Number of youth deaths in South Africa
South Africa: Number of youth deaths was 47,171 deaths in 2024. ▼ Falling
Number of youth deaths in South Africa, 1990–2024
Source: United Nations Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (2025) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in deaths.
Analysis
The most recent figure for number of youth deaths in South Africa is 47,171 deaths, measured in 2024.
The figure is up 0.5% on the previous year and down 14.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of youth deaths in South Africa peaked at 98,662 deaths in 2005 and was at its lowest, 45,896 deaths, in 2020.
That places South Africa 28th out of 199 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 35 years of available data.
Number of youth deaths in South Africa, year by year
| Year | deaths | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 76,208 deaths | — |
| 1991 | 74,145 deaths | -2.7% |
| 1992 | 73,395 deaths | -1.0% |
| 1993 | 73,754 deaths | +0.5% |
| 1994 | 73,855 deaths | +0.1% |
| 1995 | 75,591 deaths | +2.4% |
| 1996 | 78,638 deaths | +4.0% |
| 1997 | 80,072 deaths | +1.8% |
| 1998 | 82,349 deaths | +2.8% |
| 1999 | 85,052 deaths | +3.3% |
| 2000 | 86,853 deaths | +2.1% |
| 2001 | 89,051 deaths | +2.5% |
| 2002 | 91,171 deaths | +2.4% |
| 2003 | 93,999 deaths | +3.1% |
| 2004 | 97,405 deaths | +3.6% |
| 2005 | 98,662 deaths | +1.3% |
| 2006 | 97,634 deaths | -1.0% |
| 2007 | 92,805 deaths | -4.9% |
| 2008 | 86,384 deaths | -6.9% |
| 2009 | 78,614 deaths | -9.0% |
| 2010 | 69,137 deaths | -12.1% |
| 2011 | 62,915 deaths | -9.0% |
| 2012 | 59,798 deaths | -5.0% |
| 2013 | 57,640 deaths | -3.6% |
| 2014 | 55,427 deaths | -3.8% |
| 2015 | 53,058 deaths | -4.3% |
| 2016 | 50,400 deaths | -5.0% |
| 2017 | 48,284 deaths | -4.2% |
| 2018 | 47,100 deaths | -2.5% |
| 2019 | 46,415 deaths | -1.5% |
| 2020 | 45,896 deaths | -1.1% |
| 2021 | 46,025 deaths | +0.3% |
| 2022 | 46,449 deaths | +0.9% |
| 2023 | 46,926 deaths | +1.0% |
| 2024 | 47,171 deaths | +0.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 77,306 deaths | 73,395 deaths | 85,052 deaths | 10 |
| 2000s | 91,258 deaths | 78,614 deaths | 98,662 deaths | 10 |
| 2010s | 55,017 deaths | 46,415 deaths | 69,137 deaths | 10 |
| 2020s | 46,493 deaths | 45,896 deaths | 47,171 deaths | 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 50-54, male, annual growth rate 2.38 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 50-54, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 50-54, male, per capita 0.0221 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 55-59, female, annual growth rate 0.8639 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 55-59, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 55-59, female, per capita 0.0217 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is number of youth deaths in South Africa?
- Number of youth deaths in South Africa was 47,171 deaths in 2024, according to United Nations Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (2025) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest number of youth deaths recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 98,662 deaths in 2005.
- What is the lowest number of youth deaths recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 45,896 deaths in 2020.
- How does South Africa rank for number of youth deaths?
- South Africa ranks 28th out of 199 countries with data for 2024.
- Is number of youth deaths rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 14.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (2025) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Number of youth deaths. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Estimated number of deaths of children aged under fifteen years.