Number of neonatal deaths by region in South Africa
South Africa: Number of neonatal deaths by region was 14,715 in 2024. ▼ Falling
Number of neonatal deaths by region in South Africa, 1977–2024
Source: UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UNICEF, WHO, UN Population Division), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2024, number of neonatal deaths by region in South Africa stood at 14,715.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.6% on the previous year and up 3.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of neonatal deaths by region in South Africa peaked at 27,852 in 1984 and was at its lowest, 12,757, in 2002.
South Africa ranks 34th of 195 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 48 years of available data.
Number of neonatal deaths by region in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1977 | 26,627 | — |
| 1978 | 26,652 | +0.1% |
| 1979 | 26,822 | +0.6% |
| 1980 | 26,934 | +0.4% |
| 1981 | 27,229 | +1.1% |
| 1982 | 27,667 | +1.6% |
| 1983 | 27,721 | +0.2% |
| 1984 | 27,852 | +0.5% |
| 1985 | 27,817 | -0.1% |
| 1986 | 27,486 | -1.2% |
| 1987 | 27,337 | -0.5% |
| 1988 | 26,485 | -3.1% |
| 1989 | 25,431 | -4.0% |
| 1990 | 24,045 | -5.5% |
| 1991 | 23,513 | -2.2% |
| 1992 | 22,575 | -4.0% |
| 1993 | 22,170 | -1.8% |
| 1994 | 20,288 | -8.5% |
| 1995 | 20,559 | +1.3% |
| 1996 | 19,331 | -6.0% |
| 1997 | 17,728 | -8.3% |
| 1998 | 16,179 | -8.7% |
| 1999 | 15,054 | -7.0% |
| 2000 | 13,716 | -8.9% |
| 2001 | 13,112 | -4.4% |
| 2002 | 12,757 | -2.7% |
| 2003 | 13,055 | +2.3% |
| 2004 | 13,694 | +4.9% |
| 2005 | 14,414 | +5.3% |
| 2006 | 15,095 | +4.7% |
| 2007 | 15,478 | +2.5% |
| 2008 | 16,613 | +7.3% |
| 2009 | 15,706 | -5.5% |
| 2010 | 15,066 | -4.1% |
| 2011 | 14,675 | -2.6% |
| 2012 | 14,441 | -1.6% |
| 2013 | 14,213 | -1.6% |
| 2014 | 14,218 | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 13,907 | -2.2% |
| 2016 | 13,418 | -3.5% |
| 2017 | 13,258 | -1.2% |
| 2018 | 13,306 | +0.4% |
| 2019 | 13,451 | +1.1% |
| 2020 | 13,668 | +1.6% |
| 2021 | 13,957 | +2.1% |
| 2022 | 14,229 | +1.9% |
| 2023 | 14,486 | +1.8% |
| 2024 | 14,715 | +1.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 26,700 | 26,627 | 26,822 | 3 |
| 1980s | 27,196 | 25,431 | 27,852 | 10 |
| 1990s | 20,144 | 15,054 | 24,045 | 10 |
| 2000s | 14,364 | 12,757 | 16,613 | 10 |
| 2010s | 13,995 | 13,258 | 15,066 | 10 |
| 2020s | 14,211 | 13,668 | 14,715 | 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)
- 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)
Frequently asked questions
- What is number of neonatal deaths by region in South Africa?
- Number of neonatal deaths by region in South Africa was 14,715 in 2024, according to UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UNICEF, WHO, UN Population Division), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest number of neonatal deaths by region recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 27,852 in 1984.
- What is the lowest number of neonatal deaths by region recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 12,757 in 2002.
- How does South Africa rank for number of neonatal deaths by region?
- South Africa ranks 34th out of 195 countries with data for 2024.
- Is number of neonatal deaths by region rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 3.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UNICEF, WHO, UN Population Division), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Number of neonatal deaths by region. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
The estimated number of neonates – babies under 28 days old – who die each year.