Brain and nervous system cancer death rate in South Africa
South Africa: Brain and nervous system cancer death rate was 1.2 deaths per 100,000 people in 2020. ▲ Rising
Latest (2020)
1.2 deaths per 100,000 people
Change on year
down 16.7%
World rank
103rd
of 111 countries
All-time high
1.45 deaths per 100,000 people
in 2019
All-time low
1.02 deaths per 100,000 people
in 1997
Years of data
25
1996–2020
Brain and nervous system cancer death rate in South Africa, 1996–2020
Source: WHO Mortality Database (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in deaths per 100,000 people.
Analysis
The most recent figure for brain and nervous system cancer death rate in South Africa is 1.2 deaths per 100,000 people, measured in 2020.
The figure is down 16.7% on the previous year and down 9.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, brain and nervous system cancer death rate in South Africa peaked at 1.45 deaths per 100,000 people in 2019 and was at its lowest, 1.02 deaths per 100,000 people, in 1997.
South Africa ranks 103rd of 111 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 25 years of available data.
Brain and nervous system cancer death rate in South Africa, year by year
| Year | deaths per 100,000 people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1996 | 1.1 deaths per 100,000 people | — |
| 1997 | 1.02 deaths per 100,000 people | -6.8% |
| 1998 | 1.24 deaths per 100,000 people | +21.4% |
| 1999 | 1.3 deaths per 100,000 people | +4.3% |
| 2000 | 1.21 deaths per 100,000 people | -6.6% |
| 2001 | 1.16 deaths per 100,000 people | -4.3% |
| 2002 | 1.22 deaths per 100,000 people | +5.6% |
| 2003 | 1.22 deaths per 100,000 people | -0.1% |
| 2004 | 1.16 deaths per 100,000 people | -5.2% |
| 2005 | 1.17 deaths per 100,000 people | +0.8% |
| 2006 | 1.16 deaths per 100,000 people | -1.0% |
| 2007 | 1.23 deaths per 100,000 people | +6.6% |
| 2008 | 1.19 deaths per 100,000 people | -3.5% |
| 2009 | 1.32 deaths per 100,000 people | +10.6% |
| 2010 | 1.32 deaths per 100,000 people | +0.7% |
| 2011 | 1.27 deaths per 100,000 people | -4.3% |
| 2012 | 1.43 deaths per 100,000 people | +12.4% |
| 2013 | 1.18 deaths per 100,000 people | -17.3% |
| 2014 | 1.19 deaths per 100,000 people | +0.8% |
| 2015 | 1.3 deaths per 100,000 people | +9.4% |
| 2016 | 1.32 deaths per 100,000 people | +1.8% |
| 2017 | 1.29 deaths per 100,000 people | -2.2% |
| 2018 | 1.23 deaths per 100,000 people | -5.3% |
| 2019 | 1.45 deaths per 100,000 people | +17.9% |
| 2020 | 1.2 deaths per 100,000 people | -16.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 1.16 deaths per 100,000 people | 1.02 deaths per 100,000 people | 1.3 deaths per 100,000 people | 4 |
| 2000s | 1.2 deaths per 100,000 people | 1.16 deaths per 100,000 people | 1.32 deaths per 100,000 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.3 deaths per 100,000 people | 1.18 deaths per 100,000 people | 1.45 deaths per 100,000 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.2 deaths per 100,000 people | 1.2 deaths per 100,000 people | 1.2 deaths per 100,000 people | 1 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 100 Japan 1.29 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 101 Guatemala 1.29 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 102 Maldives 1.26 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 104 Malaysia 1.17 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 105 Guyana 1.14 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 106 Barbados 1.06 deaths per 100,000 people 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)
- Population ages 75-79, female, annual growth rate 7.34 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 75-79, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 75-79, female, per capita 0.0067 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 75-79, male, annual growth rate 8.95 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 75-79, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 75-79, male, per capita 0.0039 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is brain and nervous system cancer death rate in South Africa?
- Brain and nervous system cancer death rate in South Africa was 1.2 deaths per 100,000 people in 2020, according to WHO Mortality Database (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest brain and nervous system cancer death rate recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 1.45 deaths per 100,000 people in 2019.
- What is the lowest brain and nervous system cancer death rate recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.02 deaths per 100,000 people in 1997.
- How does South Africa rank for brain and nervous system cancer death rate?
- South Africa ranks 103rd out of 111 countries with data for 2020.
- Is brain and nervous system cancer death rate rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 9.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from WHO Mortality Database (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Brain and nervous system cancer death rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 25 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Reported deaths from brain and nervous system cancers in both sexes in those aged all ages per 100,000 people.