Under-five mortality rate, by sex in South Africa
South Africa: Under-five mortality rate, by sex was 35.06 in 2024. ▼ Falling
Latest (2024)
35.06
Change on year
up 0.9%
World rank
55th
of 212 countries
All-time high
80.69
in 2004
All-time low
33.89
in 2020
Years of data
25
2000–2024
Under-five mortality rate, by sex in South Africa, 2000–2024
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 35.06 for under-five mortality rate, by sex in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.9% on the previous year and down 11.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, under-five mortality rate, by sex in South Africa peaked at 80.69 in 2004 and was at its lowest, 33.89, in 2020.
That places South Africa 55th out of 212 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 25 years of available data.
Under-five mortality rate, by sex in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 71.37 | — |
| 2001 | 74.55 | +4.5% |
| 2002 | 76.97 | +3.2% |
| 2003 | 79.2 | +2.9% |
| 2004 | 80.69 | +1.9% |
| 2005 | 79.75 | -1.2% |
| 2006 | 76.87 | -3.6% |
| 2007 | 71.23 | -7.3% |
| 2008 | 63.74 | -10.5% |
| 2009 | 56.85 | -10.8% |
| 2010 | 50.25 | -11.6% |
| 2011 | 45.58 | -9.3% |
| 2012 | 43.05 | -5.5% |
| 2013 | 41.39 | -3.9% |
| 2014 | 39.75 | -4.0% |
| 2015 | 38.2 | -3.9% |
| 2016 | 36.84 | -3.6% |
| 2017 | 35.71 | -3.1% |
| 2018 | 34.89 | -2.3% |
| 2019 | 34.33 | -1.6% |
| 2020 | 33.89 | -1.3% |
| 2021 | 33.97 | +0.2% |
| 2022 | 34.31 | +1.0% |
| 2023 | 34.76 | +1.3% |
| 2024 | 35.06 | +0.9% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 35.06 is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 13, 2.7× the median. (56 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 35.06 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 49, 72% of the median. (45 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 73.12 | 56.85 | 80.69 | 10 |
| 2010s | 40 | 34.33 | 50.25 | 10 |
| 2020s | 34.4 | 33.89 | 35.06 | 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 mortality rate, by sex in South Africa?
- Under-five mortality rate, by sex in South Africa was 35.06 in 2024, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
- What is the highest under-five mortality rate, by sex recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 80.69 in 2004.
- What is the lowest under-five mortality rate, by sex recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 33.89 in 2020.
- How does South Africa rank for under-five mortality rate, by sex?
- South Africa ranks 55th out of 212 countries with data for 2024.
- Is under-five mortality rate, by sex rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 11.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database, published as part of Under-five mortality rate, by sex (deaths per 1,000 live births). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 25 observations, free to reuse under UN SDG Global Database (open, attribution requested).