Number of infant deaths, male in South Africa
South Africa: Number of infant deaths, male was 15,705 in 2024. ▼ Falling
Number of infant deaths, male in South Africa, 1977–2024
Source: Estimates developed by the UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UNICEF, WHO, World Bank, UN DESA Population Division) at www.childmortality.org.
Analysis
The most recent figure for number of infant deaths, male in South Africa is 15,705, measured in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 48 years on record.
The figure is down 0.6% on the previous year and down 21.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of infant deaths, male in South Africa peaked at 52,968 in 1977 and was at its lowest, 15,705, in 2024.
South Africa ranks 31st of 197 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 48 years of available data.
Number of infant deaths, male in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1977 | 52,968 | — |
| 1978 | 50,548 | -4.6% |
| 1979 | 48,695 | -3.7% |
| 1980 | 47,183 | -3.1% |
| 1981 | 45,969 | -2.6% |
| 1982 | 45,204 | -1.7% |
| 1983 | 44,533 | -1.5% |
| 1984 | 43,769 | -1.7% |
| 1985 | 42,892 | -2.0% |
| 1986 | 41,627 | -2.9% |
| 1987 | 40,297 | -3.2% |
| 1988 | 38,619 | -4.2% |
| 1989 | 36,434 | -5.7% |
| 1990 | 34,055 | -6.5% |
| 1991 | 32,200 | -5.4% |
| 1992 | 30,837 | -4.2% |
| 1993 | 29,898 | -3.0% |
| 1994 | 28,538 | -4.5% |
| 1995 | 27,968 | -2.0% |
| 1996 | 28,040 | +0.3% |
| 1997 | 27,260 | -2.8% |
| 1998 | 26,649 | -2.2% |
| 1999 | 26,528 | -0.5% |
| 2000 | 26,096 | -1.6% |
| 2001 | 25,810 | -1.1% |
| 2002 | 25,825 | +0.1% |
| 2003 | 26,524 | +2.7% |
| 2004 | 27,744 | +4.6% |
| 2005 | 28,298 | +2.0% |
| 2006 | 28,190 | -0.4% |
| 2007 | 27,489 | -2.5% |
| 2008 | 26,602 | -3.2% |
| 2009 | 24,953 | -6.2% |
| 2010 | 22,776 | -8.7% |
| 2011 | 21,752 | -4.5% |
| 2012 | 21,264 | -2.2% |
| 2013 | 20,730 | -2.5% |
| 2014 | 20,032 | -3.4% |
| 2015 | 19,109 | -4.6% |
| 2016 | 17,919 | -6.2% |
| 2017 | 16,896 | -5.7% |
| 2018 | 16,317 | -3.4% |
| 2019 | 15,959 | -2.2% |
| 2020 | 15,775 | -1.2% |
| 2021 | 15,768 | -0.0% |
| 2022 | 15,797 | +0.2% |
| 2023 | 15,801 | +0.0% |
| 2024 | 15,705 | -0.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 50,737 | 48,695 | 52,968 | 3 |
| 1980s | 42,653 | 36,434 | 47,183 | 10 |
| 1990s | 29,197 | 26,528 | 34,055 | 10 |
| 2000s | 26,753 | 24,953 | 28,298 | 10 |
| 2010s | 19,275 | 15,959 | 22,776 | 10 |
| 2020s | 15,769 | 15,705 | 15,801 | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More education data for South Africa
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 339,638 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 410,708 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 407,696 (2023)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 5.50 million (2023)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 7.52 million (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -1.44 % change on previous year (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.119 units per person (2023)
- Secondary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is number of infant deaths, male in South Africa?
- Number of infant deaths, male in South Africa was 15,705 in 2024, according to Estimates developed by the UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UNICEF, WHO, World Bank, UN DESA Population Division) at www.childmortality.org.
- What is the highest number of infant deaths, male recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 52,968 in 1977.
- What is the lowest number of infant deaths, male recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 15,705 in 2024.
- How does South Africa rank for number of infant deaths, male?
- South Africa ranks 31st out of 197 countries with data for 2024.
- Is number of infant deaths, male rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 21.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Estimates developed by the UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UNICEF, WHO, World Bank, UN DESA Population Division) at www.childmortality.org, published as part of Number of infant deaths, male. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Number of male infants dying before reaching one year of age.