Number of child deaths per woman in South Africa
South Africa: Number of child deaths per woman was 0.0792 under-five deaths per woman in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Number of child deaths per woman in South Africa, 1974–2024
Source: Gapminder (2015); UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (2025) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in under-five deaths per woman.
Analysis
The most recent figure for number of child deaths per woman in South Africa is 0.0792 under-five deaths per woman, measured in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 51 years on record.
That represents a change of down 0.4% on the previous year and down 17.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of child deaths per woman in South Africa peaked at 0.7007 under-five deaths per woman in 1974 and was at its lowest, 0.0792 under-five deaths per woman, in 2024.
That places South Africa 57th out of 200 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 0.5798 under-five deaths per woman | 0.4759 under-five deaths per woman | 0.7007 under-five deaths per woman | 6 |
| 1980s | 0.3388 under-five deaths per woman | 0.2393 under-five deaths per woman | 0.4467 under-five deaths per woman | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.1887 under-five deaths per woman | 0.1719 under-five deaths per woman | 0.2164 under-five deaths per woman | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.1802 under-five deaths per woman | 0.1422 under-five deaths per woman | 0.2004 under-five deaths per woman | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.0962 under-five deaths per woman | 0.0833 under-five deaths per woman | 0.1229 under-five deaths per woman | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.08 under-five deaths per woman | 0.0792 under-five deaths per woman | 0.0814 under-five deaths per woman | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 54 Tajikistan 0.0855 under-five deaths per woman compare
- 55 Botswana 0.0809 under-five deaths per woman compare
- 56 Marshall Islands 0.0801 under-five deaths per woman compare
- 58 Myanmar 0.0757 under-five deaths per woman compare
- 59 Philippines 0.0712 under-five deaths per woman compare
- 60 Solomon Islands 0.069 under-five deaths per woman compare
More reference data data for South Africa
- Fertility rate vs. Human Development Index 2.22 live births per woman (2023)
- Fertility rate: births per woman 2.22 live births per woman (2023)
- Fertility rate: births per woman 2.22 live births per woman (2023)
- Human Development Index 0.741 (2023)
- Rule of Law - Governance score 57.27 0-100 (2024)
- Rule of Law - Governance estimate 0.0177 approx. -2.5 to +2.5 (2024)
- Voice and Accountability - Governance estimate 0.6073 approx. -2.5 to +2.5 (2024)
- Voice and Accountability - Governance score 67.48 0-100 (2024)
- Political Stability - Governance score 55.35 0-100 (2024)
- Political Stability - Governance estimate -0.6171 approx. -2.5 to +2.5 (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is number of child deaths per woman in South Africa?
- Number of child deaths per woman in South Africa was 0.0792 under-five deaths per woman in 2024, according to Gapminder (2015); UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (2025) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest number of child deaths per woman recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 0.7007 under-five deaths per woman in 1974.
- What is the lowest number of child deaths per woman recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0792 under-five deaths per woman in 2024.
- How does South Africa rank for number of child deaths per woman?
- South Africa ranks 57th out of 200 countries with data for 2024.
- Is number of child deaths per woman rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 17.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Gapminder (2015); UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (2025) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Number of child deaths per woman. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
The fertility rate (average number of children per woman) multiplied by the under-five mortality rate (probability of dying before age five).