Share of one-year-olds who are vaccinated against polio in South Africa
South Africa: Share of one-year-olds who are vaccinated against polio was 74.0% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Share of one-year-olds who are vaccinated against polio in South Africa, 1983–2024
Source: WHO & UNICEF (2025); UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 74.0% for share of one-year-olds who are vaccinated against polio in 2024.
The figure is down 6.3% on the previous year and down 12.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of one-year-olds who are vaccinated against polio in South Africa peaked at 86.0% in 2021 and was at its lowest, 69.0%, in 2012.
South Africa ranks 157th of 194 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 42 years of available data.
Share of one-year-olds who are vaccinated against polio in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1983 | 80.0% | — |
| 1984 | 76.0% | -5.0% |
| 1985 | 77.0% | +1.3% |
| 1986 | 70.0% | -9.1% |
| 1987 | 75.0% | +7.1% |
| 1988 | 70.0% | -6.7% |
| 1989 | 73.0% | +4.3% |
| 1990 | 76.0% | +4.1% |
| 1991 | 82.0% | +7.9% |
| 1992 | 79.0% | -3.7% |
| 1993 | 81.0% | +2.5% |
| 1994 | 73.0% | -9.9% |
| 1995 | 72.0% | -1.4% |
| 1996 | 73.0% | +1.4% |
| 1997 | 72.0% | -1.4% |
| 1998 | 72.0% | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 71.0% | -1.4% |
| 2000 | 71.0% | +0.0% |
| 2001 | 71.0% | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 70.0% | -1.4% |
| 2003 | 70.0% | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 73.0% | +4.3% |
| 2005 | 75.0% | +2.7% |
| 2006 | 79.0% | +5.3% |
| 2007 | 79.0% | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 77.0% | -2.5% |
| 2009 | 75.0% | -2.6% |
| 2010 | 72.0% | -4.0% |
| 2011 | 71.0% | -1.4% |
| 2012 | 69.0% | -2.8% |
| 2013 | 79.0% | +14.5% |
| 2014 | 85.0% | +7.6% |
| 2015 | 85.0% | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 85.0% | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 84.0% | -1.2% |
| 2018 | 82.0% | -2.4% |
| 2019 | 85.0% | +3.7% |
| 2020 | 84.0% | -1.2% |
| 2021 | 86.0% | +2.4% |
| 2022 | 85.0% | -1.2% |
| 2023 | 79.0% | -7.1% |
| 2024 | 74.0% | -6.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 74.4% | 70.0% | 80.0% | 7 |
| 1990s | 75.1% | 71.0% | 82.0% | 10 |
| 2000s | 74.0% | 70.0% | 79.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 79.7% | 69.0% | 85.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 81.6% | 74.0% | 86.0% | 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 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 share of one-year-olds who are vaccinated against polio in South Africa?
- Share of one-year-olds who are vaccinated against polio in South Africa was 74.0% in 2024, according to WHO & UNICEF (2025); UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of one-year-olds who are vaccinated against polio recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 86.0% in 2021.
- What is the lowest share of one-year-olds who are vaccinated against polio recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 69.0% in 2012.
- How does South Africa rank for share of one-year-olds who are vaccinated against polio?
- South Africa ranks 157th out of 194 countries with data for 2024.
- Is share of one-year-olds who are vaccinated against polio rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 12.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from WHO & UNICEF (2025); UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of one-year-olds who are vaccinated against polio. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of one-year-olds who have had the third dose of either the oral or inactivated polio vaccine in a given year.