Immunization, measles in South Africa
South Africa: Immunization, measles was 76.0% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Immunization, measles in South Africa, 1983–2024
Source: World Health Organization (WHO). Measured in % of children ages 12-23 months.
Analysis
In 2024, immunization, measles in South Africa stood at 76.0%.
That represents a change of down 5.0% on the previous year and down 9.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, immunization, measles in South Africa peaked at 87.0% in 2021 and was at its lowest, 62.0%, in 2003.
That places South Africa 155th out of 193 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 42 years of available data.
Immunization, measles in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % of children ages 12-23 months | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1983 | 74.0% | — |
| 1984 | 70.0% | -5.4% |
| 1985 | 70.0% | +0.0% |
| 1986 | 64.0% | -8.6% |
| 1987 | 75.0% | +17.2% |
| 1988 | 68.0% | -9.3% |
| 1989 | 84.0% | +23.5% |
| 1990 | 79.0% | -6.0% |
| 1991 | 85.0% | +7.6% |
| 1992 | 85.0% | +0.0% |
| 1993 | 85.0% | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 76.0% | -10.6% |
| 1995 | 76.0% | +0.0% |
| 1996 | 76.0% | +0.0% |
| 1997 | 82.0% | +7.9% |
| 1998 | 79.0% | -3.7% |
| 1999 | 75.0% | -5.1% |
| 2000 | 72.0% | -4.0% |
| 2001 | 69.0% | -4.2% |
| 2002 | 65.0% | -5.8% |
| 2003 | 62.0% | -4.6% |
| 2004 | 63.0% | +1.6% |
| 2005 | 64.0% | +1.6% |
| 2006 | 69.0% | +7.8% |
| 2007 | 68.0% | -1.4% |
| 2008 | 73.0% | +7.4% |
| 2009 | 77.0% | +5.5% |
| 2010 | 72.0% | -6.5% |
| 2011 | 77.0% | +6.9% |
| 2012 | 79.0% | +2.6% |
| 2013 | 78.0% | -1.3% |
| 2014 | 84.0% | +7.7% |
| 2015 | 86.0% | +2.4% |
| 2016 | 84.0% | -2.3% |
| 2017 | 81.0% | -3.6% |
| 2018 | 81.0% | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 83.0% | +2.5% |
| 2020 | 84.0% | +1.2% |
| 2021 | 87.0% | +3.6% |
| 2022 | 86.0% | -1.1% |
| 2023 | 80.0% | -7.0% |
| 2024 | 76.0% | -5.0% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 76.0% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 90.5%, 84% of the median. (58 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 76.0% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 81.0%, 94% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 72.1% | 64.0% | 84.0% | 7 |
| 1990s | 79.8% | 75.0% | 85.0% | 10 |
| 2000s | 68.2% | 62.0% | 77.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 80.5% | 72.0% | 86.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 82.6% | 76.0% | 87.0% | 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 immunization, measles in South Africa?
- Immunization, measles in South Africa was 76.0% in 2024, according to World Health Organization (WHO).
- What is the highest immunization, measles recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 87.0% in 2021.
- What is the lowest immunization, measles recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 62.0% in 2003.
- How does South Africa rank for immunization, measles?
- South Africa ranks 155th out of 193 countries with data for 2024.
- Is immunization, measles rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 9.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from World Health Organization (WHO), published as part of Immunization, measles (% of children ages 12-23 months). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 42 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Child immunization, measles, measures the percentage of children ages 12-23 months who received the measles vaccination before 12 months or at any time before the survey. A child is considered adequately immunized against measles after receiving one dose of vaccine.