Infant mortality rate in South Africa
South Africa: Infant mortality rate was 24.21 in 2024. ▼ Falling
Latest (2024)
24.21
Change on year
down 0.4%
World rank
58th
of 201 countries
All-time high
108.89
in 1976
All-time low
24.21
in 2024
Years of data
49
1976–2024
Infant mortality rate in South Africa, 1976–2024
Source: UNICEF.
Analysis
The most recent figure for infant mortality rate in South Africa is 24.21, measured in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 49 years on record.
That represents a change of 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 108.89 in 1976 and was at its lowest, 24.21, in 2024.
That places South Africa 58th out of 201 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 49 years of available data.
Infant mortality rate in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1976 | 108.89 | — |
| 1977 | 102.64 | -5.7% |
| 1978 | 96.7 | -5.8% |
| 1979 | 91.16 | -5.7% |
| 1980 | 86.07 | -5.6% |
| 1981 | 81.43 | -5.4% |
| 1982 | 77 | -5.4% |
| 1983 | 73.08 | -5.1% |
| 1984 | 69.56 | -4.8% |
| 1985 | 66.17 | -4.9% |
| 1986 | 62.93 | -4.9% |
| 1987 | 59.9 | -4.8% |
| 1988 | 56.99 | -4.8% |
| 1989 | 54.35 | -4.6% |
| 1990 | 52.07 | -4.2% |
| 1991 | 50.11 | -3.8% |
| 1992 | 48.57 | -3.1% |
| 1993 | 47.47 | -2.3% |
| 1994 | 46.74 | -1.5% |
| 1995 | 46.03 | -1.5% |
| 1996 | 45.46 | -1.2% |
| 1997 | 45.26 | -0.4% |
| 1998 | 45.41 | +0.3% |
| 1999 | 45.97 | +1.2% |
| 2000 | 46.51 | +1.2% |
| 2001 | 47.23 | +1.5% |
| 2002 | 47.64 | +0.9% |
| 2003 | 48.31 | +1.4% |
| 2004 | 48.68 | +0.8% |
| 2005 | 47.71 | -2.0% |
| 2006 | 45.98 | -3.6% |
| 2007 | 44 | -4.3% |
| 2008 | 40.97 | -6.9% |
| 2009 | 38.22 | -6.7% |
| 2010 | 36.04 | -5.7% |
| 2011 | 34.51 | -4.2% |
| 2012 | 33.32 | -3.5% |
| 2013 | 32.09 | -3.7% |
| 2014 | 30.7 | -4.3% |
| 2015 | 29.32 | -4.5% |
| 2016 | 28.04 | -4.3% |
| 2017 | 26.83 | -4.3% |
| 2018 | 25.84 | -3.7% |
| 2019 | 25.06 | -3.0% |
| 2020 | 24.54 | -2.1% |
| 2021 | 24.33 | -0.9% |
| 2022 | 24.29 | -0.2% |
| 2023 | 24.31 | +0.1% |
| 2024 | 24.21 | -0.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 99.85 | 91.16 | 108.89 | 4 |
| 1980s | 68.75 | 54.35 | 86.07 | 10 |
| 1990s | 47.31 | 45.26 | 52.07 | 10 |
| 2000s | 45.53 | 38.22 | 48.68 | 10 |
| 2010s | 30.18 | 25.06 | 36.04 | 10 |
| 2020s | 24.34 | 24.21 | 24.54 | 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 65-69, male, annual growth rate 2.84 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 65-69, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 65-69, male, per capita 0.0116 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 70-74, female, annual growth rate 4.91 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 70-74, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 70-74, female, per capita 0.0115 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is infant mortality rate in South Africa?
- Infant mortality rate in South Africa was 24.21 in 2024, according to UNICEF.
- What is the highest infant mortality rate recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 108.89 in 1976.
- What is the lowest infant mortality rate recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 24.21 in 2024.
- How does South Africa rank for infant mortality rate?
- South Africa ranks 58th out of 201 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 UNICEF, published as part of Infant mortality rate (UN IGME estimate, 2024). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 49 observations, free to reuse under UNICEF Terms of Use (attribution required).