Stillbirth rate in South Africa
South Africa: Stillbirth rate was 1.87 deaths per 100 births in 2023. ▼ Falling
Latest (2023)
1.87 deaths per 100 births
Change on year
up 0.2%
World rank
30th
of 199 countries
All-time high
2.07 deaths per 100 births
in 2000
All-time low
1.65 deaths per 100 births
in 2017
Years of data
24
2000–2023
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 199 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 24 years of available data.
Stillbirth rate in South Africa, year by year
| Year | deaths per 100 births | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 2.07 deaths per 100 births | — |
| 2001 | 2.01 deaths per 100 births | -3.0% |
| 2002 | 1.98 deaths per 100 births | -1.6% |
| 2003 | 1.95 deaths per 100 births | -1.3% |
| 2004 | 1.92 deaths per 100 births | -1.5% |
| 2005 | 1.89 deaths per 100 births | -1.6% |
| 2006 | 1.85 deaths per 100 births | -2.0% |
| 2007 | 1.83 deaths per 100 births | -1.3% |
| 2008 | 1.81 deaths per 100 births | -1.1% |
| 2009 | 1.8 deaths per 100 births | -0.9% |
| 2010 | 1.77 deaths per 100 births | -1.3% |
| 2011 | 1.75 deaths per 100 births | -1.5% |
| 2012 | 1.72 deaths per 100 births | -1.3% |
| 2013 | 1.7 deaths per 100 births | -1.5% |
| 2014 | 1.68 deaths per 100 births | -1.1% |
| 2015 | 1.66 deaths per 100 births | -1.0% |
| 2016 | 1.65 deaths per 100 births | -0.8% |
| 2017 | 1.65 deaths per 100 births | -0.2% |
| 2018 | 1.66 deaths per 100 births | +0.6% |
| 2019 | 1.69 deaths per 100 births | +2.0% |
| 2020 | 1.76 deaths per 100 births | +4.4% |
| 2021 | 1.83 deaths per 100 births | +4.0% |
| 2022 | 1.87 deaths per 100 births | +1.9% |
| 2023 | 1.87 deaths per 100 births | +0.2% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 1.87 deaths per 100 births is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 0.7544 deaths per 100 births, 2.5× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 1.87 deaths per 100 births is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 1.87 deaths per 100 births, 1.0× the median. (48 countries reporting)
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
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.1847 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population long run 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 regions with projections, annual growth rate 0.2264 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development 0.2% (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 5.55 million people (2100)
- Population density 77.75 people per km² (2100)
- World population growth 0.2% (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.0148 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 0.8824 Percent per annum (2030)
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 199 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
Estimated number of stillbirths, per 100 total births.