Vitamin A supplementation coverage rate in South Africa

South Africa: Vitamin A supplementation coverage rate was 41.0% in 2023. ▲ Rising

Latest (2023)
41.0%
Change on year
down 6.8%
World rank
36th
of 63 countries
All-time high
50.0%
in 2016
All-time low
0.0%
in 2004
Years of data
14
2004–2023

Vitamin A supplementation coverage rate in South Africa, 2004–2023

010203040502004201320232004: 0 % of children ages 6-59 months2005: 29 % of children ages 6-59 months2006: 27 % of children ages 6-59 months2008: 39 % of children ages 6-59 months2011: 44 % of children ages 6-59 months2013: 42 % of children ages 6-59 months2016: 50 % of children ages 6-59 months2017: 47 % of children ages 6-59 months2018: 50 % of children ages 6-59 months2019: 50 % of children ages 6-59 months2020: 39 % of children ages 6-59 months2021: 42 % of children ages 6-59 months2022: 44 % of children ages 6-59 months2023: 41 % of children ages 6-59 months

Source: UNICEF Global Databases, UN Children's Fund (UNICEF). Measured in % of children ages 6-59 months.

Analysis

The most recent figure for vitamin a supplementation coverage rate in South Africa is 41.0%, measured in 2023.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 6.8% on the previous year and down 2.4% over ten years.

Over the whole period, vitamin a supplementation coverage rate in South Africa peaked at 50.0% in 2016 and was at its lowest, 0.0%, in 2004.

South Africa ranks 36th of 63 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 14 years of available data.

Vitamin A supplementation coverage rate in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for Vitamin A supplementation coverage rate (% of children ages 6-59 months) in South Africa, 2004 to 2023.
Year % of children ages 6-59 months Change
2004 0.0%
2005 29.0%
2006 27.0% -6.9%
2008 39.0% +44.4%
2011 44.0% +12.8%
2013 42.0% -4.5%
2016 50.0% +19.0%
2017 47.0% -6.0%
2018 50.0% +6.4%
2019 50.0% +0.0%
2020 39.0% -22.0%
2021 42.0% +7.7%
2022 44.0% +4.8%
2023 41.0% -6.8%

South Africa compared with similar countries

  • South Africa's 41.0% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 8.0%, 5.1× the median. (5 countries reporting)
  • South Africa's 41.0% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 57.0%, 72% of the median. (45 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 23.8% 0.0% 39.0% 4
2010s 47.2% 42.0% 50.0% 6
2020s 41.5% 39.0% 44.0% 4

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 33 India 54.0% compare
  2. 34 Eswatini 51.0% compare
  3. 35 Ghana 44.0% compare
  4. 37 Uganda 38.0% compare
  5. 38 Kiribati 37.0% compare
  6. 38 Zimbabwe 37.0% compare

See the full ranking of 79 places →

More health data for South Africa

All data for South Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is vitamin a supplementation coverage rate in South Africa?
Vitamin a supplementation coverage rate in South Africa was 41.0% in 2023, according to UNICEF Global Databases, UN Children's Fund (UNICEF).
What is the highest vitamin a supplementation coverage rate recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 50.0% in 2016.
What is the lowest vitamin a supplementation coverage rate recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 0.0% in 2004.
How does South Africa rank for vitamin a supplementation coverage rate?
South Africa ranks 36th out of 63 countries with data for 2023.
Is vitamin a supplementation coverage rate rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is down 2.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this South Africa data come from?
The figures come from UNICEF Global Databases, UN Children's Fund (UNICEF), published as part of Vitamin A supplementation coverage rate (% of children ages 6-59 months). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Vitamin A supplementation coverage rate in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on UNICEF Global Databases, UN Children's Fund (UNICEF). Retrieved 15 September 2026, from https://health.statizoid.com/stat/vitamin-a-supplementation-coverage-rate-percent-of-children-ages-6-59-months/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Vitamin A supplementation coverage rate (% of children ages 6-59 months)
Unit
% of children ages 6-59 months
Source
UNICEF Global Databases, UN Children's Fund (UNICEF)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
79 places, 1,594 data points, 2000–2023
Last refreshed

Vitamin A supplementation coverage rate refers to the percentage of children ages 6-59 months old receiving two high-dose vitamin A supplements in a calendar year.