Under-five deaths in South Africa
South Africa: Under-five deaths was 41,435 in 2024. ▼ Falling
Latest (2024)
41,435
Change on year
up 0.8%
World rank
29th
of 213 countries
All-time high
85,153
in 2005
All-time low
39,661
in 2020
Years of data
25
2000–2024
Under-five deaths in South Africa, 2000–2024
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 41,435 for under-five deaths in 2024.
The figure is up 0.8% on the previous year and down 12.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, under-five deaths in South Africa peaked at 85,153 in 2005 and was at its lowest, 39,661, in 2020.
South Africa ranks 29th of 213 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 25 years of available data.
Under-five deaths in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 75,213 | — |
| 2001 | 76,901 | +2.2% |
| 2002 | 78,496 | +2.1% |
| 2003 | 80,882 | +3.0% |
| 2004 | 83,971 | +3.8% |
| 2005 | 85,153 | +1.4% |
| 2006 | 84,359 | -0.9% |
| 2007 | 80,029 | -5.1% |
| 2008 | 74,275 | -7.2% |
| 2009 | 67,219 | -9.5% |
| 2010 | 58,485 | -13.0% |
| 2011 | 53,006 | -9.4% |
| 2012 | 50,579 | -4.6% |
| 2013 | 49,022 | -3.1% |
| 2014 | 47,383 | -3.3% |
| 2015 | 45,526 | -3.9% |
| 2016 | 43,279 | -4.9% |
| 2017 | 41,472 | -4.2% |
| 2018 | 40,508 | -2.3% |
| 2019 | 40,007 | -1.2% |
| 2020 | 39,661 | -0.9% |
| 2021 | 39,970 | +0.8% |
| 2022 | 40,533 | +1.4% |
| 2023 | 41,107 | +1.4% |
| 2024 | 41,435 | +0.8% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 41,435 is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 1,440, 28.8× the median. (56 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 41,435 is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 31,720, 1.3× the median. (45 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 78,650 | 67,219 | 85,153 | 10 |
| 2010s | 46,927 | 40,007 | 58,485 | 10 |
| 2020s | 40,541 | 39,661 | 41,435 | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More development goals data for South Africa
- Red List Index 0.8693 index (2025)
- Number of refugees per 100,000 population, by country of origin 1.8 per 100,000 people (2025)
- Manufacturing value added per capita 651.49 constant US$ (2025)
- Number of transboundary breeds 105 (2025)
- Number of transboundary breeds (not extinct) 101 (2025)
- Number of transboundary breeds with unknown risk status 33 (2025)
- Number of local breeds with unknown risk status 40 (2025)
- Number of local breeds (not extinct) 56 (2025)
- Number of local breeds kept in the country 61 (2025)
- Infant deaths 28,570 (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is under-five deaths in South Africa?
- Under-five deaths in South Africa was 41,435 in 2024, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
- What is the highest under-five deaths recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 85,153 in 2005.
- What is the lowest under-five deaths recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 39,661 in 2020.
- How does South Africa rank for under-five deaths?
- South Africa ranks 29th out of 213 countries with data for 2024.
- Is under-five deaths rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 12.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database, published as part of Under-five deaths (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 25 observations, free to reuse under UN SDG Global Database (open, attribution requested).