Number of neonatal deaths in South Africa
South Africa: Number of neonatal deaths was 14,715 in 2024. ▼ Falling
Latest (2024)
14,715
Change on year
up 1.6%
World rank
34th
of 197 countries
All-time high
27,852
in 1984
All-time low
12,757
in 2002
Years of data
48
1977–2024
Number of neonatal deaths in South Africa, 1977–2024
Source: UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation, UN Children's Fund (UNICEF).
Analysis
The most recent figure for number of neonatal deaths in South Africa is 14,715, measured in 2024.
The figure is up 1.6% on the previous year and up 3.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of neonatal deaths in South Africa peaked at 27,852 in 1984 and was at its lowest, 12,757, in 2002.
South Africa ranks 34th of 197 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 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)
- Population ages 65-69, male, annual growth rate 2.84 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 65-69, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 65-69, male, per capita 0.0116 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 70-74, female, annual growth rate 4.91 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 70-74, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 70-74, female, per capita 0.0115 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is number of neonatal deaths in South Africa?
- Number of neonatal deaths in South Africa was 14,715 in 2024, according to UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation, UN Children's Fund (UNICEF).
- What is the highest number of neonatal deaths recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 27,852 in 1984.
- What is the lowest number of neonatal deaths recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 12,757 in 2002.
- How does South Africa rank for number of neonatal deaths?
- South Africa ranks 34th out of 197 countries with data for 2024.
- Is number of neonatal deaths 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, UN Children's Fund (UNICEF), published as part of Number of neonatal deaths. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Number of neonates dying before reaching 28 days of age.