Mortality rate, under-5 (per 1,000 live births) in South Africa
South Africa: Mortality rate, under-5 (per 1,000 live births) was 35.1 per 1,000 live births in 2024. ▼ Falling
Latest (2024)
35.1 per 1,000 live births
Change on year
up 0.9%
World rank
53rd
of 197 countries
All-time high
132.3 per 1,000 live births
in 1974
All-time low
33.9 per 1,000 live births
in 2020
Years of data
51
1974–2024
Mortality rate, under-5 in South Africa, 1974–2024
Source: UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation, UN Children's Fund (UNICEF). Measured in per 1,000 live births.
Analysis
The most recent figure for mortality rate, under-5 in South Africa is 35.1 per 1,000 live births, measured in 2024.
That represents a change of up 0.9% on the previous year and down 11.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, mortality rate, under-5 in South Africa peaked at 132.3 per 1,000 live births in 1974 and was at its lowest, 33.9 per 1,000 live births, in 2020.
That places South Africa 53rd out of 197 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 51 years of available data.
Mortality rate, under-5 (per 1,000 live births) in South Africa, year by year
| Year | per 1,000 live births | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1974 | 132.3 per 1,000 live births | — |
| 1975 | 124.9 per 1,000 live births | -5.6% |
| 1976 | 117.8 per 1,000 live births | -5.7% |
| 1977 | 111.1 per 1,000 live births | -5.7% |
| 1978 | 104.7 per 1,000 live births | -5.8% |
| 1979 | 98.8 per 1,000 live births | -5.6% |
| 1980 | 93.5 per 1,000 live births | -5.4% |
| 1981 | 88.5 per 1,000 live births | -5.3% |
| 1982 | 83.8 per 1,000 live births | -5.3% |
| 1983 | 79.6 per 1,000 live births | -5.0% |
| 1984 | 75.9 per 1,000 live births | -4.6% |
| 1985 | 72.3 per 1,000 live births | -4.7% |
| 1986 | 68.9 per 1,000 live births | -4.7% |
| 1987 | 65.7 per 1,000 live births | -4.6% |
| 1988 | 62.7 per 1,000 live births | -4.6% |
| 1989 | 60.1 per 1,000 live births | -4.1% |
| 1990 | 58.1 per 1,000 live births | -3.3% |
| 1991 | 56.8 per 1,000 live births | -2.2% |
| 1992 | 56.2 per 1,000 live births | -1.1% |
| 1993 | 56.6 per 1,000 live births | +0.7% |
| 1994 | 57.8 per 1,000 live births | +2.1% |
| 1995 | 59.2 per 1,000 live births | +2.4% |
| 1996 | 60.9 per 1,000 live births | +2.9% |
| 1997 | 62.9 per 1,000 live births | +3.3% |
| 1998 | 65.8 per 1,000 live births | +4.6% |
| 1999 | 68.7 per 1,000 live births | +4.4% |
| 2000 | 71.4 per 1,000 live births | +3.9% |
| 2001 | 74.5 per 1,000 live births | +4.3% |
| 2002 | 77 per 1,000 live births | +3.4% |
| 2003 | 79.2 per 1,000 live births | +2.9% |
| 2004 | 80.7 per 1,000 live births | +1.9% |
| 2005 | 79.8 per 1,000 live births | -1.1% |
| 2006 | 76.9 per 1,000 live births | -3.6% |
| 2007 | 71.2 per 1,000 live births | -7.4% |
| 2008 | 63.7 per 1,000 live births | -10.5% |
| 2009 | 56.9 per 1,000 live births | -10.7% |
| 2010 | 50.3 per 1,000 live births | -11.6% |
| 2011 | 45.6 per 1,000 live births | -9.3% |
| 2012 | 43.1 per 1,000 live births | -5.5% |
| 2013 | 41.4 per 1,000 live births | -3.9% |
| 2014 | 39.7 per 1,000 live births | -4.1% |
| 2015 | 38.2 per 1,000 live births | -3.8% |
| 2016 | 36.8 per 1,000 live births | -3.7% |
| 2017 | 35.7 per 1,000 live births | -3.0% |
| 2018 | 34.9 per 1,000 live births | -2.2% |
| 2019 | 34.3 per 1,000 live births | -1.7% |
| 2020 | 33.9 per 1,000 live births | -1.2% |
| 2021 | 34 per 1,000 live births | +0.3% |
| 2022 | 34.3 per 1,000 live births | +0.9% |
| 2023 | 34.8 per 1,000 live births | +1.5% |
| 2024 | 35.1 per 1,000 live births | +0.9% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 35.1 per 1,000 live births is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 12.9 per 1,000 live births, 2.7× the median. (59 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 35.1 per 1,000 live births is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 48.9 per 1,000 live births, 72% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 114.93 per 1,000 live births | 98.8 per 1,000 live births | 132.3 per 1,000 live births | 6 |
| 1980s | 75.1 per 1,000 live births | 60.1 per 1,000 live births | 93.5 per 1,000 live births | 10 |
| 1990s | 60.3 per 1,000 live births | 56.2 per 1,000 live births | 68.7 per 1,000 live births | 10 |
| 2000s | 73.13 per 1,000 live births | 56.9 per 1,000 live births | 80.7 per 1,000 live births | 10 |
| 2010s | 40 per 1,000 live births | 34.3 per 1,000 live births | 50.3 per 1,000 live births | 10 |
| 2020s | 34.42 per 1,000 live births | 33.9 per 1,000 live births | 35.1 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)
- 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, under-5 in South Africa?
- Mortality rate, under-5 in South Africa was 35.1 per 1,000 live births in 2024, according to UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation, UN Children's Fund (UNICEF).
- What is the highest mortality rate, under-5 recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 132.3 per 1,000 live births in 1974.
- What is the lowest mortality rate, under-5 recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 33.9 per 1,000 live births in 2020.
- How does South Africa rank for mortality rate, under-5?
- South Africa ranks 53rd out of 197 countries with data for 2024.
- Is mortality rate, under-5 rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 11.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation, UN Children's Fund (UNICEF), published as part of Mortality rate, under-5 (per 1,000 live births). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Under-five mortality rate is the probability per 1,000 that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five, if subject to age-specific mortality rates of the specified year.