Number of under-five deaths, per capita in South Africa
South Africa: Number of under-five deaths, per capita was 0.0006 units per person in 2024. ▼ Falling
Number of under-five deaths, per capita in South Africa, 1981–2024
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in units per person.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 0.0006 units per person for number of under-five deaths, per capita in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 44 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.5% on the previous year and down 24.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of under-five deaths, per capita in South Africa peaked at 0.003 units per person in 1981 and was at its lowest, 0.0006 units per person, in 2024.
That places South Africa 55th out of 197 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 44 years of available data.
Number of under-five deaths, per capita in South Africa, year by year
| Year | units per person | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 | 0.003 units per person | — |
| 1982 | 0.0028 units per person | -5.2% |
| 1983 | 0.0027 units per person | -4.9% |
| 1984 | 0.0025 units per person | -5.0% |
| 1985 | 0.0024 units per person | -5.1% |
| 1986 | 0.0023 units per person | -5.8% |
| 1987 | 0.0021 units per person | -6.0% |
| 1988 | 0.002 units per person | -6.7% |
| 1989 | 0.0018 units per person | -7.7% |
| 1990 | 0.0017 units per person | -7.9% |
| 1991 | 0.0016 units per person | -5.9% |
| 1992 | 0.0015 units per person | -3.6% |
| 1993 | 0.0015 units per person | -2.0% |
| 1994 | 0.0015 units per person | -2.1% |
| 1995 | 0.0015 units per person | +0.7% |
| 1996 | 0.0015 units per person | +2.6% |
| 1997 | 0.0015 units per person | +0.3% |
| 1998 | 0.0015 units per person | +1.5% |
| 1999 | 0.0016 units per person | +2.2% |
| 2000 | 0.0016 units per person | +0.9% |
| 2001 | 0.0016 units per person | +1.4% |
| 2002 | 0.0016 units per person | +1.1% |
| 2003 | 0.0017 units per person | +2.0% |
| 2004 | 0.0017 units per person | +2.8% |
| 2005 | 0.0017 units per person | +0.4% |
| 2006 | 0.0017 units per person | -1.9% |
| 2007 | 0.0016 units per person | -6.1% |
| 2008 | 0.0015 units per person | -8.3% |
| 2009 | 0.0013 units per person | -10.6% |
| 2010 | 0.0011 units per person | -14.0% |
| 2011 | 0.001 units per person | -10.5% |
| 2012 | 0.0009 units per person | -6.0% |
| 2013 | 0.0009 units per person | -4.7% |
| 2014 | 0.0009 units per person | -4.9% |
| 2015 | 0.0008 units per person | -5.8% |
| 2016 | 0.0008 units per person | -5.8% |
| 2017 | 0.0007 units per person | -4.8% |
| 2018 | 0.0007 units per person | -4.0% |
| 2019 | 0.0007 units per person | -2.9% |
| 2020 | 0.0007 units per person | -2.5% |
| 2021 | 0.0006 units per person | -0.8% |
| 2022 | 0.0006 units per person | -0.0% |
| 2023 | 0.0007 units per person | +0.1% |
| 2024 | 0.0006 units per person | -0.5% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 0.0006 units per person is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 0.0002 units per person, 3.2× the median. (59 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 0.0006 units per person is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 0.0016 units per person, 40% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 0.0024 units per person | 0.0018 units per person | 0.003 units per person | 9 |
| 1990s | 0.0015 units per person | 0.0015 units per person | 0.0017 units per person | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.0016 units per person | 0.0013 units per person | 0.0017 units per person | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.0008 units per person | 0.0007 units per person | 0.0011 units per person | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.0007 units per person | 0.0006 units per person | 0.0007 units per person | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 52 Turkmenistan 0.0008 units per person compare
- 53 Botswana 0.0008 units per person compare
- 54 Tajikistan 0.0007 units per person compare
- 56 Lao People's Democratic Republic 0.0006 units per person compare
- 57 Myanmar 0.0006 units per person compare
- 58 Bangladesh 0.0006 units per person compare
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 under-five deaths, per capita in South Africa?
- Number of under-five deaths, per capita in South Africa was 0.0006 units per person in 2024, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest number of under-five deaths, per capita recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 0.003 units per person in 1981.
- What is the lowest number of under-five deaths, per capita recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0006 units per person in 2024.
- How does South Africa rank for number of under-five deaths, per capita?
- South Africa ranks 55th out of 197 countries with data for 2024.
- Is number of under-five deaths, per capita 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 Statizoid (derived), published as part of Number of under-five deaths, per capita. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 44 observations, free to reuse under Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page.
How this figure is calculated
Number of under-five deaths divided by Population, total, matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.
Number of under-five deaths ÷ Population, total
Computed from
- Number of under-five deaths UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation, UN Children's Fund (UNICEF)
- Population, total World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN)
Statizoid computes this series; the underlying measurements belong to the publishers named above. The arithmetic is applied to every country and year where both inputs report, and nothing is estimated unless the page says so.
About this data
Number of under-five deaths divided by Population, total, matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.