Prevalence of anemia among children in South Africa
South Africa: Prevalence of anemia among children 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 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)
- 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)
- 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)
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.