Infant deaths (UN IGME estimate, 2024) in South Africa
South Africa: Infant deaths (UN IGME estimate, 2024) was 28,570 in 2024. ▼ Falling
Latest (2024)
28,570
Change on year
down 0.7%
World rank
31st
of 201 countries
All-time high
96,938
in 1977
All-time low
28,570
in 2024
Years of data
48
1977–2024
Infant deaths in South Africa, 1977–2024
Source: UNICEF.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 28,570 for infant deaths in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 48 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.7% on the previous year and down 22.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, infant deaths in South Africa peaked at 96,938 in 1977 and was at its lowest, 28,570, in 2024.
That places South Africa 31st out of 201 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 48 years of available data.
Infant deaths (UN IGME estimate, 2024) in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1977 | 96,938 | — |
| 1978 | 92,324 | -4.8% |
| 1979 | 88,751 | -3.9% |
| 1980 | 85,805 | -3.3% |
| 1981 | 83,497 | -2.7% |
| 1982 | 81,948 | -1.9% |
| 1983 | 80,618 | -1.6% |
| 1984 | 79,194 | -1.8% |
| 1985 | 77,541 | -2.1% |
| 1986 | 75,185 | -3.0% |
| 1987 | 72,762 | -3.2% |
| 1988 | 69,666 | -4.3% |
| 1989 | 65,722 | -5.7% |
| 1990 | 61,433 | -6.5% |
| 1991 | 58,146 | -5.4% |
| 1992 | 55,791 | -4.1% |
| 1993 | 54,132 | -3.0% |
| 1994 | 51,750 | -4.4% |
| 1995 | 50,784 | -1.9% |
| 1996 | 51,016 | +0.5% |
| 1997 | 49,696 | -2.6% |
| 1998 | 48,706 | -2.0% |
| 1999 | 48,603 | -0.2% |
| 2000 | 47,927 | -1.4% |
| 2001 | 47,528 | -0.8% |
| 2002 | 47,649 | +0.3% |
| 2003 | 48,963 | +2.8% |
| 2004 | 51,261 | +4.7% |
| 2005 | 52,288 | +2.0% |
| 2006 | 52,054 | -0.4% |
| 2007 | 50,740 | -2.5% |
| 2008 | 49,055 | -3.3% |
| 2009 | 45,939 | -6.4% |
| 2010 | 41,881 | -8.8% |
| 2011 | 39,985 | -4.5% |
| 2012 | 39,087 | -2.2% |
| 2013 | 38,080 | -2.6% |
| 2014 | 36,770 | -3.4% |
| 2015 | 35,034 | -4.7% |
| 2016 | 32,812 | -6.3% |
| 2017 | 30,920 | -5.8% |
| 2018 | 29,827 | -3.5% |
| 2019 | 29,165 | -2.2% |
| 2020 | 28,789 | -1.3% |
| 2021 | 28,746 | -0.1% |
| 2022 | 28,792 | +0.2% |
| 2023 | 28,769 | -0.1% |
| 2024 | 28,570 | -0.7% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 28,570 is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 1,252, 22.8× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 28,570 is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 22,678, 1.3× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 92,671 | 88,751 | 96,938 | 3 |
| 1980s | 77,194 | 65,722 | 85,805 | 10 |
| 1990s | 53,006 | 48,603 | 61,433 | 10 |
| 2000s | 49,340 | 45,939 | 52,288 | 10 |
| 2010s | 35,356 | 29,165 | 41,881 | 10 |
| 2020s | 28,733 | 28,570 | 28,792 | 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)
- 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)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per capita 0.046 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is infant deaths in South Africa?
- Infant deaths in South Africa was 28,570 in 2024, according to UNICEF.
- What is the highest infant deaths recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 96,938 in 1977.
- What is the lowest infant deaths recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 28,570 in 2024.
- How does South Africa rank for infant deaths?
- South Africa ranks 31st out of 201 countries with data for 2024.
- Is infant deaths rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 22.3%. 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 Infant deaths (UN IGME estimate, 2024). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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