Youth mortality rate in South Africa
South Africa: Youth mortality rate was 4.02 in 2024. ▼ Falling
Latest (2024)
4.02
Change on year
up 0.5%
World rank
53rd
of 195 countries
All-time high
9.23
in 2004
All-time low
3.94
in 2021
Years of data
38
1987–2024
Youth mortality rate in South Africa, 1987–2024
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for youth mortality rate in South Africa is 4.02, measured in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.5% on the previous year and down 14.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, youth mortality rate in South Africa peaked at 9.23 in 2004 and was at its lowest, 3.94, in 2021.
That places South Africa 53rd out of 195 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 38 years of available data.
Youth mortality rate in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1987 | 7.44 | — |
| 1988 | 7.13 | -4.1% |
| 1989 | 6.88 | -3.5% |
| 1990 | 6.51 | -5.4% |
| 1991 | 6.39 | -1.7% |
| 1992 | 6.36 | -0.5% |
| 1993 | 6.42 | +0.9% |
| 1994 | 6.56 | +2.1% |
| 1995 | 6.72 | +2.5% |
| 1996 | 6.91 | +2.9% |
| 1997 | 7.14 | +3.2% |
| 1998 | 7.46 | +4.5% |
| 1999 | 7.79 | +4.4% |
| 2000 | 8.09 | +3.9% |
| 2001 | 8.46 | +4.5% |
| 2002 | 8.76 | +3.5% |
| 2003 | 9.04 | +3.2% |
| 2004 | 9.23 | +2.1% |
| 2005 | 9.16 | -0.7% |
| 2006 | 8.88 | -3.1% |
| 2007 | 8.3 | -6.5% |
| 2008 | 7.52 | -9.4% |
| 2009 | 6.78 | -9.8% |
| 2010 | 6.05 | -10.7% |
| 2011 | 5.52 | -8.9% |
| 2012 | 5.19 | -5.9% |
| 2013 | 4.96 | -4.5% |
| 2014 | 4.73 | -4.6% |
| 2015 | 4.52 | -4.5% |
| 2016 | 4.34 | -4.0% |
| 2017 | 4.19 | -3.4% |
| 2018 | 4.08 | -2.6% |
| 2019 | 4 | -1.8% |
| 2020 | 3.95 | -1.4% |
| 2021 | 3.94 | -0.1% |
| 2022 | 3.97 | +0.6% |
| 2023 | 4 | +0.9% |
| 2024 | 4.02 | +0.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 7.15 | 6.88 | 7.44 | 3 |
| 1990s | 6.83 | 6.36 | 7.79 | 10 |
| 2000s | 8.42 | 6.78 | 9.23 | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.76 | 4 | 6.05 | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.98 | 3.94 | 4.02 | 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)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates 1,152 (2090)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 3,333 (2100)
- Population ages 0-14, total, annual growth rate 0.5293 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, total, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, total, per capita 0.2572 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 15-64, female, annual growth rate 1.11 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 15-64, female, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 15-64, female, per capita 0.3433 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is youth mortality rate in South Africa?
- Youth mortality rate in South Africa was 4.02 in 2024, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest youth mortality rate recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 9.23 in 2004.
- What is the lowest youth mortality rate recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.94 in 2021.
- How does South Africa rank for youth mortality rate?
- South Africa ranks 53rd out of 195 countries with data for 2024.
- Is youth mortality rate rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 14.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Youth mortality rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 38 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).