Prevalence of anemia among pregnant women in South Africa
South Africa: Prevalence of anemia among pregnant women was 29.3% in 2023. ▼ Falling
Prevalence of anemia among pregnant women in South Africa, 2000–2023
Source: Global Health Observatory Data Repository/World Health Statistics, World Health Organization (WHO). Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for prevalence of anemia among pregnant women in South Africa is 29.3%, measured in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.7% on the previous year and up 2.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of anemia among pregnant women in South Africa peaked at 33.3% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 28.6%, in 2013.
South Africa ranks 87th 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 pregnant women in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 33.3% | — |
| 2001 | 32.9% | -1.2% |
| 2002 | 32.6% | -0.9% |
| 2003 | 32.2% | -1.2% |
| 2004 | 31.8% | -1.2% |
| 2005 | 31.3% | -1.6% |
| 2006 | 30.8% | -1.6% |
| 2007 | 30.3% | -1.6% |
| 2008 | 29.9% | -1.3% |
| 2009 | 29.4% | -1.7% |
| 2010 | 29.1% | -1.0% |
| 2011 | 28.8% | -1.0% |
| 2012 | 28.7% | -0.3% |
| 2013 | 28.6% | -0.3% |
| 2014 | 28.6% | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 28.6% | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 28.7% | +0.3% |
| 2017 | 28.7% | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 28.7% | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 28.8% | +0.3% |
| 2020 | 28.8% | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 28.9% | +0.3% |
| 2022 | 29.1% | +0.7% |
| 2023 | 29.3% | +0.7% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 29.3% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 26.9%, 1.1× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 29.3% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 44.9%, 65% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 31.4% | 29.4% | 33.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 28.7% | 28.6% | 29.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 29.0% | 28.8% | 29.3% | 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 pregnant women in South Africa?
- Prevalence of anemia among pregnant women in South Africa was 29.3% in 2023, according to Global Health Observatory Data Repository/World Health Statistics, World Health Organization (WHO).
- What is the highest prevalence of anemia among pregnant women recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 33.3% in 2000.
- What is the lowest prevalence of anemia among pregnant women recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 28.6% in 2013.
- How does South Africa rank for prevalence of anemia among pregnant women?
- South Africa ranks 87th out of 192 countries with data for 2023.
- Is prevalence of anemia among pregnant women rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 2.4%. 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 pregnant women (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Prevalence of anemia, pregnant women, is the percentage of pregnant women whose hemoglobin level is less than 110 grams per liter at sea level.