Polio number unvaccinated in South Africa
South Africa: Polio number unvaccinated was 251,724 in 2023. ▼ Falling
Latest (2023)
251,724
Change on year
up 38.0%
World rank
21st
of 194 countries
All-time high
349,242
in 1988
All-time low
164,790
in 2021
Years of data
41
1983–2023
Polio number unvaccinated in South Africa, 1983–2023
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 251,724 for polio number unvaccinated in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 38.0% on the previous year and up 6.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, polio number unvaccinated in South Africa peaked at 349,242 in 1988 and was at its lowest, 164,790, in 2021.
That places South Africa 21st out of 194 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 41 years of available data.
Polio number unvaccinated in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1983 | 206,719 | — |
| 1984 | 256,230 | +24.0% |
| 1985 | 251,083 | -2.0% |
| 1986 | 337,474 | +34.4% |
| 1987 | 288,999 | -14.4% |
| 1988 | 349,242 | +20.8% |
| 1989 | 313,963 | -10.1% |
| 1990 | 276,110 | -12.1% |
| 1991 | 202,293 | -26.7% |
| 1992 | 233,600 | +15.5% |
| 1993 | 208,929 | -10.6% |
| 1994 | 294,644 | +41.0% |
| 1995 | 301,781 | +2.4% |
| 1996 | 291,486 | -3.4% |
| 1997 | 305,450 | +4.8% |
| 1998 | 295,409 | -3.3% |
| 1999 | 296,284 | +0.3% |
| 2000 | 291,611 | -1.6% |
| 2001 | 284,581 | -2.4% |
| 2002 | 287,703 | +1.1% |
| 2003 | 285,540 | -0.8% |
| 2004 | 259,975 | -9.0% |
| 2005 | 250,264 | -3.7% |
| 2006 | 219,045 | -12.5% |
| 2007 | 226,594 | +3.4% |
| 2008 | 253,327 | +11.8% |
| 2009 | 286,590 | +13.1% |
| 2010 | 324,169 | +13.1% |
| 2011 | 326,265 | +0.6% |
| 2012 | 347,340 | +6.5% |
| 2013 | 236,937 | -31.8% |
| 2014 | 171,191 | -27.7% |
| 2015 | 174,659 | +2.0% |
| 2016 | 175,290 | +0.4% |
| 2017 | 180,122 | +2.8% |
| 2018 | 198,345 | +10.1% |
| 2019 | 167,598 | -15.5% |
| 2020 | 183,124 | +9.3% |
| 2021 | 164,790 | -10.0% |
| 2022 | 182,448 | +10.7% |
| 2023 | 251,724 | +38.0% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 251,724 is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 4,188, 60.1× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 251,724 is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 59,256, 4.2× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 286,244 | 206,719 | 349,242 | 7 |
| 1990s | 270,599 | 202,293 | 305,450 | 10 |
| 2000s | 264,523 | 219,045 | 291,611 | 10 |
| 2010s | 230,192 | 167,598 | 347,340 | 10 |
| 2020s | 195,522 | 164,790 | 251,724 | 4 |
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)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 3,333 (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)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per capita 0.046 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is polio number unvaccinated in South Africa?
- Polio number unvaccinated in South Africa was 251,724 in 2023, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest polio number unvaccinated recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 349,242 in 1988.
- What is the lowest polio number unvaccinated recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 164,790 in 2021.
- How does South Africa rank for polio number unvaccinated?
- South Africa ranks 21st out of 194 countries with data for 2023.
- Is polio number unvaccinated rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 6.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Polio number unvaccinated. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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