Under-five deaths - UN IGME estimates (projection) in South Africa
South Africa: Under-five deaths - UN IGME estimates (projection) was 41,435 in 2024. ▼ Falling
Latest (2024)
41,435
Change on year
up 0.8%
World rank
28th
of 200 countries
All-time high
85,153
in 2005
All-time low
39,661
in 2020
Years of data
35
1990–2024
Under-five deaths - UN IGME estimates in South Africa, 1990–2024
Source: UNICEF.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 41,435 for under-five deaths - un igme estimates in 2024.
That represents a change of up 0.8% on the previous year and down 12.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, under-five deaths - un igme estimates in South Africa peaked at 85,153 in 2005 and was at its lowest, 39,661, in 2020.
That places South Africa 28th out of 200 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 35 years of available data.
Under-five deaths - UN IGME estimates (projection) in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 68,764 | — |
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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)
- 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 under-five deaths - un igme estimates in South Africa?
- Under-five deaths - un igme estimates in South Africa was 41,435 in 2024, according to UNICEF.
- What is the highest under-five deaths - un igme estimates recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 85,153 in 2005.
- What is the lowest under-five deaths - un igme estimates recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 39,661 in 2020.
- How does South Africa rank for under-five deaths - un igme estimates?
- South Africa ranks 28th out of 200 countries with data for 2024.
- Is under-five deaths - un igme estimates 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 estimates (projection). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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