Share of children with symptoms of a respiratory infection who received antibiotics in South Africa

South Africa: Share of children with symptoms of a respiratory infection who received antibiotics was 47.5% in 2018. ▲ Rising

Latest (2018)
47.5%
Change on year
up 0.4%
World rank
85th
of 132 countries
All-time high
47.5%
in 2018
All-time low
37.1%
in 2004
Years of data
19
2000–2018

Share of children with symptoms of a respiratory infection who received antibiotics in South Africa, 2000–2018

010203040502000200920182000: 41.9 %2001: 43 %2002: 38.9 %2003: 37.4 %2004: 37.1 %2005: 38.4 %2006: 43.2 %2007: 44.5 %2008: 42 %2009: 41.9 %2010: 42.6 %2011: 42.8 %2012: 45.5 %2013: 43.5 %2014: 43.2 %2015: 44.2 %2016: 46.4 %2017: 47.3 %2018: 47.5 %

Source: Browne AJ et al. (2021) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.

Analysis

The most recent figure for share of children with symptoms of a respiratory infection who received antibiotics in South Africa is 47.5%, measured in 2018. That is the highest value across all 19 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.4% on the previous year and up 13.1% over ten years.

Over the whole period, share of children with symptoms of a respiratory infection who received antibiotics in South Africa peaked at 47.5% in 2018 and was at its lowest, 37.1%, in 2004.

That places South Africa 85th out of 132 countries with data for 2018, putting it in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 19 years of available data.

Share of children with symptoms of a respiratory infection who received antibiotics in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for Share of children with symptoms of a respiratory infection who received antibiotics in South Africa, 2000 to 2018.
Year % Change
2000 41.9%
2001 43.0% +2.6%
2002 38.9% -9.5%
2003 37.4% -3.9%
2004 37.1% -0.8%
2005 38.4% +3.5%
2006 43.2% +12.5%
2007 44.5% +3.0%
2008 42.0% -5.6%
2009 41.9% -0.2%
2010 42.6% +1.7%
2011 42.8% +0.5%
2012 45.5% +6.3%
2013 43.5% -4.4%
2014 43.2% -0.7%
2015 44.2% +2.3%
2016 46.4% +5.0%
2017 47.3% +1.9%
2018 47.5% +0.4%

South Africa compared with similar countries

  • South Africa's 47.5% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 57.4%, 83% of the median. (53 countries reporting)
  • South Africa's 47.5% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 41.6%, 1.1× the median. (46 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 40.8% 37.1% 44.5% 10
2010s 44.8% 42.6% 47.5% 9

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 82 Burkina Faso 48.3% compare
  2. 83 Gambia 48.1% compare
  3. 84 Ghana 47.9% compare
  4. 85 Azerbaijan 47.5% compare
  5. 85 Bolivia 47.5% compare
  6. 88 Rwanda 47.0% compare

See the full ranking of 132 places →

More reference data data for South Africa

All data for South Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is share of children with symptoms of a respiratory infection who received antibiotics in South Africa?
Share of children with symptoms of a respiratory infection who received antibiotics in South Africa was 47.5% in 2018, according to Browne AJ et al. (2021) – processed by Our World in Data.
What is the highest share of children with symptoms of a respiratory infection who received antibiotics recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 47.5% in 2018.
What is the lowest share of children with symptoms of a respiratory infection who received antibiotics recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 37.1% in 2004.
How does South Africa rank for share of children with symptoms of a respiratory infection who received antibiotics?
South Africa ranks 85th out of 132 countries with data for 2018.
Is share of children with symptoms of a respiratory infection who received antibiotics rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is up 13.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this South Africa data come from?
The figures come from Browne AJ et al. (2021) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of children with symptoms of a respiratory infection who received antibiotics. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Share of children with symptoms of a respiratory infection who received antibiotics in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on Browne AJ et al. (2021) – processed by Our World in Data. Retrieved 24 September 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/antibiotic-usage-in-children/south-africa/

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<a href="https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/antibiotic-usage-in-children/south-africa/">Share of children with symptoms of a respiratory infection who received antibiotics in South Africa</a> — Statizoid

About this data

Indicator
Share of children with symptoms of a respiratory infection who received antibiotics
Unit
%
Source
Browne AJ et al. (2021) – processed by Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
132 places, 2,508 data points, 2000–2018
Last refreshed

Caregiver reported share of children under five years old, with symptoms of lower respiratory tract infection, who received antibiotics for this illness.