Share of mothers visited by a health professional during pregnancy in South Africa
South Africa: Share of mothers visited by a health professional during pregnancy was 93.7% in 2016. ▬ Flat
Share of mothers visited by a health professional during pregnancy in South Africa, 1995–2016
Source: Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) and UNICEF, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of mothers visited by a health professional during pregnancy in South Africa is 93.7%, measured in 2016.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 2.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of mothers visited by a health professional during pregnancy in South Africa peaked at 97.1% in 2008 and was at its lowest, 89.0%, in 1995.
That places South Africa 58th out of 99 countries with data for 2016, putting it in the middle of the range.
Share of mothers visited by a health professional during pregnancy in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 89.0% | — |
| 1998 | 95.0% | +6.7% |
| 2003 | 91.9% | -3.3% |
| 2004 | 91.9% | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 97.1% | +5.7% |
| 2016 | 93.7% | -3.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 92.0% | 89.0% | 95.0% | 2 |
| 2000s | 93.6% | 91.9% | 97.1% | 3 |
| 2010s | 93.7% | 93.7% | 93.7% | 1 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 55 Nicaragua 94.6% compare
- 56 Mozambique 94.0% compare
- 57 Philippines 93.8% compare
- 59 Barbados 93.4% compare
- 60 Zimbabwe 93.3% compare
- 61 Côte d'Ivoire 93.2% compare
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 mothers visited by a health professional during pregnancy in South Africa?
- Share of mothers visited by a health professional during pregnancy in South Africa was 93.7% in 2016, according to Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) and UNICEF, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of mothers visited by a health professional during pregnancy recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 97.1% in 2008.
- What is the lowest share of mothers visited by a health professional during pregnancy recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 89.0% in 1995.
- How does South Africa rank for share of mothers visited by a health professional during pregnancy?
- South Africa ranks 58th out of 99 countries with data for 2016.
- Is share of mothers visited by a health professional during pregnancy rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 2.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) and UNICEF, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of mothers visited by a health professional during pregnancy. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
The estimated share of women who have had a live birth who were visited at least once during pregnancy by a skilled health personnel for reasons related to pregnancy.