Prevalence of anemia among children (% of children ages 6-59 months) in South Africa
South Africa: Prevalence of anemia among children (% of children ages 6-59 months) was 44.4% in 2019. ▬ Flat
Prevalence of anemia among children in South Africa, 2000–2019
Source: Global Health Observatory Data Repository/World Health Statistics, World Health Organization (WHO). Measured in % of children ages 6-59 months.
Analysis
The most recent figure for prevalence of anemia among children in South Africa is 44.4%, measured in 2019. That is the highest value across all 20 years on record.
That represents a change of up 3.5% on the previous year and up 19.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of anemia among children in South Africa peaked at 44.4% in 2019 and was at its lowest, 34.5%, in 2012.
That places South Africa 53rd out of 190 countries with data for 2019, putting it in the middle of the range.
Prevalence of anemia among children (% of children ages 6-59 months) in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % of children ages 6-59 months | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 41.3% | — |
| 2001 | 41.0% | -0.7% |
| 2002 | 40.7% | -0.7% |
| 2003 | 40.6% | -0.2% |
| 2004 | 40.8% | +0.5% |
| 2005 | 40.8% | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 40.9% | +0.2% |
| 2007 | 40.1% | -2.0% |
| 2008 | 38.9% | -3.0% |
| 2009 | 37.2% | -4.4% |
| 2010 | 35.6% | -4.3% |
| 2011 | 34.6% | -2.8% |
| 2012 | 34.5% | -0.3% |
| 2013 | 35.3% | +2.3% |
| 2014 | 36.6% | +3.7% |
| 2015 | 38.0% | +3.8% |
| 2016 | 39.6% | +4.2% |
| 2017 | 41.2% | +4.0% |
| 2018 | 42.9% | +4.1% |
| 2019 | 44.4% | +3.5% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 44.4% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 25.1%, 1.8× the median. (57 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 44.4% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 58.4%, 76% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 40.2% | 37.2% | 41.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 38.3% | 34.5% | 44.4% | 10 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 50 Afghanistan 44.9% compare
- 51 Bhutan 44.7% compare
- 52 Nepal 44.6% compare
- 54 Cape Verde 44.1% compare
- 55 Botswana 43.3% compare
- 56 Bangladesh 43.1% compare
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 prevalence of anemia among children in South Africa?
- Prevalence of anemia among children in South Africa was 44.4% in 2019, according to Global Health Observatory Data Repository/World Health Statistics, World Health Organization (WHO).
- What is the highest prevalence of anemia among children recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 44.4% in 2019.
- What is the lowest prevalence of anemia among children recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 34.5% in 2012.
- How does South Africa rank for prevalence of anemia among children?
- South Africa ranks 53rd out of 190 countries with data for 2019.
- Is prevalence of anemia among children rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 19.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Global Health Observatory Data Repository/World Health Statistics, World Health Organization (WHO), published as part of Prevalence of anemia among children (% of children ages 6-59 months). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Prevalence of anemia, children ages 6-59 months, is the percentage of children ages 6-59 months whose hemoglobin level is less than 110 grams per liter, adjusted for altitude.