Prevalence of anaemia in women aged 15-49 in South Africa
South Africa: Prevalence of anaemia in women aged 15-49 was 31.2 in 2023. ▼ Falling
Prevalence of anaemia in women aged 15-49 in South Africa, 2000–2023
Source: UNICEF.
Analysis
In 2023, prevalence of anaemia in women aged 15-49 in South Africa stood at 31.2.
That represents a change of up 2.6% on the previous year and up 17.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of anaemia in women aged 15-49 in South Africa peaked at 33 in 2000 and was at its lowest, 26.4, in 2012.
That places South Africa 63rd out of 194 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.
Prevalence of anaemia in women aged 15-49 in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 33 | — |
| 2001 | 32.4 | -1.8% |
| 2002 | 31.7 | -2.2% |
| 2003 | 31.1 | -1.9% |
| 2004 | 30.5 | -1.9% |
| 2005 | 29.8 | -2.3% |
| 2006 | 29.1 | -2.3% |
| 2007 | 28.4 | -2.4% |
| 2008 | 27.8 | -2.1% |
| 2009 | 27.2 | -2.2% |
| 2010 | 26.7 | -1.8% |
| 2011 | 26.5 | -0.7% |
| 2012 | 26.4 | -0.4% |
| 2013 | 26.5 | +0.4% |
| 2014 | 26.6 | +0.4% |
| 2015 | 26.9 | +1.1% |
| 2016 | 27.2 | +1.1% |
| 2017 | 27.6 | +1.5% |
| 2018 | 28 | +1.4% |
| 2019 | 28.5 | +1.8% |
| 2020 | 29 | +1.8% |
| 2021 | 29.7 | +2.4% |
| 2022 | 30.4 | +2.4% |
| 2023 | 31.2 | +2.6% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 31.2 is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 22.8, 1.4× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 31.2 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 39.35, 79% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 30.1 | 27.2 | 33 | 10 |
| 2010s | 27.09 | 26.4 | 28.5 | 10 |
| 2020s | 30.07 | 29 | 31.2 | 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 prevalence of anaemia in women aged 15-49 in South Africa?
- Prevalence of anaemia in women aged 15-49 in South Africa was 31.2 in 2023, according to UNICEF.
- What is the highest prevalence of anaemia in women aged 15-49 recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 33 in 2000.
- What is the lowest prevalence of anaemia in women aged 15-49 recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 26.4 in 2012.
- How does South Africa rank for prevalence of anaemia in women aged 15-49?
- South Africa ranks 63rd out of 194 countries with data for 2023.
- Is prevalence of anaemia in women aged 15-49 rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 17.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from UNICEF, published as part of Prevalence of anaemia in women aged 15-49 (Modeled Estimates). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 24 observations, free to reuse under UNICEF Terms of Use (attribution required).