Anemia: share of pregnant women vs. share of children in South Africa
South Africa: Anemia: share of pregnant women vs. share of children was 29.3% in 2023. ▼ Falling
Anemia: share of pregnant women vs. share of children in South Africa, 2000–2023
Source: Global Health Observatory / World Health Statistics - World Health Organization (WHO), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 29.3% for anemia: share of pregnant women vs. share of children in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.7% on the previous year and up 2.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, anemia: share of pregnant women vs. share of children in South Africa peaked at 33.3% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 28.6%, in 2013.
That places South Africa 87th out of 192 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 24 years of available data.
Anemia: share of pregnant women vs. share of children in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 33.3% | — |
| 2001 | 32.9% | -1.2% |
| 2002 | 32.6% | -0.9% |
| 2003 | 32.2% | -1.2% |
| 2004 | 31.8% | -1.2% |
| 2005 | 31.3% | -1.6% |
| 2006 | 30.8% | -1.6% |
| 2007 | 30.3% | -1.6% |
| 2008 | 29.9% | -1.3% |
| 2009 | 29.4% | -1.7% |
| 2010 | 29.1% | -1.0% |
| 2011 | 28.8% | -1.0% |
| 2012 | 28.7% | -0.3% |
| 2013 | 28.6% | -0.3% |
| 2014 | 28.6% | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 28.6% | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 28.7% | +0.3% |
| 2017 | 28.7% | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 28.7% | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 28.8% | +0.3% |
| 2020 | 28.8% | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 28.9% | +0.3% |
| 2022 | 29.1% | +0.7% |
| 2023 | 29.3% | +0.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 31.4% | 29.4% | 33.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 28.7% | 28.6% | 29.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 29.0% | 28.8% | 29.3% | 4 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More gender data for South Africa
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) 17,151 (2030)
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) (0-14), annual growth 0.6591 % change on previous year (2030)
- Population 51,011 (2030)
- Working-age population (UN estimates and projections) 51,011 (2030)
- Population (UN estimates and projections), annual growth rate 1.07 % change on previous year (2030)
- Age population, age 00, female, interpolated 570,099 (2025)
- Age population, age 00, male, interpolated 589,533 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, female, interpolated 570,599 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, male, interpolated 589,626 (2025)
- Age population, age 02, female, interpolated 569,634 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is anemia: share of pregnant women vs. share of children in South Africa?
- Anemia: share of pregnant women vs. share of children in South Africa was 29.3% in 2023, according to Global Health Observatory / World Health Statistics - World Health Organization (WHO), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest anemia: share of pregnant women vs. share of children recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 33.3% in 2000.
- What is the lowest anemia: share of pregnant women vs. share of children recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 28.6% in 2013.
- How does South Africa rank for anemia: share of pregnant women vs. share of children?
- South Africa ranks 87th out of 192 countries with data for 2023.
- Is anemia: share of pregnant women vs. share of children rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 2.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Global Health Observatory / World Health Statistics - World Health Organization (WHO), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Anemia: share of pregnant women vs. share of children. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 24 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Share of pregnant women with anemia vs the share of children aged between six months and five years who have anemia. Anemia is a condition that develops when your blood lacks enough healthy red blood cells or hemoglobin.