Stillbirth rate in South Africa
South Africa: Stillbirth rate was 1.87 deaths per 100 births in 2023. ▼ Falling
Stillbirth rate in South Africa, 2000–2023
Source: United Nations Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (2025) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in deaths per 100 births.
Analysis
The most recent figure for stillbirth rate in South Africa is 1.87 deaths per 100 births, measured in 2023.
That represents a change of up 0.2% on the previous year and up 10.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, stillbirth rate in South Africa peaked at 2.07 deaths per 100 births in 2000 and was at its lowest, 1.65 deaths per 100 births, in 2017.
South Africa ranks 30th of 196 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 24 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 1.91 deaths per 100 births | 1.8 deaths per 100 births | 2.07 deaths per 100 births | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.69 deaths per 100 births | 1.65 deaths per 100 births | 1.77 deaths per 100 births | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.83 deaths per 100 births | 1.76 deaths per 100 births | 1.87 deaths per 100 births | 4 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 27 Tanzania 1.93 deaths per 100 births compare
- 28 Papua New Guinea 1.92 deaths per 100 births compare
- 29 Burkina Faso 1.89 deaths per 100 births compare
- 31 Benin 1.86 deaths per 100 births compare
- 32 Gambia 1.85 deaths per 100 births compare
- 33 Madagascar 1.84 deaths per 100 births compare
More population data for South Africa
- 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)
- Population growth rate, by level of development 0.2% (2100)
- Total fertility rate vs. contraceptive prevalence 2.21 births per woman (2024)
- Fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception 2.21 births per woman (2024)
- Refugees by country of asylum 71,171 people (2024)
- Total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate 2.21 births per woman (2024)
- Fertility rate vs. Share of people who are religious 2.22 live births per woman (2023)
- Fertility rate accounting for survival until childbearing age 2.07 children per women (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is stillbirth rate in South Africa?
- Stillbirth rate in South Africa was 1.87 deaths per 100 births in 2023, according to United Nations Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (2025) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest stillbirth rate recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 2.07 deaths per 100 births in 2000.
- What is the lowest stillbirth rate recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.65 deaths per 100 births in 2017.
- How does South Africa rank for stillbirth rate?
- South Africa ranks 30th out of 196 countries with data for 2023.
- Is stillbirth rate rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 10.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (2025) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Stillbirth rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
The estimated number of stillbirths, per 100 total births.