Infant mortality rates in South Africa
South Africa: Infant mortality rates was 2.78 in 2023. ▼ Falling
Latest (2023)
2.78
Change on year
down 7.6%
World rank
51st
of 229 countries
All-time high
13.85
in 1950
All-time low
2.18
in 2020
Years of data
74
1950–2023
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 229 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 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% |
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)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates 1,152 (2090)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 3,333 (2100)
- Population ages 65 and above, total, annual growth rate 4.1 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 65 and above, total, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 65 and above, total, per capita 0.0689 units per person (2025)
- Population, female, annual growth rate 1.18 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population, female, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population, female, per capita 0.5134 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 229 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.
Download this data
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