Under-five deaths (UN IGME estimate, 2024) in South Africa
South Africa: Under-five deaths (UN IGME estimate, 2024) was 41,435 in 2024. ▼ Falling
Latest (2024)
41,435
Change on year
up 0.8%
World rank
28th
of 201 countries
All-time high
90,360
in 1981
All-time low
39,661
in 2020
Years of data
44
1981–2024
Under-five deaths in South Africa, 1981–2024
Source: UNICEF.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 41,435 for under-five deaths in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.8% on the previous year and down 12.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, under-five deaths in South Africa peaked at 90,360 in 1981 and was at its lowest, 39,661, in 2020.
That places South Africa 28th out of 201 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 44 years of available data.
Under-five deaths (UN IGME estimate, 2024) in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 | 90,360 | — |
| 1982 | 88,682 | -1.9% |
| 1983 | 87,293 | -1.6% |
| 1984 | 85,865 | -1.6% |
| 1985 | 84,215 | -1.9% |
| 1986 | 81,886 | -2.8% |
| 1987 | 79,437 | -3.0% |
| 1988 | 76,389 | -3.8% |
| 1989 | 72,627 | -4.9% |
| 1990 | 68,764 | -5.3% |
| 1991 | 66,224 | -3.7% |
| 1992 | 64,984 | -1.9% |
| 1993 | 64,936 | -0.1% |
| 1994 | 64,608 | -0.5% |
| 1995 | 65,881 | +2.0% |
| 1996 | 68,509 | +4.0% |
| 1997 | 69,566 | +1.5% |
| 1998 | 71,486 | +2.8% |
| 1999 | 73,839 | +3.3% |
| 2000 | 75,213 | +1.9% |
| 2001 | 76,901 | +2.2% |
| 2002 | 78,496 | +2.1% |
| 2003 | 80,882 | +3.0% |
| 2004 | 83,971 | +3.8% |
| 2005 | 85,153 | +1.4% |
| 2006 | 84,359 | -0.9% |
| 2007 | 80,029 | -5.1% |
| 2008 | 74,275 | -7.2% |
| 2009 | 67,219 | -9.5% |
| 2010 | 58,485 | -13.0% |
| 2011 | 53,006 | -9.4% |
| 2012 | 50,579 | -4.6% |
| 2013 | 49,022 | -3.1% |
| 2014 | 47,383 | -3.3% |
| 2015 | 45,526 | -3.9% |
| 2016 | 43,279 | -4.9% |
| 2017 | 41,472 | -4.2% |
| 2018 | 40,508 | -2.3% |
| 2019 | 40,007 | -1.2% |
| 2020 | 39,661 | -0.9% |
| 2021 | 39,970 | +0.8% |
| 2022 | 40,533 | +1.4% |
| 2023 | 41,107 | +1.4% |
| 2024 | 41,435 | +0.8% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 41,435 is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 1,440, 28.8× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 41,435 is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 31,761, 1.3× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 82,973 | 72,627 | 90,360 | 9 |
| 1990s | 67,880 | 64,608 | 73,839 | 10 |
| 2000s | 78,650 | 67,219 | 85,153 | 10 |
| 2010s | 46,927 | 40,007 | 58,485 | 10 |
| 2020s | 40,541 | 39,661 | 41,435 | 5 |
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 under-five deaths in South Africa?
- Under-five deaths in South Africa was 41,435 in 2024, according to UNICEF.
- What is the highest under-five deaths recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 90,360 in 1981.
- What is the lowest under-five deaths recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 39,661 in 2020.
- How does South Africa rank for under-five deaths?
- South Africa ranks 28th out of 201 countries with data for 2024.
- Is under-five deaths rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 12.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from UNICEF, published as part of Under-five deaths (UN IGME estimate, 2024). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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