Mortality rate 1-59 months in South Africa
South Africa: Mortality rate 1-59 months was 22.88 in 2024. ▼ Falling
Latest (2024)
22.88
Change on year
up 0.5%
World rank
33rd
of 200 countries
All-time high
99.01
in 1975
All-time low
22.49
in 2021
Years of data
50
1975–2024
Mortality rate 1-59 months in South Africa, 1975–2024
Source: UNICEF.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 22.88 for mortality rate 1-59 months in 2024.
That represents a change of up 0.5% on the previous year and down 19.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, mortality rate 1-59 months in South Africa peaked at 99.01 in 1975 and was at its lowest, 22.49, in 2021.
South Africa ranks 33rd of 200 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 50 years of available data.
Mortality rate 1-59 months in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1975 | 99.01 | — |
| 1976 | 92.33 | -6.7% |
| 1977 | 85.7 | -7.2% |
| 1978 | 79.55 | -7.2% |
| 1979 | 73.83 | -7.2% |
| 1980 | 68.79 | -6.8% |
| 1981 | 64.14 | -6.8% |
| 1982 | 60.04 | -6.4% |
| 1983 | 56.46 | -6.0% |
| 1984 | 53.25 | -5.7% |
| 1985 | 50.25 | -5.6% |
| 1986 | 47.35 | -5.8% |
| 1987 | 44.59 | -5.8% |
| 1988 | 42.02 | -5.8% |
| 1989 | 39.87 | -5.1% |
| 1990 | 38.31 | -3.9% |
| 1991 | 37.33 | -2.6% |
| 1992 | 37.18 | -0.4% |
| 1993 | 38.04 | +2.3% |
| 1994 | 39.78 | +4.6% |
| 1995 | 41.88 | +5.3% |
| 1996 | 44.4 | +6.0% |
| 1997 | 47.31 | +6.5% |
| 1998 | 51.33 | +8.5% |
| 1999 | 55.2 | +7.5% |
| 2000 | 58.54 | +6.1% |
| 2001 | 62.27 | +6.4% |
| 2002 | 64.99 | +4.4% |
| 2003 | 67.34 | +3.6% |
| 2004 | 68.84 | +2.2% |
| 2005 | 67.72 | -1.6% |
| 2006 | 64.61 | -4.6% |
| 2007 | 58.74 | -9.1% |
| 2008 | 51.06 | -13.1% |
| 2009 | 44.17 | -13.5% |
| 2010 | 37.81 | -14.4% |
| 2011 | 33.45 | -11.5% |
| 2012 | 31.29 | -6.4% |
| 2013 | 29.87 | -4.6% |
| 2014 | 28.32 | -5.2% |
| 2015 | 26.83 | -5.3% |
| 2016 | 25.56 | -4.7% |
| 2017 | 24.47 | -4.3% |
| 2018 | 23.67 | -3.3% |
| 2019 | 23.09 | -2.4% |
| 2020 | 22.55 | -2.4% |
| 2021 | 22.49 | -0.3% |
| 2022 | 22.6 | +0.5% |
| 2023 | 22.78 | +0.8% |
| 2024 | 22.88 | +0.5% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 22.88 is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 5.5, 4.2× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 22.88 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 29.93, 76% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 86.08 | 73.83 | 99.01 | 5 |
| 1980s | 52.68 | 39.87 | 68.79 | 10 |
| 1990s | 43.07 | 37.18 | 55.2 | 10 |
| 2000s | 60.83 | 44.17 | 68.84 | 10 |
| 2010s | 28.43 | 23.09 | 37.81 | 10 |
| 2020s | 22.66 | 22.49 | 22.88 | 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 mortality rate 1-59 months in South Africa?
- Mortality rate 1-59 months in South Africa was 22.88 in 2024, according to UNICEF.
- What is the highest mortality rate 1-59 months recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 99.01 in 1975.
- What is the lowest mortality rate 1-59 months recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 22.49 in 2021.
- How does South Africa rank for mortality rate 1-59 months?
- South Africa ranks 33rd out of 200 countries with data for 2024.
- Is mortality rate 1-59 months rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 19.2%. 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 Mortality rate 1-59 months. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 50 observations, free to reuse under UNICEF Terms of Use (attribution required).