Prevalence of anaemia in pregnant women (aged 15-49) in South Africa
South Africa: Prevalence of anaemia in pregnant women (aged 15-49) was 17.8% in 2019. ▬ Flat
Latest (2019)
17.8%
Change on year
up 0.6%
World rank
91st
of 194 countries
All-time high
18.0%
in 2000
All-time low
16.9%
in 2010
Years of data
20
2000–2019
Prevalence of anaemia in pregnant women (aged 15-49) in South Africa, 2000–2019
Source: World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory.
Analysis
In 2019, prevalence of anaemia in pregnant women (aged 15-49) in South Africa stood at 17.8%.
That represents a change of up 0.6% on the previous year and up 4.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of anaemia in pregnant women (aged 15-49) in South Africa peaked at 18.0% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 16.9%, in 2010.
South Africa ranks 91st of 194 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Prevalence of anaemia in pregnant women (aged 15-49) in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 18.0% | — |
| 2001 | 17.9% | -0.6% |
| 2002 | 17.9% | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 17.8% | -0.6% |
| 2004 | 17.7% | -0.6% |
| 2005 | 17.6% | -0.6% |
| 2006 | 17.4% | -1.1% |
| 2007 | 17.3% | -0.6% |
| 2008 | 17.1% | -1.2% |
| 2009 | 17.0% | -0.6% |
| 2010 | 16.9% | -0.6% |
| 2011 | 16.9% | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 16.9% | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 17.0% | +0.6% |
| 2014 | 17.1% | +0.6% |
| 2015 | 17.3% | +1.2% |
| 2016 | 17.4% | +0.6% |
| 2017 | 17.5% | +0.6% |
| 2018 | 17.7% | +1.1% |
| 2019 | 17.8% | +0.6% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 17.8% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 16.9%, 1.1× the median. (57 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 17.8% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 23.4%, 76% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 17.6% | 17.0% | 18.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 17.2% | 16.9% | 17.8% | 10 |
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 prevalence of anaemia in pregnant women (aged 15-49) in South Africa?
- Prevalence of anaemia in pregnant women (aged 15-49) in South Africa was 17.8% in 2019, according to World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory.
- What is the highest prevalence of anaemia in pregnant women (aged 15-49) recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 18.0% in 2000.
- What is the lowest prevalence of anaemia in pregnant women (aged 15-49) recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 16.9% in 2010.
- How does South Africa rank for prevalence of anaemia in pregnant women (aged 15-49)?
- South Africa ranks 91st out of 194 countries with data for 2019.
- Is prevalence of anaemia in pregnant women (aged 15-49) rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 4.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory, published as part of Prevalence of anaemia in pregnant women (aged 15-49) (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 20 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO (WHO).