Infant mortality rate in South Africa
South Africa: Infant mortality rate was 24.21 per 1,000 live births in 2024. ▼ Falling
Latest (2024)
24.21 per 1,000 live births
Change on year
down 0.4%
World rank
61st
of 212 countries
All-time high
48.68 per 1,000 live births
in 2004
All-time low
24.21 per 1,000 live births
in 2024
Years of data
25
2000–2024
Infant mortality rate in South Africa, 2000–2024
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Measured in per 1,000 live births.
Analysis
In 2024, infant mortality rate in South Africa stood at 24.21 per 1,000 live births. That is the lowest value across all 25 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.4% on the previous year and down 21.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, infant mortality rate in South Africa peaked at 48.68 per 1,000 live births in 2004 and was at its lowest, 24.21 per 1,000 live births, in 2024.
South Africa ranks 61st of 212 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 25 years of available data.
Infant mortality rate in South Africa, year by year
| Year | per 1,000 live births | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 46.51 per 1,000 live births | — |
| 2001 | 47.23 per 1,000 live births | +1.5% |
| 2002 | 47.64 per 1,000 live births | +0.9% |
| 2003 | 48.31 per 1,000 live births | +1.4% |
| 2004 | 48.68 per 1,000 live births | +0.8% |
| 2005 | 47.71 per 1,000 live births | -2.0% |
| 2006 | 45.98 per 1,000 live births | -3.6% |
| 2007 | 44 per 1,000 live births | -4.3% |
| 2008 | 40.97 per 1,000 live births | -6.9% |
| 2009 | 38.22 per 1,000 live births | -6.7% |
| 2010 | 36.04 per 1,000 live births | -5.7% |
| 2011 | 34.51 per 1,000 live births | -4.2% |
| 2012 | 33.32 per 1,000 live births | -3.5% |
| 2013 | 32.09 per 1,000 live births | -3.7% |
| 2014 | 30.7 per 1,000 live births | -4.3% |
| 2015 | 29.32 per 1,000 live births | -4.5% |
| 2016 | 28.04 per 1,000 live births | -4.3% |
| 2017 | 26.83 per 1,000 live births | -4.3% |
| 2018 | 25.84 per 1,000 live births | -3.7% |
| 2019 | 25.06 per 1,000 live births | -3.0% |
| 2020 | 24.54 per 1,000 live births | -2.1% |
| 2021 | 24.33 per 1,000 live births | -0.9% |
| 2022 | 24.29 per 1,000 live births | -0.2% |
| 2023 | 24.31 per 1,000 live births | +0.1% |
| 2024 | 24.21 per 1,000 live births | -0.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 45.53 per 1,000 live births | 38.22 per 1,000 live births | 48.68 per 1,000 live births | 10 |
| 2010s | 30.18 per 1,000 live births | 25.06 per 1,000 live births | 36.04 per 1,000 live births | 10 |
| 2020s | 24.34 per 1,000 live births | 24.21 per 1,000 live births | 24.54 per 1,000 live births | 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)
- Population ages 30-34, female, annual growth rate -0.1331 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 30-34, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 30-34, female, per capita 0.0446 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 30-34, male, annual growth rate -0.6047 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 30-34, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 30-34, male, per capita 0.0435 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is infant mortality rate in South Africa?
- Infant mortality rate in South Africa was 24.21 per 1,000 live births in 2024, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
- What is the highest infant mortality rate recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 48.68 per 1,000 live births in 2004.
- What is the lowest infant mortality rate recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 24.21 per 1,000 live births in 2024.
- How does South Africa rank for infant mortality rate?
- South Africa ranks 61st out of 212 countries with data for 2024.
- Is infant mortality rate rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 21.1%. 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 Infant mortality rate (deaths per 1,000 live births). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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