Share of women of reproductive age who have anemia in South Africa
South Africa: Share of women of reproductive age who have anemia was 31.2% in 2023. ▼ Falling
Share of women of reproductive age 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 % of women ages 15-49.
Analysis
In 2023, share of women of reproductive age who have anemia in South Africa stood at 31.2%.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 2.6% on the previous year and up 17.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of women of reproductive age who have anemia in South Africa peaked at 33.0% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 26.4%, in 2012.
That places South Africa 63rd 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 women of reproductive age who have anemia in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % of women ages 15-49 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 33.0% | — |
| 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 | 28.0% | +1.4% |
| 2019 | 28.5% | +1.8% |
| 2020 | 29.0% | +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 39.4%, 79% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 30.1% | 27.2% | 33.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 27.1% | 26.4% | 28.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 30.1% | 29.0% | 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 share of women of reproductive age who have anemia in South Africa?
- Share of women of reproductive age who have anemia in South Africa was 31.2% 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 women of reproductive age who have anemia recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 33.0% in 2000.
- What is the lowest share of women of reproductive age who have anemia recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 26.4% in 2012.
- How does South Africa rank for share of women of reproductive age who have anemia?
- South Africa ranks 63rd out of 192 countries with data for 2023.
- Is share of women of reproductive age who have anemia 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 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 women of reproductive age who have anemia. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of women of reproductive age (aged 15-49) with anemia. Anemia is a condition that develops when your blood lacks enough healthy red blood cells or hemoglobin.