Number of infant deaths unwpp in South Africa
South Africa: Number of infant deaths unwpp was 33,080 in 2023. ▼ Falling
Latest (2023)
33,080
Change on year
down 8.8%
World rank
27th
of 236 countries
All-time high
76,415
in 1972
All-time low
25,776
in 2020
Years of data
74
1950–2023
Number of infant deaths unwpp in South Africa, 1950–2023
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for number of infant deaths unwpp in South Africa is 33,080, measured in 2023.
The figure is down 8.8% on the previous year and down 6.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of infant deaths unwpp in South Africa peaked at 76,415 in 1972 and was at its lowest, 25,776, in 2020.
South Africa ranks 27th of 236 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 74 years of available data.
Number of infant deaths unwpp in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 73,819 | — |
| 1951 | 73,037 | -1.1% |
| 1952 | 72,501 | -0.7% |
| 1953 | 71,704 | -1.1% |
| 1954 | 70,622 | -1.5% |
| 1955 | 69,441 | -1.7% |
| 1956 | 68,175 | -1.8% |
| 1957 | 67,001 | -1.7% |
| 1958 | 66,091 | -1.4% |
| 1959 | 65,251 | -1.3% |
| 1960 | 64,829 | -0.6% |
| 1961 | 65,042 | +0.3% |
| 1962 | 65,738 | +1.1% |
| 1963 | 66,779 | +1.6% |
| 1964 | 67,898 | +1.7% |
| 1965 | 69,045 | +1.7% |
| 1966 | 70,957 | +2.8% |
| 1967 | 72,586 | +2.3% |
| 1968 | 73,816 | +1.7% |
| 1969 | 74,926 | +1.5% |
| 1970 | 75,602 | +0.9% |
| 1971 | 76,237 | +0.8% |
| 1972 | 76,415 | +0.2% |
| 1973 | 76,245 | -0.2% |
| 1974 | 75,518 | -1.0% |
| 1975 | 74,534 | -1.3% |
| 1976 | 73,367 | -1.6% |
| 1977 | 71,870 | -2.0% |
| 1978 | 70,542 | -1.8% |
| 1979 | 69,658 | -1.3% |
| 1980 | 68,765 | -1.3% |
| 1981 | 68,634 | -0.2% |
| 1982 | 68,699 | +0.1% |
| 1983 | 68,111 | -0.9% |
| 1984 | 67,504 | -0.9% |
| 1985 | 66,256 | -1.8% |
| 1986 | 65,086 | -1.8% |
| 1987 | 64,078 | -1.5% |
| 1988 | 61,566 | -3.9% |
| 1989 | 59,114 | -4.0% |
| 1990 | 56,102 | -5.1% |
| 1991 | 54,594 | -2.7% |
| 1992 | 53,216 | -2.5% |
| 1993 | 53,112 | -0.2% |
| 1994 | 50,595 | -4.7% |
| 1995 | 53,030 | +4.8% |
| 1996 | 53,708 | +1.3% |
| 1997 | 53,589 | -0.2% |
| 1998 | 53,598 | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 54,390 | +1.5% |
| 2000 | 46,996 | -13.6% |
| 2001 | 47,944 | +2.0% |
| 2002 | 52,282 | +9.0% |
| 2003 | 55,186 | +5.6% |
| 2004 | 55,005 | -0.3% |
| 2005 | 57,932 | +5.3% |
| 2006 | 57,110 | -1.4% |
| 2007 | 56,301 | -1.4% |
| 2008 | 55,725 | -1.0% |
| 2009 | 47,304 | -15.1% |
| 2010 | 41,191 | -12.9% |
| 2011 | 33,306 | -19.1% |
| 2012 | 32,772 | -1.6% |
| 2013 | 35,468 | +8.2% |
| 2014 | 35,220 | -0.7% |
| 2015 | 33,407 | -5.1% |
| 2016 | 30,491 | -8.7% |
| 2017 | 27,447 | -10.0% |
| 2018 | 30,342 | +10.5% |
| 2019 | 32,673 | +7.7% |
| 2020 | 25,776 | -21.1% |
| 2021 | 32,998 | +28.0% |
| 2022 | 36,275 | +9.9% |
| 2023 | 33,080 | -8.8% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 33,080 is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 1,444, 22.9× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 33,080 is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 19,032, 1.7× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Number of infant deaths unwpp in South Africa changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | +28.0% | 25,776 | 32,998 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 69,764 | 65,251 | 73,819 | 10 |
| 1960s | 69,162 | 64,829 | 74,926 | 10 |
| 1970s | 73,999 | 69,658 | 76,415 | 10 |
| 1980s | 65,781 | 59,114 | 68,765 | 10 |
| 1990s | 53,593 | 50,595 | 56,102 | 10 |
| 2000s | 53,178 | 46,996 | 57,932 | 10 |
| 2010s | 33,232 | 27,447 | 41,191 | 10 |
| 2020s | 32,032 | 25,776 | 36,275 | 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)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 3,333 (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -0.5504 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.045 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 0.0003 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per capita 0.046 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is number of infant deaths unwpp in South Africa?
- Number of infant deaths unwpp in South Africa was 33,080 in 2023, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest number of infant deaths unwpp recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 76,415 in 1972.
- What is the lowest number of infant deaths unwpp recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 25,776 in 2020.
- How does South Africa rank for number of infant deaths unwpp?
- South Africa ranks 27th out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is number of infant deaths unwpp rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 6.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Number of infant deaths unwpp. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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