Neonatal deaths as a percentage of under-five deaths in South Africa
South Africa: Neonatal deaths as a percentage of under-five deaths was 0.3551 in 2024. ▲ Rising
Latest (2024)
0.3551
Change on year
up 0.8%
World rank
183rd
of 200 countries
All-time high
0.3551
in 2024
All-time low
0.1614
in 2003
Years of data
35
1990–2024
Neonatal deaths as a percentage of under-five deaths in South Africa, 1990–2024
Source: UNICEF.
Analysis
In 2024, neonatal deaths as a percentage of under-five deaths in South Africa stood at 0.3551. That is the highest value across all 35 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.8% on the previous year and up 18.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, neonatal deaths as a percentage of under-five deaths in South Africa peaked at 0.3551 in 2024 and was at its lowest, 0.1614, in 2003.
That places South Africa 183rd out of 200 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 35 years of available data.
Neonatal deaths as a percentage of under-five deaths in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 0.3497 | — |
| 1991 | 0.3551 | +1.5% |
| 1992 | 0.3474 | -2.2% |
| 1993 | 0.3414 | -1.7% |
| 1994 | 0.314 | -8.0% |
| 1995 | 0.3121 | -0.6% |
| 1996 | 0.2822 | -9.6% |
| 1997 | 0.2548 | -9.7% |
| 1998 | 0.2263 | -11.2% |
| 1999 | 0.2039 | -9.9% |
| 2000 | 0.1824 | -10.6% |
| 2001 | 0.1705 | -6.5% |
| 2002 | 0.1625 | -4.7% |
| 2003 | 0.1614 | -0.7% |
| 2004 | 0.1631 | +1.0% |
| 2005 | 0.1693 | +3.8% |
| 2006 | 0.1789 | +5.7% |
| 2007 | 0.1934 | +8.1% |
| 2008 | 0.2237 | +15.6% |
| 2009 | 0.2337 | +4.5% |
| 2010 | 0.2576 | +10.3% |
| 2011 | 0.2769 | +7.5% |
| 2012 | 0.2855 | +3.1% |
| 2013 | 0.2899 | +1.5% |
| 2014 | 0.3001 | +3.5% |
| 2015 | 0.3055 | +1.8% |
| 2016 | 0.31 | +1.5% |
| 2017 | 0.3197 | +3.1% |
| 2018 | 0.3285 | +2.8% |
| 2019 | 0.3362 | +2.4% |
| 2020 | 0.3446 | +2.5% |
| 2021 | 0.3492 | +1.3% |
| 2022 | 0.351 | +0.5% |
| 2023 | 0.3524 | +0.4% |
| 2024 | 0.3551 | +0.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 0.2987 | 0.2039 | 0.3551 | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.1839 | 0.1614 | 0.2337 | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.301 | 0.2576 | 0.3362 | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.3505 | 0.3446 | 0.3551 | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 180 North Macedonia 0.375 compare
- 181 Benin 0.3719 compare
- 182 Central African Republic 0.3582 compare
- 184 Montenegro 0.3529 compare
- 185 Somalia 0.3518 compare
- 186 Japan 0.3494 compare
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)
- 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)
Frequently asked questions
- What is neonatal deaths as a percentage of under-five deaths in South Africa?
- Neonatal deaths as a percentage of under-five deaths in South Africa was 0.3551 in 2024, according to UNICEF.
- What is the highest neonatal deaths as a percentage of under-five deaths recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 0.3551 in 2024.
- What is the lowest neonatal deaths as a percentage of under-five deaths recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.1614 in 2003.
- How does South Africa rank for neonatal deaths as a percentage of under-five deaths?
- South Africa ranks 183rd out of 200 countries with data for 2024.
- Is neonatal deaths as a percentage of under-five deaths rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 18.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from UNICEF, published as part of Neonatal deaths as a percentage of under-five deaths. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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