The Universal Health Coverage (UHC) Service Coverage Index in South Africa
South Africa: The Universal Health Coverage (UHC) Service Coverage Index was 74 in 2023. ▲ Rising
The Universal Health Coverage (UHC) Service Coverage Index in South Africa, 2000–2023
Source: World Health Organization – Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for the universal health coverage (uhc) service coverage index in South Africa is 74, measured in 2023.
The figure is down 1.3% on the previous year and up 13.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, the universal health coverage (uhc) service coverage index in South Africa peaked at 75 in 2022 and was at its lowest, 54, in 2000.
That places South Africa 86th out of 195 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 24 years of available data.
The Universal Health Coverage (UHC) Service Coverage Index in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 54 | — |
| 2001 | 54 | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 55 | +1.9% |
| 2003 | 56 | +1.8% |
| 2004 | 57 | +1.8% |
| 2005 | 58 | +1.8% |
| 2006 | 59 | +1.7% |
| 2007 | 60 | +1.7% |
| 2008 | 61 | +1.7% |
| 2009 | 62 | +1.6% |
| 2010 | 63 | +1.6% |
| 2011 | 64 | +1.6% |
| 2012 | 65 | +1.6% |
| 2013 | 65 | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 67 | +3.1% |
| 2015 | 68 | +1.5% |
| 2016 | 68 | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 68 | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 67 | -1.5% |
| 2019 | 67 | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 68 | +1.5% |
| 2021 | 72 | +5.9% |
| 2022 | 75 | +4.2% |
| 2023 | 74 | -1.3% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 74 is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 71.5, 1.0× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 74 is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 48, 1.5× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 57.6 | 54 | 62 | 10 |
| 2010s | 66.2 | 63 | 68 | 10 |
| 2020s | 72.25 | 68 | 75 | 4 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 86 Jamaica 74 compare
- 86 Jordan 74 compare
- 86 Kyrgyzstan 74 compare
- 86 San Marino 74 compare
- 86 Suriname 74 compare
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)
- 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)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per capita 0.046 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is the universal health coverage (uhc) service coverage index in South Africa?
- The universal health coverage (uhc) service coverage index in South Africa was 74 in 2023, according to World Health Organization – Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest the universal health coverage (uhc) service coverage index recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 75 in 2022.
- What is the lowest the universal health coverage (uhc) service coverage index recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 54 in 2000.
- How does South Africa rank for the universal health coverage (uhc) service coverage index?
- South Africa ranks 86th out of 195 countries with data for 2023.
- Is the universal health coverage (uhc) service coverage index rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 13.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from World Health Organization – Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of The Universal Health Coverage (UHC) Service Coverage Index. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 24 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
The Universal Health Coverage (UHC) Service Coverage Index is measured on a scale from 0 (worst) to 100 (best) based on the average coverage of essential services including reproductive, maternal, newborn and child health, infectious diseases, non-communicable diseases and service capacity and access.