Infant mortality rates (Our World) in South Africa
South Africa: Infant mortality rates (Our World) was 2.78 in 2023. ▼ Falling
Infant mortality rates in South Africa, 1950–2023
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for infant mortality rates in South Africa is 2.78, measured in 2023.
That represents a change of down 7.6% on the previous year and down 6.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, infant mortality rates in South Africa peaked at 13.85 in 1950 and was at its lowest, 2.18, in 2020.
That places South Africa 51st out of 236 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 74 years of available data.
Infant mortality rates (Our World) in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 13.85 | — |
| 1951 | 13.45 | -2.9% |
| 1952 | 13.06 | -2.9% |
| 1953 | 12.64 | -3.1% |
| 1954 | 12.22 | -3.4% |
| 1955 | 11.78 | -3.6% |
| 1956 | 11.34 | -3.7% |
| 1957 | 10.93 | -3.6% |
| 1958 | 10.55 | -3.4% |
| 1959 | 10.23 | -3.0% |
| 1960 | 9.97 | -2.6% |
| 1961 | 9.75 | -2.1% |
| 1962 | 9.59 | -1.7% |
| 1963 | 9.45 | -1.4% |
| 1964 | 9.33 | -1.2% |
| 1965 | 9.23 | -1.1% |
| 1966 | 9.13 | -1.1% |
| 1967 | 9.02 | -1.1% |
| 1968 | 8.91 | -1.2% |
| 1969 | 8.8 | -1.3% |
| 1970 | 8.67 | -1.5% |
| 1971 | 8.53 | -1.6% |
| 1972 | 8.38 | -1.8% |
| 1973 | 8.21 | -1.9% |
| 1974 | 8.04 | -2.1% |
| 1975 | 7.86 | -2.3% |
| 1976 | 7.67 | -2.5% |
| 1977 | 7.46 | -2.7% |
| 1978 | 7.23 | -3.0% |
| 1979 | 7 | -3.3% |
| 1980 | 6.75 | -3.5% |
| 1981 | 6.51 | -3.7% |
| 1982 | 6.25 | -3.9% |
| 1983 | 6 | -4.0% |
| 1984 | 5.77 | -3.9% |
| 1985 | 5.55 | -3.9% |
| 1986 | 5.34 | -3.7% |
| 1987 | 5.17 | -3.2% |
| 1988 | 4.99 | -3.4% |
| 1989 | 4.86 | -2.7% |
| 1990 | 4.75 | -2.2% |
| 1991 | 4.66 | -1.8% |
| 1992 | 4.62 | -1.0% |
| 1993 | 4.61 | -0.3% |
| 1994 | 4.62 | +0.4% |
| 1995 | 4.68 | +1.1% |
| 1996 | 4.76 | +1.8% |
| 1997 | 4.86 | +2.1% |
| 1998 | 4.98 | +2.5% |
| 1999 | 5.11 | +2.6% |
| 2000 | 4.58 | -10.4% |
| 2001 | 4.73 | +3.3% |
| 2002 | 5.19 | +9.6% |
| 2003 | 5.35 | +3.2% |
| 2004 | 5.12 | -4.4% |
| 2005 | 5.19 | +1.4% |
| 2006 | 4.96 | -4.3% |
| 2007 | 4.83 | -2.7% |
| 2008 | 4.54 | -6.1% |
| 2009 | 3.97 | -12.4% |
| 2010 | 3.54 | -10.9% |
| 2011 | 2.85 | -19.4% |
| 2012 | 2.76 | -3.2% |
| 2013 | 2.96 | +7.4% |
| 2014 | 2.92 | -1.6% |
| 2015 | 2.8 | -4.2% |
| 2016 | 2.62 | -6.4% |
| 2017 | 2.38 | -9.1% |
| 2018 | 2.61 | +9.7% |
| 2019 | 2.78 | +6.7% |
| 2020 | 2.18 | -21.8% |
| 2021 | 2.76 | +26.7% |
| 2022 | 3.01 | +9.2% |
| 2023 | 2.78 | -7.6% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 2.78 is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 1.17, 2.4× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 2.78 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 3.74, 75% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Infant mortality rates (Our World) in South Africa changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | +26.7% | 2.18 | 2.76 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 12 | 10.23 | 13.85 | 10 |
| 1960s | 9.32 | 8.8 | 9.97 | 10 |
| 1970s | 7.9 | 7 | 8.67 | 10 |
| 1980s | 5.72 | 4.86 | 6.75 | 10 |
| 1990s | 4.76 | 4.61 | 5.11 | 10 |
| 2000s | 4.85 | 3.97 | 5.35 | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.82 | 2.38 | 3.54 | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.68 | 2.18 | 3.01 | 4 |
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 mortality rates in South Africa?
- Infant mortality rates in South Africa was 2.78 in 2023, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest infant mortality rates recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 13.85 in 1950.
- What is the lowest infant mortality rates recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.18 in 2020.
- How does South Africa rank for infant mortality rates?
- South Africa ranks 51st out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is infant mortality rates rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 6.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Infant mortality rates. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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