Share of the population with anemia in higher risk groups in South Africa
South Africa: Share of the population with anemia in higher risk groups was 31.2% in 2023. ▼ Falling
Share of the population with anemia in higher risk groups 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
South Africa recorded 31.2% for share of the population with anemia in higher risk groups in 2023.
The figure is up 2.6% on the previous year and up 17.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of the population with anemia in higher risk groups in South Africa peaked at 33.0% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 26.4%, in 2012.
South Africa ranks 63rd of 192 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 24 years of available data.
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 reference data data for South Africa
- Spring temperature anomalies 0.191 °C (2026)
- Summer temperature anomalies 1.36 °C (2026)
- Temperature anomalies by month 0.6318 °C (2026)
- Universal right to vote in practice 2 (2025)
- Autumn temperature anomalies 1.18 °C (2025)
- Winter temperature anomalies 0.2153 °C (2025)
- Consumer price index 209.92 2010 = 100 (2025)
- Universal right to vote 2 (2025)
- Competitive elections 1 (2025)
- Men's universal right to vote 1 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of the population with anemia in higher risk groups in South Africa?
- Share of the population with anemia in higher risk groups 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 the population with anemia in higher risk groups recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 33.0% in 2000.
- What is the lowest share of the population with anemia in higher risk groups recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 26.4% in 2012.
- How does South Africa rank for share of the population with anemia in higher risk groups?
- South Africa ranks 63rd out of 192 countries with data for 2023.
- Is share of the population with anemia in higher risk groups 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 the population with anemia in higher risk groups. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 24 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Anemia is a condition that develops when your blood lacks enough healthy red blood cells or hemoglobin.