Neonatal mortality rate in South Africa
South Africa: Neonatal mortality rate was 12.44 per 1,000 live births in 2024. ▼ Falling
Latest (2024)
12.44 per 1,000 live births
Change on year
up 1.9%
World rank
73rd
of 212 countries
All-time high
13.47 per 1,000 live births
in 2000
All-time low
11.44 per 1,000 live births
in 2018
Years of data
25
2000–2024
Neonatal mortality rate in South Africa, 2000–2024
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Measured in per 1,000 live births.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 12.44 per 1,000 live births for neonatal mortality rate in 2024.
That represents a change of up 1.9% on the previous year and up 5.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, neonatal mortality rate in South Africa peaked at 13.47 per 1,000 live births in 2000 and was at its lowest, 11.44 per 1,000 live births, in 2018.
That places South Africa 73rd out of 212 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 25 years of available data.
Neonatal mortality rate in South Africa, year by year
| Year | per 1,000 live births | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 13.47 per 1,000 live births | — |
| 2001 | 12.96 per 1,000 live births | -3.8% |
| 2002 | 12.69 per 1,000 live births | -2.1% |
| 2003 | 12.6 per 1,000 live births | -0.7% |
| 2004 | 12.64 per 1,000 live births | +0.4% |
| 2005 | 12.84 per 1,000 live births | +1.5% |
| 2006 | 13.06 per 1,000 live births | +1.7% |
| 2007 | 13.27 per 1,000 live births | +1.6% |
| 2008 | 13.38 per 1,000 live births | +0.8% |
| 2009 | 13.31 per 1,000 live births | -0.6% |
| 2010 | 12.97 per 1,000 live births | -2.5% |
| 2011 | 12.55 per 1,000 live births | -3.3% |
| 2012 | 12.15 per 1,000 live births | -3.2% |
| 2013 | 11.88 per 1,000 live births | -2.2% |
| 2014 | 11.75 per 1,000 live births | -1.1% |
| 2015 | 11.67 per 1,000 live births | -0.7% |
| 2016 | 11.55 per 1,000 live births | -1.0% |
| 2017 | 11.48 per 1,000 live births | -0.6% |
| 2018 | 11.44 per 1,000 live births | -0.3% |
| 2019 | 11.47 per 1,000 live births | +0.2% |
| 2020 | 11.56 per 1,000 live births | +0.9% |
| 2021 | 11.73 per 1,000 live births | +1.4% |
| 2022 | 11.96 per 1,000 live births | +1.9% |
| 2023 | 12.21 per 1,000 live births | +2.1% |
| 2024 | 12.44 per 1,000 live births | +1.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 13.02 per 1,000 live births | 12.6 per 1,000 live births | 13.47 per 1,000 live births | 10 |
| 2010s | 11.89 per 1,000 live births | 11.44 per 1,000 live births | 12.97 per 1,000 live births | 10 |
| 2020s | 11.98 per 1,000 live births | 11.56 per 1,000 live births | 12.44 per 1,000 live births | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 70 Trinidad and Tobago 12.64 per 1,000 live births compare
- 71 Iraq 12.46 per 1,000 live births compare
- 72 Marshall Islands 12.45 per 1,000 live births compare
- 74 Niue 12.43 per 1,000 live births compare
- 75 Azerbaijan 12.43 per 1,000 live births compare
- 76 Republic of Moldova 12.33 per 1,000 live births compare
- 76 Republic of Moldova 12.33 per 1,000 live births 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)
- Population ages 40-44, male, annual growth rate 3.07 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 40-44, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 40-44, male, per capita 0.0371 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 45-49, female, annual growth rate 4.05 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 45-49, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 45-49, female, per capita 0.0295 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is neonatal mortality rate in South Africa?
- Neonatal mortality rate in South Africa was 12.44 per 1,000 live births in 2024, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
- What is the highest neonatal mortality rate recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 13.47 per 1,000 live births in 2000.
- What is the lowest neonatal mortality rate recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 11.44 per 1,000 live births in 2018.
- How does South Africa rank for neonatal mortality rate?
- South Africa ranks 73rd out of 212 countries with data for 2024.
- Is neonatal mortality rate rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 5.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database, published as part of Neonatal mortality rate (deaths per 1,000 live births). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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