Share of pregnant women who have anemia in South Africa
South Africa: Share of pregnant women who have anemia was 29.3% in 2023. ▼ Falling
Share of pregnant women who have anemia 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
In 2023, share of pregnant women who have anemia in South Africa stood at 29.3%.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.7% on the previous year and up 2.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of pregnant women who have anemia 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.
Share of pregnant women who have anemia 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% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 29.3% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 26.9%, 1.1× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 29.3% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 44.9%, 65% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
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 share of pregnant women who have anemia in South Africa?
- Share of pregnant women who have anemia 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 share of pregnant women who have anemia recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 33.3% in 2000.
- What is the lowest share of pregnant women who have anemia recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 28.6% in 2013.
- How does South Africa rank for share of pregnant women who have anemia?
- South Africa ranks 87th out of 192 countries with data for 2023.
- Is share of pregnant women who have anemia 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 Share of pregnant women who have anemia. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Anemia is a condition that develops when your blood lacks enough healthy red blood cells or hemoglobin.