% |
| 2002 | 93.8% | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 93.6% | -0.2% |
| 2004 | 93.4% | -0.2% |
| 2005 | 93.2% | -0.2% |
| 2006 | 93.0% | -0.2% |
| 2007 | 92.7% | -0.3% |
| 2008 | 92.5% | -0.2% |
| 2009 | 92.3% | -0.2% |
| 2010 | 92.0% | -0.3% |
| 2011 | 92.4% | +0.4% |
| 2012 | 91.5% | -1.0% |
| 2013 | 91.3% | -0.2% |
| 2015 | 90.9% | -0.4% |
| 2023 | 90.1% | -0.9% |
| 2024 | 88.0% | -2.3% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 88.0% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 86.2%, 1.0× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 88.0% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 68.6%, 1.3× the median. (17 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 93.2% | 92.3% | 93.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 91.6% | 90.9% | 92.4% | 5 |
| 2020s | 89.0% | 88.0% | 90.1% | 2 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 29 El Salvador 88.2% compare
- 30 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 88.1% compare
- 30 United Kingdom 88.1% compare
- 33 Australia 87.6% compare
- 34 United States 87.4% compare
- 35 Honduras 87.3% compare
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 health worker distribution, by sex and type of occupation in South Africa?
- Health worker distribution, by sex and type of occupation in South Africa was 88.0% in 2024, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
- What is the highest health worker distribution, by sex and type of occupation recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 93.9% in 2000.
- What is the lowest health worker distribution, by sex and type of occupation recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 88.0% in 2024.
- How does South Africa rank for health worker distribution, by sex and type of occupation?
- South Africa ranks 32nd out of 90 countries with data for 2024.
- Is health worker distribution, by sex and type of occupation rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 3.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database, published as part of Health worker distribution, by sex and type of occupation (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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