Share of one-year-olds vaccinated against diphtheria, tetanus in South Africa
South Africa: Share of one-year-olds vaccinated against diphtheria, tetanus was 65.0% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Share of one-year-olds vaccinated against diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis in South Africa, 1983–2025
Source: WHO & UNICEF (2026); UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2025, share of one-year-olds vaccinated against diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis in South Africa stood at 65.0%. That is the lowest value across all 43 years on record.
That represents a change of down 12.2% on the previous year and down 23.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of one-year-olds vaccinated against diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis in South Africa peaked at 86.0% in 2021 and was at its lowest, 65.0%, in 2025.
That places South Africa 178th out of 195 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 43 years of available data.
Share of one-year-olds vaccinated against diphtheria, tetanus in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1983 | 74.0% | — |
| 1984 | 75.0% | +1.4% |
| 1985 | 75.0% | +0.0% |
| 1986 | 70.0% | -6.7% |
| 1987 | 72.0% | +2.9% |
| 1988 | 70.0% | -2.8% |
| 1989 | 71.0% | +1.4% |
| 1990 | 72.0% | +1.4% |
| 1991 | 81.0% | +12.5% |
| 1992 | 79.0% | -2.5% |
| 1993 | 81.0% | +2.5% |
| 1994 | 73.0% | -9.9% |
| 1995 | 72.0% | -1.4% |
| 1996 | 73.0% | +1.4% |
| 1997 | 76.0% | +4.1% |
| 1998 | 75.0% | -1.3% |
| 1999 | 74.0% | -1.3% |
| 2000 | 73.0% | -1.4% |
| 2001 | 71.0% | -2.7% |
| 2002 | 70.0% | -1.4% |
| 2003 | 69.0% | -1.4% |
| 2004 | 74.0% | +7.2% |
| 2005 | 81.0% | +9.5% |
| 2006 | 84.0% | +3.7% |
| 2007 | 85.0% | +1.2% |
| 2008 | 82.0% | -3.5% |
| 2009 | 81.0% | -1.2% |
| 2010 | 77.0% | -4.9% |
| 2011 | 75.0% | -2.6% |
| 2012 | 71.0% | -5.3% |
| 2013 | 81.0% | +14.1% |
| 2014 | 85.0% | +4.9% |
| 2015 | 85.0% | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 85.0% | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 84.0% | -1.2% |
| 2018 | 82.0% | -2.4% |
| 2019 | 85.0% | +3.7% |
| 2020 | 84.0% | -1.2% |
| 2021 | 86.0% | +2.4% |
| 2022 | 85.0% | -1.2% |
| 2023 | 79.0% | -7.1% |
| 2024 | 74.0% | -6.3% |
| 2025 | 65.0% | -12.2% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 65.0% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 91.0%, 71% of the median. (58 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 65.0% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 84.0%, 77% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 72.4% | 70.0% | 75.0% | 7 |
| 1990s | 75.6% | 72.0% | 81.0% | 10 |
| 2000s | 77.0% | 69.0% | 85.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 81.0% | 71.0% | 85.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 78.8% | 65.0% | 86.0% | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More reference data data for South Africa
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.5111 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 8.71 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 13.63 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.7468 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 13.63 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 1.71 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 1.49 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 41.1 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 63.65 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 4.07 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of one-year-olds vaccinated against diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis in South Africa?
- Share of one-year-olds vaccinated against diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis in South Africa was 65.0% in 2025, according to WHO & UNICEF (2026); UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of one-year-olds vaccinated against diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 86.0% in 2021.
- What is the lowest share of one-year-olds vaccinated against diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 65.0% in 2025.
- How does South Africa rank for share of one-year-olds vaccinated against diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis?
- South Africa ranks 178th out of 195 countries with data for 2025.
- Is share of one-year-olds vaccinated against diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 23.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from WHO & UNICEF (2026); UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of one-year-olds vaccinated against diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of one-year-olds who have had three doses of the combined diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis vaccine in a given year.