In 2023, the infant mortality rate in South Africa remained nearly unchanged at around 24.4 deaths per 1,000 live births. But still, the infant mortality rate reached its lowest value of the observation period in 2023. The infant mortality rate refers to the number of infants who do not survive past the first year of life, expressed as a value per 1,000 births.Find more statistics on other topics about South Africa with key insights such as total life expectancy at birth, total fertility rate, and fertility rate of women aged between 15 and 19 years old.

UNICEF's country profile for South Africa, including under-five mortality rates, child health, education and sanitation data.

In the mid-20th century, the infant mortality rate of South Africa was estimated to be just over 130 deaths per thousand live births, meaning that almost one in seven infants born at that time would not survive past their first birthday. Infant mortality in South Africa would steadily decline for most of the late-1900s, falling to just over forty deaths per thousand live births by the early 1990s. However, with the outbreak of the the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the late 1990s, infant mortality would gradually rise in the country until improvements in HIV treatment and prevention would allow for infant mortality to decline from 2005 onwards. As South Africa continues to improve access to healthcare, it is estimated that, in 2020, over 97 percent of all infants will make it past their first birthday.

South Africa ZA: Mortality Rate: Under-5: Male: per 1000 Live Births data was reported at 47.700 Ratio in 2016. This records a decrease from the previous number of 48.500 Ratio for 2015. South Africa ZA: Mortality Rate: Under-5: Male: per 1000 Live Births data is updated yearly, averaging 58.300 Ratio from Dec 1990 (Median) to 2016, with 5 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 72.100 Ratio in 2000 and a record low of 47.700 Ratio in 2016. South Africa ZA: Mortality Rate: Under-5: Male: per 1000 Live Births data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s South Africa – Table ZA.World Bank: Health Statistics. Under-five mortality rate, male is the probability per 1,000 that a newborn male baby will die before reaching age five, if subject to male age-specific mortality rates of the specified year.; ; Estimates Developed by the UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UNICEF, WHO, World Bank, UN DESA Population Division) at www.childmortality.org.; Weighted Average; Given that data on the incidence and prevalence of diseases are frequently unavailable, mortality rates are often used to identify vulnerable populations. Moreover, they are among the indicators most frequently used to compare socioeconomic development across countries. Under-five mortality rates are higher for boys than for girls in countries in which parental gender preferences are insignificant. Under-five mortality captures the effect of gender discrimination better than infant mortality does, as malnutrition and medical interventions have more significant impacts to this age group. Where female under-five mortality is higher, girls are likely to have less access to resources than boys.

Mortality rate, infant, female (per 1,000 live births) in South Africa was reported at 22.4 % in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. South Africa - Mortality rate, infant, female (per 1,000 live births) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on July of 2025.

In 2023, the under-five child mortality rate in Southern Africa was highest in Mozambique with 61.65 deaths per one thousand live births. Lesotho followed, with 58.93 deaths per one thousand live births. The under five mortality rate, also known as the child mortality rate, refers to the number of newborns who do not survive past the first five years of life. This is generally expressed as a value per 1,000 live births, and child mortality also includes neonatal mortality (deaths within the first 28 days of life) and infant mortality (deaths within the first year of life).

Mortality rate, infant (per 1,000 live births) in South Africa was reported at 24.4 % in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. South Africa - Mortality rate, infant (per 1,000 live births) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on July of 2025.

South Africa ZA: Mortality Rate: Infant: Male: per 1000 Live Births data was reported at 37.900 Ratio in 2016. This records a decrease from the previous number of 39.400 Ratio for 2015. South Africa ZA: Mortality Rate: Infant: Male: per 1000 Live Births data is updated yearly, averaging 41.400 Ratio from Dec 1990 (Median) to 2016, with 5 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 51.100 Ratio in 2000 and a record low of 37.900 Ratio in 2016. South Africa ZA: Mortality Rate: Infant: Male: per 1000 Live Births data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s South Africa – Table ZA.World Bank: Health Statistics. Infant mortality rate, male is the number of male infants dying before reaching one year of age, per 1,000 male live births in a given year.; ; Estimates developed by the UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UNICEF, WHO, World Bank, UN DESA Population Division) at www.childmortality.org.; Weighted Average; Given that data on the incidence and prevalence of diseases are frequently unavailable, mortality rates are often used to identify vulnerable populations. Moreover, they are among the indicators most frequently used to compare socioeconomic development across countries. Under-five mortality rates are higher for boys than for girls in countries in which parental gender preferences are insignificant. Under-five mortality captures the effect of gender discrimination better than infant mortality does, as malnutrition and medical interventions have more significant impacts to this age group. Where female under-five mortality is higher, girls are likely to have less access to resources than boys.

