Nurses and midwives in South Africa
South Africa: Nurses and midwives was 6.39 per 1,000 people in 2022. ◆ Volatile
Nurses and midwives in South Africa, 1998–2022
Source: Global Health Workforce Statistics, World Health Organization (WHO). Measured in per 1,000 people.
Analysis
In 2022, nurses and midwives in South Africa stood at 6.39 per 1,000 people. That is the highest value across all 24 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 534.2% on the previous year and up 485.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, nurses and midwives in South Africa peaked at 6.39 per 1,000 people in 2022 and was at its lowest, 0.675 per 1,000 people, in 2001.
That places South Africa 54th out of 188 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Nurses and midwives in South Africa, year by year
| Year | per 1,000 people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 0.708 per 1,000 people | — |
| 1999 | 0.705 per 1,000 people | -0.4% |
| 2000 | 0.687 per 1,000 people | -2.6% |
| 2001 | 0.675 per 1,000 people | -1.7% |
| 2002 | 0.677 per 1,000 people | +0.3% |
| 2003 | 0.692 per 1,000 people | +2.2% |
| 2004 | 0.72 per 1,000 people | +4.0% |
| 2005 | 0.749 per 1,000 people | +4.0% |
| 2006 | 0.786 per 1,000 people | +4.9% |
| 2007 | 0.803 per 1,000 people | +2.2% |
| 2008 | 0.855 per 1,000 people | +6.5% |
| 2009 | 0.929 per 1,000 people | +8.7% |
| 2010 | 1 per 1,000 people | +7.8% |
| 2011 | 1.05 per 1,000 people | +4.5% |
| 2012 | 1.09 per 1,000 people | +4.4% |
| 2013 | 1.17 per 1,000 people | +6.9% |
| 2014 | 1.2 per 1,000 people | +3.1% |
| 2015 | 1.24 per 1,000 people | +3.0% |
| 2016 | 1.31 per 1,000 people | +5.5% |
| 2017 | 1.29 per 1,000 people | -1.0% |
| 2018 | 1.2 per 1,000 people | -7.0% |
| 2019 | 1.08 per 1,000 people | -9.9% |
| 2020 | 1.01 per 1,000 people | -7.1% |
| 2022 | 6.39 per 1,000 people | +534.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 0.7065 per 1,000 people | 0.705 per 1,000 people | 0.708 per 1,000 people | 2 |
| 2000s | 0.7573 per 1,000 people | 0.675 per 1,000 people | 0.929 per 1,000 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.16 per 1,000 people | 1 per 1,000 people | 1.31 per 1,000 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.7 per 1,000 people | 1.01 per 1,000 people | 6.39 per 1,000 people | 2 |
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 75-79, female, annual growth rate 7.34 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 75-79, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 75-79, female, per capita 0.0067 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 75-79, male, annual growth rate 8.95 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 75-79, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 75-79, male, per capita 0.0039 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is nurses and midwives in South Africa?
- Nurses and midwives in South Africa was 6.39 per 1,000 people in 2022, according to Global Health Workforce Statistics, World Health Organization (WHO).
- What is the highest nurses and midwives recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 6.39 per 1,000 people in 2022.
- What is the lowest nurses and midwives recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.675 per 1,000 people in 2001.
- How does South Africa rank for nurses and midwives?
- South Africa ranks 54th out of 188 countries with data for 2022.
- Is nurses and midwives rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 485.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Global Health Workforce Statistics, World Health Organization (WHO), published as part of Nurses and midwives (per 1,000 people). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 24 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Nurses and midwives include professional nurses, professional midwives, auxiliary nurses, auxiliary midwives, enrolled nurses, enrolled midwives and other associated personnel, such as dental nurses and primary care nurses.