Mortality rate, infant in South Africa
South Africa: Mortality rate, infant was 24.4 per 1,000 live births in 2023. ▼ Falling
Latest (2023)
24.4 per 1,000 live births
Change on year
down 0.4%
World rank
58th
of 195 countries
All-time high
111.4 per 1,000 live births
in 1976
All-time low
24.4 per 1,000 live births
in 2023
Years of data
48
1976–2023
Mortality rate, infant in South Africa, 1976–2023
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in per 1,000 live births.
Analysis
The most recent figure for mortality rate, infant in South Africa is 24.4 per 1,000 live births, measured in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 48 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.4% on the previous year and down 23.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, mortality rate, infant in South Africa peaked at 111.4 per 1,000 live births in 1976 and was at its lowest, 24.4 per 1,000 live births, in 2023.
South Africa ranks 58th of 195 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 48 years of available data.
Mortality rate, infant in South Africa, year by year
| Year | per 1,000 live births | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1976 | 111.4 per 1,000 live births | — |
| 1977 | 104.8 per 1,000 live births | -5.9% |
| 1978 | 98.7 per 1,000 live births | -5.8% |
| 1979 | 93.1 per 1,000 live births | -5.7% |
| 1980 | 87.9 per 1,000 live births | -5.6% |
| 1981 | 82.9 per 1,000 live births | -5.7% |
| 1982 | 78.6 per 1,000 live births | -5.2% |
| 1983 | 74.6 per 1,000 live births | -5.1% |
| 1984 | 70.9 per 1,000 live births | -5.0% |
| 1985 | 67.4 per 1,000 live births | -4.9% |
| 1986 | 64 per 1,000 live births | -5.0% |
| 1987 | 60.8 per 1,000 live births | -5.0% |
| 1988 | 57.8 per 1,000 live births | -4.9% |
| 1989 | 55.2 per 1,000 live births | -4.5% |
| 1990 | 52.8 per 1,000 live births | -4.3% |
| 1991 | 50.9 per 1,000 live births | -3.6% |
| 1992 | 49.4 per 1,000 live births | -2.9% |
| 1993 | 48.2 per 1,000 live births | -2.4% |
| 1994 | 47.5 per 1,000 live births | -1.5% |
| 1995 | 46.7 per 1,000 live births | -1.7% |
| 1996 | 46.1 per 1,000 live births | -1.3% |
| 1997 | 45.8 per 1,000 live births | -0.7% |
| 1998 | 45.9 per 1,000 live births | +0.2% |
| 1999 | 46.4 per 1,000 live births | +1.1% |
| 2000 | 46.9 per 1,000 live births | +1.1% |
| 2001 | 47.6 per 1,000 live births | +1.5% |
| 2002 | 48 per 1,000 live births | +0.8% |
| 2003 | 48.6 per 1,000 live births | +1.3% |
| 2004 | 49 per 1,000 live births | +0.8% |
| 2005 | 47.9 per 1,000 live births | -2.2% |
| 2006 | 46 per 1,000 live births | -4.0% |
| 2007 | 43.8 per 1,000 live births | -4.8% |
| 2008 | 40.6 per 1,000 live births | -7.3% |
| 2009 | 37.7 per 1,000 live births | -7.1% |
| 2010 | 35.4 per 1,000 live births | -6.1% |
| 2011 | 33.9 per 1,000 live births | -4.2% |
| 2012 | 33 per 1,000 live births | -2.7% |
| 2013 | 32 per 1,000 live births | -3.0% |
| 2014 | 30.9 per 1,000 live births | -3.4% |
| 2015 | 29.7 per 1,000 live births | -3.9% |
| 2016 | 28.4 per 1,000 live births | -4.4% |
| 2017 | 27.3 per 1,000 live births | -3.9% |
| 2018 | 26.3 per 1,000 live births | -3.7% |
| 2019 | 25.6 per 1,000 live births | -2.7% |
| 2020 | 25 per 1,000 live births | -2.3% |
| 2021 | 24.7 per 1,000 live births | -1.2% |
| 2022 | 24.5 per 1,000 live births | -0.8% |
| 2023 | 24.4 per 1,000 live births | -0.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 102 per 1,000 live births | 93.1 per 1,000 live births | 111.4 per 1,000 live births | 4 |
| 1980s | 70.01 per 1,000 live births | 55.2 per 1,000 live births | 87.9 per 1,000 live births | 10 |
| 1990s | 47.97 per 1,000 live births | 45.8 per 1,000 live births | 52.8 per 1,000 live births | 10 |
| 2000s | 45.61 per 1,000 live births | 37.7 per 1,000 live births | 49 per 1,000 live births | 10 |
| 2010s | 30.25 per 1,000 live births | 25.6 per 1,000 live births | 35.4 per 1,000 live births | 10 |
| 2020s | 24.65 per 1,000 live births | 24.4 per 1,000 live births | 25 per 1,000 live births | 4 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More population data for South Africa
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate 0.2264 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -0.7997 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate 0.2264 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.1847 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 73,530 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 0.8824 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.0148 % change on previous year (2100)
- World population growth 0.2% (2100)
- Population density 77.75 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 5.55 million people (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is mortality rate, infant in South Africa?
- Mortality rate, infant in South Africa was 24.4 per 1,000 live births in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest mortality rate, infant recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 111.4 per 1,000 live births in 1976.
- What is the lowest mortality rate, infant recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 24.4 per 1,000 live births in 2023.
- How does South Africa rank for mortality rate, infant?
- South Africa ranks 58th out of 195 countries with data for 2023.
- Is mortality rate, infant rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 23.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Mortality rate, infant (per 1,000 live births). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release