Number of infant deaths in South Africa
South Africa: Number of infant deaths was 28,900.0% in 2023. ▼ Falling
Number of infant deaths in South Africa, 1977–2023
Source: World Health Organization - Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for number of infant deaths in South Africa is 28,900.0%, measured in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 47 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.6% on the previous year and down 24.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of infant deaths in South Africa peaked at 98,973.0% in 1977 and was at its lowest, 28,900.0%, in 2023.
South Africa ranks 30th of 199 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 47 years of available data.
Number of infant deaths in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1977 | 98,973.0% | — |
| 1978 | 94,235.0% | -4.8% |
| 1979 | 90,579.0% | -3.9% |
| 1980 | 87,588.0% | -3.3% |
| 1981 | 85,018.0% | -2.9% |
| 1982 | 83,595.0% | -1.7% |
| 1983 | 82,263.0% | -1.6% |
| 1984 | 80,734.0% | -1.9% |
| 1985 | 79,002.0% | -2.1% |
| 1986 | 76,460.0% | -3.2% |
| 1987 | 73,861.0% | -3.4% |
| 1988 | 70,684.0% | -4.3% |
| 1989 | 66,680.0% | -5.7% |
| 1990 | 62,333.0% | -6.5% |
| 1991 | 59,085.0% | -5.2% |
| 1992 | 56,707.0% | -4.0% |
| 1993 | 55,004.0% | -3.0% |
| 1994 | 52,547.0% | -4.5% |
| 1995 | 51,514.0% | -2.0% |
| 1996 | 51,745.0% | +0.4% |
| 1997 | 50,299.0% | -2.8% |
| 1998 | 49,229.0% | -2.1% |
| 1999 | 49,063.0% | -0.3% |
| 2000 | 48,319.0% | -1.5% |
| 2001 | 47,908.0% | -0.9% |
| 2002 | 48,014.0% | +0.2% |
| 2003 | 49,298.0% | +2.7% |
| 2004 | 51,556.0% | +4.6% |
| 2005 | 52,478.0% | +1.8% |
| 2006 | 52,045.0% | -0.8% |
| 2007 | 50,528.0% | -2.9% |
| 2008 | 48,619.0% | -3.8% |
| 2009 | 45,300.0% | -6.8% |
| 2010 | 41,145.0% | -9.2% |
| 2011 | 39,241.0% | -4.6% |
| 2012 | 38,692.0% | -1.4% |
| 2013 | 38,008.0% | -1.8% |
| 2014 | 36,994.0% | -2.7% |
| 2015 | 35,440.0% | -4.2% |
| 2016 | 33,208.0% | -6.3% |
| 2017 | 31,403.0% | -5.4% |
| 2018 | 30,310.0% | -3.5% |
| 2019 | 29,775.0% | -1.8% |
| 2020 | 29,303.0% | -1.6% |
| 2021 | 29,184.0% | -0.4% |
| 2022 | 29,075.0% | -0.4% |
| 2023 | 28,900.0% | -0.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 94,595.7% | 90,579.0% | 98,973.0% | 3 |
| 1980s | 78,588.5% | 66,680.0% | 87,588.0% | 10 |
| 1990s | 53,752.6% | 49,063.0% | 62,333.0% | 10 |
| 2000s | 49,406.5% | 45,300.0% | 52,478.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 35,421.6% | 29,775.0% | 41,145.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 29,115.5% | 28,900.0% | 29,303.0% | 4 |
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 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 number of infant deaths in South Africa?
- Number of infant deaths in South Africa was 28,900.0% in 2023, according to World Health Organization - Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest number of infant deaths recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 98,973.0% in 1977.
- What is the lowest number of infant deaths recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 28,900.0% in 2023.
- How does South Africa rank for number of infant deaths?
- South Africa ranks 30th out of 199 countries with data for 2023.
- Is number of infant deaths rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 24.0%. 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 (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Number of infant deaths. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
The number of infants dying before reaching one year of age.