Trend of Infant Mortality Rate (Per 1,000 Live Births) for South Africa

Updated on March 17, 2026.

According to data from the World Bank, in 2023, the total infant mortality rate per 1,000 live births for South Africa was 24.4. A difference of -0.1 compared to 2022. The most recent figures on male and female infant mortality rates for South Africa were 26.4 and 22.4 respectively in 2023.

You can see similar information for other countries.

The World Bank defines infant mortality rate as "the number of infants dying before reaching one year of age, per 1,000 live births in a given year".

The table below shows the total, male, and female infant mortality rates of South Africa for recent years.

You may also be interested in:
Neonatal Mortality Rate for South Africa

Data Source: World Bank.

Trend of Infant Mortality Rate Per 1K Live Births for South Africa

Total

Male

Female

Trend of Infant Mortality Rate Per 1K Live Births for South Africa

0 of 0

Year	Total	Male	Female
1976	111.4	119.7	102.4
1977	104.8	112.9	96.2
1978	98.7	106.6	90.5
1979	93.1	100.7	85
1980	87.9	95.2	80
1981	82.9	90	75.4
1982	78.6	85.4	71.3
1983	74.6	81.1	67.6
1984	70.9	77.3	64.2
1985	67.4	73.6	60.8
1986	64	69.9	57.7
1987	60.8	66.4	54.8
1988	57.8	63.3	52.1
1989	55.2	60.4	49.6
1990	52.8	57.9	47.5
1991	50.9	55.6	45.9
1992	49.4	53.9	44.6
1993	48.2	52.6	43.6
1994	47.5	51.7	43
1995	46.7	50.8	42.4
1996	46.1	50.1	41.9
1997	45.8	49.6	41.7
1998	45.9	49.7	42
1999	46.4	50.1	42.5
2000	46.9	50.5	43.1
2001	47.6	51.2	43.9
2002	48	51.5	44.3
2003	48.6	52.1	45
2004	49	52.3	45.3
2005	47.9	51.2	44.4
2006	46	49.2	42.6
2007	43.8	46.9	40.6
2008	40.6	43.5	37.6
2009	37.7	40.4	34.8
2010	35.4	38	32.7
2011	33.9	36.4	31.2
2012	33	35.4	30.4
2013	32	34.4	29.5
2014	30.9	33.2	28.4
2015	29.7	31.9	27.3
2016	28.4	30.6	26.1
2017	27.3	29.4	25
2018	26.3	28.3	24.1
2019	25.6	27.6	23.5
2020	25	26.9	22.9
2021	24.7	26.6	22.6
2022	24.5	26.5	22.5
2023	24.4	26.4	22.4