Age-standardized suicide rates in South Africa
South Africa: Age-standardized suicide rates was 21.11 in 2021. ▲ Rising
Age-standardized suicide rates in South Africa, 2000–2021
Source: World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 21.11 for age-standardized suicide rates in 2021. That is the highest value across all 22 years on record.
The figure is up 3.9% on the previous year and up 14.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, age-standardized suicide rates in South Africa peaked at 21.11 in 2021 and was at its lowest, 15.3, in 2001.
That places South Africa 7th out of 184 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 22 years of available data.
Age-standardized suicide rates in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 15.45 | — |
| 2001 | 15.3 | -1.0% |
| 2002 | 16.6 | +8.5% |
| 2003 | 17.61 | +6.1% |
| 2004 | 17.69 | +0.4% |
| 2005 | 17.15 | -3.1% |
| 2006 | 17.63 | +2.8% |
| 2007 | 17.37 | -1.5% |
| 2008 | 18.13 | +4.4% |
| 2009 | 17.51 | -3.4% |
| 2010 | 20.22 | +15.4% |
| 2011 | 18.44 | -8.8% |
| 2012 | 19.17 | +4.0% |
| 2013 | 19.34 | +0.9% |
| 2014 | 20.39 | +5.5% |
| 2015 | 20.77 | +1.9% |
| 2016 | 19.54 | -5.9% |
| 2017 | 18.1 | -7.4% |
| 2018 | 18.81 | +3.9% |
| 2019 | 19.46 | +3.5% |
| 2020 | 20.33 | +4.5% |
| 2021 | 21.11 | +3.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 17.05 | 15.3 | 18.13 | 10 |
| 2010s | 19.42 | 18.1 | 20.77 | 10 |
| 2020s | 20.72 | 20.33 | 21.11 | 2 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 4 Zimbabwe 25.42 compare
- 5 Solomon Islands 22.48 compare
- 6 Uruguay 22.04 compare
- 8 Micronesia, Federated States of 20.83 compare
- 9 Republic of Korea 20.58 compare
- 10 Eritrea 20.16 compare
More health data for South Africa
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -2.2 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate -0.1386 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,152 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 3,333 deaths (2100)
- Total tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 22 (2025)
- Total tetanus - number of reported cases, per capita 0 units per person (2025)
- Diphtheria - number of reported cases, gaps filled 314 (2025)
- Diphtheria - number of reported cases, per capita 0 units per person (2025)
- Measles - number of reported cases, gaps filled 2,778 (2025)
- Measles - number of reported cases, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is age-standardized suicide rates in South Africa?
- Age-standardized suicide rates in South Africa was 21.11 in 2021, according to World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory.
- What is the highest age-standardized suicide rates recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 21.11 in 2021.
- What is the lowest age-standardized suicide rates recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 15.3 in 2001.
- How does South Africa rank for age-standardized suicide rates?
- South Africa ranks 7th out of 184 countries with data for 2021.
- Is age-standardized suicide rates rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 14.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory, published as part of Age-standardized suicide rates (per 100 000 population). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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