Number of neonatal, infant and child deaths in South Africa
South Africa: Number of neonatal, infant and child deaths was 14,715 deaths in 2024. ▼ Falling
Latest (2024)
14,715 deaths
Change on year
up 1.6%
World rank
34th
of 199 countries
All-time high
27,852 deaths
in 1984
All-time low
12,757 deaths
in 2002
Years of data
48
1977–2024
Number of neonatal, infant and child deaths in South Africa, 1977–2024
Source: United Nations Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (2025) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in deaths.
Analysis
The most recent figure for number of neonatal, infant and child deaths in South Africa is 14,715 deaths, measured in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.6% on the previous year and up 3.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of neonatal, infant and child deaths in South Africa peaked at 27,852 deaths in 1984 and was at its lowest, 12,757 deaths, in 2002.
South Africa ranks 34th of 199 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 48 years of available data.
Number of neonatal, infant and child deaths in South Africa, year by year
| Year | deaths | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1977 | 26,627 deaths | — |
| 1978 | 26,652 deaths | +0.1% |
| 1979 | 26,822 deaths | +0.6% |
| 1980 | 26,934 deaths | +0.4% |
| 1981 | 27,229 deaths | +1.1% |
| 1982 | 27,667 deaths | +1.6% |
| 1983 | 27,721 deaths | +0.2% |
| 1984 | 27,852 deaths | +0.5% |
| 1985 | 27,817 deaths | -0.1% |
| 1986 | 27,486 deaths | -1.2% |
| 1987 | 27,337 deaths | -0.5% |
| 1988 | 26,485 deaths | -3.1% |
| 1989 | 25,431 deaths | -4.0% |
| 1990 | 24,045 deaths | -5.5% |
| 1991 | 23,513 deaths | -2.2% |
| 1992 | 22,575 deaths | -4.0% |
| 1993 | 22,170 deaths | -1.8% |
| 1994 | 20,288 deaths | -8.5% |
| 1995 | 20,559 deaths | +1.3% |
| 1996 | 19,331 deaths | -6.0% |
| 1997 | 17,728 deaths | -8.3% |
| 1998 | 16,179 deaths | -8.7% |
| 1999 | 15,054 deaths | -7.0% |
| 2000 | 13,716 deaths | -8.9% |
| 2001 | 13,112 deaths | -4.4% |
| 2002 | 12,757 deaths | -2.7% |
| 2003 | 13,055 deaths | +2.3% |
| 2004 | 13,694 deaths | +4.9% |
| 2005 | 14,414 deaths | +5.3% |
| 2006 | 15,095 deaths | +4.7% |
| 2007 | 15,478 deaths | +2.5% |
| 2008 | 16,613 deaths | +7.3% |
| 2009 | 15,706 deaths | -5.5% |
| 2010 | 15,066 deaths | -4.1% |
| 2011 | 14,675 deaths | -2.6% |
| 2012 | 14,441 deaths | -1.6% |
| 2013 | 14,213 deaths | -1.6% |
| 2014 | 14,218 deaths | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 13,907 deaths | -2.2% |
| 2016 | 13,418 deaths | -3.5% |
| 2017 | 13,258 deaths | -1.2% |
| 2018 | 13,306 deaths | +0.4% |
| 2019 | 13,451 deaths | +1.1% |
| 2020 | 13,668 deaths | +1.6% |
| 2021 | 13,957 deaths | +2.1% |
| 2022 | 14,229 deaths | +1.9% |
| 2023 | 14,486 deaths | +1.8% |
| 2024 | 14,715 deaths | +1.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 26,700 deaths | 26,627 deaths | 26,822 deaths | 3 |
| 1980s | 27,196 deaths | 25,431 deaths | 27,852 deaths | 10 |
| 1990s | 20,144 deaths | 15,054 deaths | 24,045 deaths | 10 |
| 2000s | 14,364 deaths | 12,757 deaths | 16,613 deaths | 10 |
| 2010s | 13,995 deaths | 13,258 deaths | 15,066 deaths | 10 |
| 2020s | 14,211 deaths | 13,668 deaths | 14,715 deaths | 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)
- 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)
- Population ages 80 and above, female, per capita 0.0081 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 80 and above, male, annual growth rate 2.35 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 80 and above, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 80 and above, male, per capita 0.0035 units per person (2025)
- Pertussis - number of reported cases, gaps filled 5,666 (2025)
- Pertussis - number of reported cases, per capita 0.0001 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is number of neonatal, infant and child deaths in South Africa?
- Number of neonatal, infant and child deaths in South Africa was 14,715 deaths in 2024, according to United Nations Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (2025) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest number of neonatal, infant and child deaths recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 27,852 deaths in 1984.
- What is the lowest number of neonatal, infant and child deaths recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 12,757 deaths in 2002.
- How does South Africa rank for number of neonatal, infant and child deaths?
- South Africa ranks 34th out of 199 countries with data for 2024.
- Is number of neonatal, infant and child deaths rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 3.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (2025) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Number of neonatal, infant and child deaths. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Estimated number of deaths of children aged less than 28 days .