Number of child deaths in South Africa
South Africa: Number of child deaths was 41,435 deaths in 2024. ▼ Falling
Latest (2024)
41,435 deaths
Change on year
up 0.8%
World rank
28th
of 199 countries
All-time high
90,360 deaths
in 1981
All-time low
39,661 deaths
in 2020
Years of data
44
1981–2024
Number of child deaths in South Africa, 1981–2024
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 child deaths in South Africa is 41,435 deaths, measured in 2024.
The figure is up 0.8% on the previous year and down 12.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of child deaths in South Africa peaked at 90,360 deaths in 1981 and was at its lowest, 39,661 deaths, in 2020.
South Africa ranks 28th of 199 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 44 years of available data.
Number of child deaths in South Africa, year by year
| Year | deaths | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 | 90,360 deaths | — |
| 1982 | 88,682 deaths | -1.9% |
| 1983 | 87,293 deaths | -1.6% |
| 1984 | 85,865 deaths | -1.6% |
| 1985 | 84,215 deaths | -1.9% |
| 1986 | 81,886 deaths | -2.8% |
| 1987 | 79,437 deaths | -3.0% |
| 1988 | 76,389 deaths | -3.8% |
| 1989 | 72,627 deaths | -4.9% |
| 1990 | 68,764 deaths | -5.3% |
| 1991 | 66,224 deaths | -3.7% |
| 1992 | 64,984 deaths | -1.9% |
| 1993 | 64,936 deaths | -0.1% |
| 1994 | 64,608 deaths | -0.5% |
| 1995 | 65,881 deaths | +2.0% |
| 1996 | 68,509 deaths | +4.0% |
| 1997 | 69,566 deaths | +1.5% |
| 1998 | 71,486 deaths | +2.8% |
| 1999 | 73,839 deaths | +3.3% |
| 2000 | 75,213 deaths | +1.9% |
| 2001 | 76,901 deaths | +2.2% |
| 2002 | 78,496 deaths | +2.1% |
| 2003 | 80,882 deaths | +3.0% |
| 2004 | 83,971 deaths | +3.8% |
| 2005 | 85,153 deaths | +1.4% |
| 2006 | 84,359 deaths | -0.9% |
| 2007 | 80,029 deaths | -5.1% |
| 2008 | 74,275 deaths | -7.2% |
| 2009 | 67,219 deaths | -9.5% |
| 2010 | 58,485 deaths | -13.0% |
| 2011 | 53,006 deaths | -9.4% |
| 2012 | 50,579 deaths | -4.6% |
| 2013 | 49,022 deaths | -3.1% |
| 2014 | 47,383 deaths | -3.3% |
| 2015 | 45,526 deaths | -3.9% |
| 2016 | 43,279 deaths | -4.9% |
| 2017 | 41,472 deaths | -4.2% |
| 2018 | 40,508 deaths | -2.3% |
| 2019 | 40,007 deaths | -1.2% |
| 2020 | 39,661 deaths | -0.9% |
| 2021 | 39,970 deaths | +0.8% |
| 2022 | 40,533 deaths | +1.4% |
| 2023 | 41,107 deaths | +1.4% |
| 2024 | 41,435 deaths | +0.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 82,973 deaths | 72,627 deaths | 90,360 deaths | 9 |
| 1990s | 67,880 deaths | 64,608 deaths | 73,839 deaths | 10 |
| 2000s | 78,650 deaths | 67,219 deaths | 85,153 deaths | 10 |
| 2010s | 46,927 deaths | 40,007 deaths | 58,485 deaths | 10 |
| 2020s | 40,541 deaths | 39,661 deaths | 41,435 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 20-24, female, annual growth rate 0.5965 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 20-24, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 20-24, female, per capita 0.0391 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 20-24, male, annual growth rate 0.3802 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 20-24, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 20-24, male, per capita 0.0401 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is number of child deaths in South Africa?
- Number of child deaths in South Africa was 41,435 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 child deaths recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 90,360 deaths in 1981.
- What is the lowest number of child deaths recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 39,661 deaths in 2020.
- How does South Africa rank for number of child deaths?
- South Africa ranks 28th out of 199 countries with data for 2024.
- Is number of child deaths rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 12.6%. 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 child deaths. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Estimated number of deaths of children aged under 5 .