Preterm birth in South Africa
South Africa: Preterm birth was 154,850 in 2020. ▬ Flat
Latest (2020)
154,850
Change on year
down 3.3%
World rank
13th
of 102 countries
All-time high
160,161
in 2019
All-time low
148,895
in 2010
Years of data
11
2010–2020
Preterm birth in South Africa, 2010–2020
Source: World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 154,850 for preterm birth in 2020.
The figure is down 3.3% on the previous year and up 4.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, preterm birth in South Africa peaked at 160,161 in 2019 and was at its lowest, 148,895, in 2010.
South Africa ranks 13th of 102 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 153,448 | 148,895 | 160,161 | 10 |
| 2020s | 154,850 | 154,850 | 154,850 | 1 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More health data for South Africa
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates 1,152 (2090)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 3,333 (2100)
- Deaths in armed conflicts by country 0 (2026)
- Deaths in armed conflicts by region 0 (2026)
- Age population, age 25, male, interpolated 541,701 (2025)
- Age population, age 25, female, interpolated 531,146 (2025)
- Age population, age 24, male, interpolated 530,424 (2025)
- Age population, age 24, female, interpolated 516,548 (2025)
- Age population, age 23, male, interpolated 516,787 (2025)
- Age population, age 23, female, interpolated 501,669 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is preterm birth in South Africa?
- Preterm birth in South Africa was 154,850 in 2020, according to World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory.
- What is the highest preterm birth recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 160,161 in 2019.
- What is the lowest preterm birth recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 148,895 in 2010.
- How does South Africa rank for preterm birth?
- South Africa ranks 13th out of 102 countries with data for 2020.
- Is preterm birth rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 4.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory, published as part of Preterm birth (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 11 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO (WHO).