Neonatal mortality rate in South Africa
South Africa: Neonatal mortality rate was 12.44 in 2024. ▼ Falling
Latest (2024)
12.44
Change on year
up 1.9%
World rank
70th
of 200 countries
All-time high
28.48
in 1975
All-time low
11.44
in 2018
Years of data
50
1975–2024
Neonatal mortality rate in South Africa, 1975–2024
Source: World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory.
Analysis
The most recent figure for neonatal mortality rate in South Africa is 12.44, measured in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is 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 28.48 in 1975 and was at its lowest, 11.44, in 2018.
South Africa ranks 70th of 200 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 50 years of available data.
Neonatal mortality rate in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1975 | 28.48 | — |
| 1976 | 27.96 | -1.9% |
| 1977 | 27.62 | -1.2% |
| 1978 | 27.28 | -1.2% |
| 1979 | 26.83 | -1.6% |
| 1980 | 26.35 | -1.8% |
| 1981 | 25.81 | -2.0% |
| 1982 | 25.18 | -2.4% |
| 1983 | 24.48 | -2.8% |
| 1984 | 23.83 | -2.7% |
| 1985 | 23.2 | -2.6% |
| 1986 | 22.63 | -2.5% |
| 1987 | 22.08 | -2.4% |
| 1988 | 21.53 | -2.5% |
| 1989 | 20.98 | -2.5% |
| 1990 | 20.52 | -2.2% |
| 1991 | 20.09 | -2.1% |
| 1992 | 19.68 | -2.1% |
| 1993 | 19.25 | -2.2% |
| 1994 | 18.73 | -2.7% |
| 1995 | 18.05 | -3.6% |
| 1996 | 17.23 | -4.6% |
| 1997 | 16.23 | -5.8% |
| 1998 | 15.11 | -6.9% |
| 1999 | 14.19 | -6.1% |
| 2000 | 13.47 | -5.1% |
| 2001 | 12.96 | -3.8% |
| 2002 | 12.69 | -2.1% |
| 2003 | 12.6 | -0.7% |
| 2004 | 12.64 | +0.4% |
| 2005 | 12.84 | +1.5% |
| 2006 | 13.06 | +1.7% |
| 2007 | 13.27 | +1.6% |
| 2008 | 13.38 | +0.8% |
| 2009 | 13.31 | -0.6% |
| 2010 | 12.97 | -2.5% |
| 2011 | 12.55 | -3.3% |
| 2012 | 12.15 | -3.2% |
| 2013 | 11.88 | -2.2% |
| 2014 | 11.75 | -1.1% |
| 2015 | 11.67 | -0.7% |
| 2016 | 11.55 | -1.0% |
| 2017 | 11.48 | -0.6% |
| 2018 | 11.44 | -0.3% |
| 2019 | 11.47 | +0.2% |
| 2020 | 11.56 | +0.9% |
| 2021 | 11.73 | +1.4% |
| 2022 | 11.96 | +1.9% |
| 2023 | 12.21 | +2.1% |
| 2024 | 12.44 | +1.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 27.63 | 26.83 | 28.48 | 5 |
| 1980s | 23.61 | 20.98 | 26.35 | 10 |
| 1990s | 17.91 | 14.19 | 20.52 | 10 |
| 2000s | 13.02 | 12.6 | 13.47 | 10 |
| 2010s | 11.89 | 11.44 | 12.97 | 10 |
| 2020s | 11.98 | 11.56 | 12.44 | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 67 Trinidad and Tobago 12.64 compare
- 68 Iraq 12.46 compare
- 69 Marshall Islands 12.45 compare
- 71 Niue 12.43 compare
- 72 Azerbaijan 12.43 compare
- 73 Moldova 12.33 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 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 neonatal mortality rate in South Africa?
- Neonatal mortality rate in South Africa was 12.44 in 2024, according to World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory.
- What is the highest neonatal mortality rate recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 28.48 in 1975.
- What is the lowest neonatal mortality rate recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 11.44 in 2018.
- How does South Africa rank for neonatal mortality rate?
- South Africa ranks 70th out of 200 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 World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory, published as part of Neonatal mortality rate (per 1000 live births). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 50 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO (WHO).