Mortality rate, infant, male (per 1,000 live births) in South Africa was reported at 26.4 % in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. South Africa - Mortality rate, infant, male (per 1,000 live births) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on June of 2025.

This statistic shows the 20 countries* with the highest infant mortality rate in 2024. An estimated 101.3 infants per 1,000 live births died in the first year of life in Afghanistan in 2024. Infant and child mortality Infant mortality usually refers to the death of children younger than one year. Child mortality, which is often used synonymously with infant mortality, is the death of children younger than five. Among the main causes are pneumonia, diarrhea – which causes dehydration – and infections in newborns, with malnutrition also posing a severe problem. As can be seen above, most countries with a high infant mortality rate are developing countries or emerging countries, most of which are located in Africa. Good health care and hygiene are crucial in reducing child mortality; among the countries with the lowest infant mortality rate are exclusively developed countries, whose inhabitants usually have access to clean water and comprehensive health care. Access to vaccinations, antibiotics and a balanced nutrition also help reducing child mortality in these regions. In some countries, infants are killed if they turn out to be of a certain gender. India, for example, is known as a country where a lot of girls are aborted or killed right after birth, as they are considered to be too expensive for poorer families, who traditionally have to pay a costly dowry on the girl’s wedding day. Interestingly, the global mortality rate among boys is higher than that for girls, which could be due to the fact that more male infants are actually born than female ones. Other theories include a stronger immune system in girls, or more premature births among boys.

The child mortality rate in Africa has steadily declined over the past seven decades. Between 1950 and 1955, child mortality was estimated at 311 deaths per thousand births, meaning that almost one third of all children born in these years did not make it to their fifth birthday. By 2020, this number has fallen significantly, to an estimated 71 deaths per thousand births in 2020. While the reduction rate varies on a country-by-country basis, the overall decline can be attributed in large part to the expansion of healthcare services, improvements in nutrition and access to clean drinking water, and the implementation of large scale immunization campaigns across the continent. The temporary slowdown in the 1990s has been attributed in part to rapid urbanization of many parts of the continent that coincided with poor economic performance, resulting in the creation of overcrowded slums with poor access to health and sanitation services. Despite significant improvements in the continent-wide averages, there remains a significant imbalance in the continent, with Sub-Saharan countries experiencing much higher child mortality rates than those in North Africa.

In 2023, the crude birth rate in South Africa decreased by 0.3 live births per 1,000 inhabitants (-1.57 percent) compared to 2022. This marks the lowest rate during the observed period. The crude birth rate is the annual number of live births divided by the total population, expressed per 1,000 people.Find more statistics on other topics about South Africa with key insights such as total fertility rate, fertility rate of women aged between 15 and 19 years old, and infant mortality rate.

The death rate in South Africa decreased by *** deaths per 1,000 inhabitants (***** percent) in 2023 in comparison to the previous year. The crude death rate is the annual number of deaths in a given population, expressed per 1,000 people. When looked at in unison with the crude birth rate, the rate of natural increase can be determined.Find more statistics on other topics about South Africa with key insights such as crude birth rate, fertility rate of women aged between 15 and 19 years old, and total fertility rate.

In 2023, the under-five child mortality rate in East Africa was highest in Somalia, with 104.02 deaths per one thousand live births. South Sudan followed, with 98.73 deaths per one thousand live births. The under five mortality rate, also known as the child mortality rate, refers to the number of newborns who do not survive past the first five years of life. This is generally expressed as a value per 1,000 live births. Child mortality also includes neonatal mortality (deaths within the first 28 days of life) and infant mortality (deaths within the first year of life).

Graph and download economic data for Crude Birth Rate for South Africa (SPDYNCBRTINZAF) from 1960 to 2023 about birth, South Africa, crude, and rate.

Abstract

This dataset contains statistics on deaths in South Africa in 2009. The registration of deaths in South Africa is regulated by the Births and Deaths Registration Act, 51 of 1992. The South African Department of Home Affairs (DHA) is responsible for the registration of deaths in South Africa. The data is collected with two instruments: The death register and the medical certificate in respect of death. The staff of the DHA Registrar of Deaths section fills in the former while the medical practitioner attending to the death completes the latter. Causes of death are coded by the Department of Home Affairs according to the tenth revision of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10) ICD-10, as required by the World Health Organization for their member countries. The data is used by the Department of Home Affairs to update the Population Register. The forms are sent to Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) for their use for statistical purposes. From the two forms sent to Stats SA, the following data items of the deceased are extracted: place of residence, place of death, date of death, month and year of registration, sex, marital status, occupation, underlying cause of death, whether or not the death was certified by a medical practitioner, and whether or not the deceased died in a health institution or nursing home. From 1991 death notifications do not require data on population group, and therefore this dataset includes death data for all population groups. This dataset excludes 2010 deaths that were not registered, and late registrations which would not have been available to Stats SA in time for the production of the dataset.

