Proportion of women aged 15-49 years with anaemia in South Africa

South Africa: Proportion of women aged 15-49 years with anaemia was 31.2% in 2023. ▼ Falling

Latest (2023)
31.2%
Change on year
up 2.6%
World rank
64th
of 209 countries
All-time high
33.0%
in 2000
All-time low
26.4%
in 2012
Years of data
24
2000–2023

Proportion of women aged 15-49 years with anaemia in South Africa, 2000–2023

01020302000201120232000: 332001: 32.42002: 31.72003: 31.12004: 30.52005: 29.82006: 29.12007: 28.42008: 27.82009: 27.22010: 26.72011: 26.52012: 26.42013: 26.52014: 26.62015: 26.92016: 27.22017: 27.62018: 282019: 28.52020: 292021: 29.72022: 30.42023: 31.2

Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.

Analysis

The most recent figure for proportion of women aged 15-49 years with anaemia in South Africa is 31.2%, measured in 2023.

That represents a change of up 2.6% on the previous year and up 17.7% over ten years.

Over the whole period, proportion of women aged 15-49 years with anaemia in South Africa peaked at 33.0% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 26.4%, in 2012.

That places South Africa 64th out of 209 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.

Proportion of women aged 15-49 years with anaemia in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for Proportion of women aged 15-49 years with anaemia (%) in South Africa, 2000 to 2023.
Year Value 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 22.4%, 1.4× the median. (55 countries reporting)
  • South Africa's 31.2% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 39.0%, 80% of the median. (45 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest 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

  1. 61 Djibouti 31.8% compare
  2. 62 Algeria 31.6% compare
  3. 63 Malaysia 31.3% compare
  4. 65 Syrian Arab Republic 31.0% compare
  5. 65 Syrian Arab Republic 31.0% compare
  6. 67 Botswana 30.9% compare

See the full ranking of 243 places →

More gender data for South Africa

All data for South Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is proportion of women aged 15-49 years with anaemia in South Africa?
Proportion of women aged 15-49 years with anaemia in South Africa was 31.2% in 2023, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
What is the highest proportion of women aged 15-49 years with anaemia recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 33.0% in 2000.
What is the lowest proportion of women aged 15-49 years with anaemia recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 26.4% in 2012.
How does South Africa rank for proportion of women aged 15-49 years with anaemia?
South Africa ranks 64th out of 209 countries with data for 2023.
Is proportion of women aged 15-49 years with anaemia 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 United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database, published as part of Proportion of women aged 15-49 years with anaemia (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Proportion of women aged 15-49 years with anaemia in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Retrieved 16 September 2026, from https://gender.statizoid.com/stat/proportion-of-women-aged-15-49-years-with-anaemia-percent/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Proportion of women aged 15-49 years with anaemia (%)
Source
United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database
Licence
UN SDG Global Database (open, attribution requested)
Coverage
243 places, 5,832 data points, 2000–2023
Last refreshed