Prevalence of anemia among non-pregnant women in South Africa
South Africa: Prevalence of anemia among non-pregnant women was 31.3% in 2023. ▼ Falling
Prevalence of anemia among non-pregnant women in South Africa, 2000–2023
Source: Global Health Observatory Data Repository/World Health Statistics, World Health Organization (WHO). Measured in % of women ages 15-49.
Analysis
In 2023, prevalence of anemia among non-pregnant women in South Africa stood at 31.3%.
The figure is up 3.0% on the previous year and up 18.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of anemia among non-pregnant women in South Africa peaked at 33.0% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 26.3%, in 2012.
South Africa ranks 63rd of 192 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 24 years of available data.
Prevalence of anemia among non-pregnant women in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % of women ages 15-49 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 33.0% | — |
| 2001 | 32.3% | -2.1% |
| 2002 | 31.7% | -1.9% |
| 2003 | 31.0% | -2.2% |
| 2004 | 30.4% | -1.9% |
| 2005 | 29.7% | -2.3% |
| 2006 | 29.0% | -2.4% |
| 2007 | 28.3% | -2.4% |
| 2008 | 27.6% | -2.5% |
| 2009 | 27.1% | -1.8% |
| 2010 | 26.6% | -1.8% |
| 2011 | 26.4% | -0.8% |
| 2012 | 26.3% | -0.4% |
| 2013 | 26.4% | +0.4% |
| 2014 | 26.6% | +0.8% |
| 2015 | 26.8% | +0.8% |
| 2016 | 27.2% | +1.5% |
| 2017 | 27.6% | +1.5% |
| 2018 | 28.0% | +1.4% |
| 2019 | 28.5% | +1.8% |
| 2020 | 29.0% | +1.8% |
| 2021 | 29.7% | +2.4% |
| 2022 | 30.4% | +2.4% |
| 2023 | 31.3% | +3.0% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 31.3% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 22.6%, 1.4× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 31.3% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 39.0%, 80% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 30.0% | 27.1% | 33.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 27.0% | 26.3% | 28.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 30.1% | 29.0% | 31.3% | 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)
- 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 non-pregnant women in South Africa?
- Prevalence of anemia among non-pregnant women in South Africa was 31.3% in 2023, according to Global Health Observatory Data Repository/World Health Statistics, World Health Organization (WHO).
- What is the highest prevalence of anemia among non-pregnant women recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 33.0% in 2000.
- What is the lowest prevalence of anemia among non-pregnant women recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 26.3% in 2012.
- How does South Africa rank for prevalence of anemia among non-pregnant women?
- South Africa ranks 63rd out of 192 countries with data for 2023.
- Is prevalence of anemia among non-pregnant women rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 18.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- 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 non-pregnant women (% of women ages 15-49). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 24 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Prevalence of anemia, non-pregnant women, is the percentage of non-pregnant women whose hemoglobin level is less than 120 grams per liter at sea level.