Geographic coverage

National coverage

Analysis unit

Individuals

Universe

The data covers all deaths that occurred in 2009 and registered at the Department of Home Affairs.

Kind of data

Administrative records data [adm]

Mode of data collection

Other [oth]

Research instrument

The data is collected with notification / death register / still birth instrument.

Abstract

The Recorded Live Births (RLB) dataset provides information on all registered live births in South Africa. The RLB dataset is part of a regular series of cumulative releases that is published by Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) and based on data collected through the civil registration system. RLB 1998-2023 is the latest release in the series, which replaces and includes the data of the previous release (i.e. RLB 1998-2023 includes the data from RLB 1998-2022). The main objective of this dataset is to outline emerging trends and differentials in birth occurrence and registration, by selected socio-demographic and geographic characteristics, in South Africa over time. Reliable birth statistics are necessary for population health assessment, health policy, service planning and programme evaluation. These data are particularly critical for planning, implementing and monitoring development policies and programmes such as the National Development Plan (NDP) in South Africa, Agenda 2063 at regional level and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at international level.

Geographic coverage

This dataset has national coverage.

Analysis unit

Individuals

Universe

This dataset is based on information on birth occurences from the South African civil registration system. It covers all birth notification forms from the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) for births that occurred from 1998-2023 and that were registered between January 2023 and February 2024. The dataset excludes all births that occurred in South Africa but where the parents were non-South African citizens or not permanent residents.

Kind of data

Administrative records

Mode of data collection

Other

Research instrument

The form used to record live births is the Notice of Birth form of the Department of Home Affairs (Form DHA-24). Previously there were three forms used:

Form BI-24 (for births registered within the first year) Form BI-24/1 (for births registered between a year and 14 years) Form BI-24/15 (for births registered after 15 years or more)

Data appraisal

The Statistics South Africa metadata document mentions two birth forms, however this seems incorrect. There is only one form used, the DHA-24.

In 2022, the state of Mississippi had the highest infant mortality rate in the United States, with around 9.11 deaths per 1,000 live births. Infant mortality is the death of an infant before the age of one. The countries with the lowest infant mortality rates worldwide are Slovenia, Singapore, and Iceland. The countries with the highest infant mortality rates include Afghanistan, Somalia, and the Central African Republic. Causes of infant mortality Rates and causes of infant mortality are different depending on the country and region. However, the leading causes of neonatal deaths include preterm birth complications, intrapartum-related events, and sepsis. The leading causes of death among children aged 1 to 59 months are pneumonia, diarrhea, and injury. In the United States The infant mortality rate in the United States has decreased over the past few decades, reaching a low of 5.4 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2021. The most common causes of infant death in the United States are congenital malformations, low birth weight, and sudden infant death syndrome. In 2022, congenital malformations accounted for around 108 infant deaths per 100,000 live births.

Abstract

The Demographic and Health Survey is mainly concerned with the determination of fertility, infant mortality rates and closely related issues. Questions surrounding respondent’s background, reproduction, contraception, health and breastfeeding, marriage, fertility preferences, and husband’s background and woman’s work were asked. This study consists of two datasets, one household dataset and the other an individual dataset, the respondent being a female of reproductive age that has already given birth or who is married or exposed to pregnancy. Females qualifying for the individual interview schedule were chosen from the responses to household (cover) questionnaire.

Geographic coverage

The survey had national coverage

Analysis unit

Households and individuals

Universe

The universe of the survey was female housheold members aged 12 to 49, who had given birth or were pregnant, or had been/were married or in a "steady" relationship.

Kind of data

Sample survey data

Sampling procedure

Random samples of clusters of households, representative of the main lifestyles in every participating state or region were selected.

Mode of data collection

Face-to-face [f2f]

Research instrument

Structured interview schedule/questionnaire.

South Africa ZA: Completeness of Infant Death Reporting data was reported at 78.213 % in 2008. This records an increase from the previous number of 76.955 % for 2006. South Africa ZA: Completeness of Infant Death Reporting data is updated yearly, averaging 77.584 % from Dec 2006 (Median) to 2008, with 2 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 78.213 % in 2008 and a record low of 76.955 % in 2006. South Africa ZA: Completeness of Infant Death Reporting data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s South Africa – Table ZA.World Bank.WDI: Health Statistics. Completeness of infant death reporting is the number of infant deaths reported by national statistics authorities to the United Nations Statistics Division's Demography Yearbook divided by the number of infant deaths estimated by the United Nations Population Division.; ; The United Nations Statistics Division's Population and Vital Statistics Report and the United Nations Population Division's World Population Prospects.; ;