Annual deaths by age in South Africa
South Africa: Annual deaths by age was 44,801 in 2023. ▼ Falling
Latest (2023)
44,801
Change on year
down 8.6%
World rank
27th
of 229 countries
All-time high
122,929
in 1950
All-time low
34,375
in 2020
Years of data
74
1950–2023
Annual deaths by age in South Africa, 1950–2023
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for annual deaths by age in South Africa is 44,801, measured in 2023.
The figure is down 8.6% on the previous year and down 11.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual deaths by age in South Africa peaked at 122,929 in 1950 and was at its lowest, 34,375, in 2020.
That places South Africa 27th out of 229 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 74 years of available data.
Annual deaths by age in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 122,929 | — |
| 1951 | 119,521 | -2.8% |
| 1952 | 116,548 | -2.5% |
| 1953 | 113,552 | -2.6% |
| 1954 | 110,350 | -2.8% |
| 1955 | 107,237 | -2.8% |
| 1956 | 104,113 | -2.9% |
| 1957 | 101,256 | -2.7% |
| 1958 | 98,812 | -2.4% |
| 1959 | 96,974 | -1.9% |
| 1960 | 95,733 | -1.3% |
| 1961 | 95,472 | -0.3% |
| 1962 | 95,934 | +0.5% |
| 1963 | 97,088 | +1.2% |
| 1964 | 98,404 | +1.4% |
| 1965 | 99,924 | +1.5% |
| 1966 | 102,041 | +2.1% |
| 1967 | 104,070 | +2.0% |
| 1968 | 105,713 | +1.6% |
| 1969 | 107,133 | +1.3% |
| 1970 | 108,053 | +0.9% |
| 1971 | 108,641 | +0.5% |
| 1972 | 108,549 | -0.1% |
| 1973 | 108,100 | -0.4% |
| 1974 | 106,927 | -1.1% |
| 1975 | 105,211 | -1.6% |
| 1976 | 103,324 | -1.8% |
| 1977 | 100,860 | -2.4% |
| 1978 | 98,405 | -2.4% |
| 1979 | 96,339 | -2.1% |
| 1980 | 94,325 | -2.1% |
| 1981 | 93,418 | -1.0% |
| 1982 | 92,823 | -0.6% |
| 1983 | 91,651 | -1.3% |
| 1984 | 90,485 | -1.3% |
| 1985 | 88,459 | -2.2% |
| 1986 | 86,641 | -2.1% |
| 1987 | 85,305 | -1.5% |
| 1988 | 82,050 | -3.8% |
| 1989 | 79,030 | -3.7% |
| 1990 | 75,518 | -4.4% |
| 1991 | 73,108 | -3.2% |
| 1992 | 71,153 | -2.7% |
| 1993 | 70,819 | -0.5% |
| 1994 | 67,916 | -4.1% |
| 1995 | 70,767 | +4.2% |
| 1996 | 71,832 | +1.5% |
| 1997 | 72,359 | +0.7% |
| 1998 | 72,645 | +0.4% |
| 1999 | 73,772 | +1.6% |
| 2000 | 72,033 | -2.4% |
| 2001 | 74,632 | +3.6% |
| 2002 | 78,704 | +5.5% |
| 2003 | 82,519 | +4.8% |
| 2004 | 84,228 | +2.1% |
| 2005 | 85,178 | +1.1% |
| 2006 | 82,786 | -2.8% |
| 2007 | 80,802 | -2.4% |
| 2008 | 80,558 | -0.3% |
| 2009 | 68,430 | -15.1% |
| 2010 | 62,553 | -8.6% |
| 2011 | 48,923 | -21.8% |
| 2012 | 49,672 | +1.5% |
| 2013 | 50,724 | +2.1% |
| 2014 | 50,162 | -1.1% |
| 2015 | 46,542 | -7.2% |
| 2016 | 42,551 | -8.6% |
| 2017 | 38,178 | -10.3% |
| 2018 | 40,686 | +6.6% |
| 2019 | 42,762 | +5.1% |
| 2020 | 34,375 | -19.6% |
| 2021 | 43,310 | +26.0% |
| 2022 | 49,001 | +13.1% |
| 2023 | 44,801 | -8.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 109,129 | 96,974 | 122,929 | 10 |
| 1960s | 100,151 | 95,472 | 107,133 | 10 |
| 1970s | 104,441 | 96,339 | 108,641 | 10 |
| 1980s | 88,419 | 79,030 | 94,325 | 10 |
| 1990s | 71,989 | 67,916 | 75,518 | 10 |
| 2000s | 78,987 | 68,430 | 85,178 | 10 |
| 2010s | 47,275 | 38,178 | 62,553 | 10 |
| 2020s | 42,872 | 34,375 | 49,001 | 4 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
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)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates 1,152 (2090)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 3,333 (2100)
- Population ages 0-14, female, annual growth rate 0.4769 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, female, per capita 0.1279 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, male, annual growth rate 0.5816 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, male, per capita 0.1293 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is annual deaths by age in South Africa?
- Annual deaths by age in South Africa was 44,801 in 2023, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest annual deaths by age recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 122,929 in 1950.
- What is the lowest annual deaths by age recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 34,375 in 2020.
- How does South Africa rank for annual deaths by age?
- South Africa ranks 27th out of 229 countries with data for 2023.
- Is annual deaths by age rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 11.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Annual deaths by age. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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