Breast cancer death rate in women in South Africa
South Africa: Breast cancer death rate in women was 14.98 deaths per 100,000 people in 2020. ▲ Rising
Latest (2020)
14.98 deaths per 100,000 people
Change on year
down 4.7%
World rank
46th
of 111 countries
All-time high
16.27 deaths per 100,000 people
in 2016
All-time low
11.73 deaths per 100,000 people
in 1997
Years of data
25
1996–2020
Breast cancer death rate in women 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
South Africa recorded 14.98 deaths per 100,000 people for breast cancer death rate in women in 2020.
The figure is down 4.7% on the previous year and down 3.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, breast cancer death rate in women in South Africa peaked at 16.27 deaths per 100,000 people in 2016 and was at its lowest, 11.73 deaths per 100,000 people, in 1997.
South Africa ranks 46th of 111 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 25 years of available data.
Breast cancer death rate in women in South Africa, year by year
| Year | deaths per 100,000 people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1996 | 13.15 deaths per 100,000 people | — |
| 1997 | 11.73 deaths per 100,000 people | -10.8% |
| 1998 | 12.35 deaths per 100,000 people | +5.3% |
| 1999 | 13.05 deaths per 100,000 people | +5.7% |
| 2000 | 13.25 deaths per 100,000 people | +1.5% |
| 2001 | 14.2 deaths per 100,000 people | +7.2% |
| 2002 | 13.27 deaths per 100,000 people | -6.6% |
| 2003 | 13.31 deaths per 100,000 people | +0.3% |
| 2004 | 15.11 deaths per 100,000 people | +13.5% |
| 2005 | 15.34 deaths per 100,000 people | +1.5% |
| 2006 | 14.3 deaths per 100,000 people | -6.8% |
| 2007 | 15.49 deaths per 100,000 people | +8.3% |
| 2008 | 14.49 deaths per 100,000 people | -6.4% |
| 2009 | 14.59 deaths per 100,000 people | +0.7% |
| 2010 | 15.46 deaths per 100,000 people | +6.0% |
| 2011 | 15.38 deaths per 100,000 people | -0.5% |
| 2012 | 15.07 deaths per 100,000 people | -2.0% |
| 2013 | 14.7 deaths per 100,000 people | -2.5% |
| 2014 | 14.71 deaths per 100,000 people | +0.1% |
| 2015 | 15.19 deaths per 100,000 people | +3.3% |
| 2016 | 16.27 deaths per 100,000 people | +7.1% |
| 2017 | 15.49 deaths per 100,000 people | -4.8% |
| 2018 | 15.76 deaths per 100,000 people | +1.7% |
| 2019 | 15.72 deaths per 100,000 people | -0.2% |
| 2020 | 14.98 deaths per 100,000 people | -4.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 12.57 deaths per 100,000 people | 11.73 deaths per 100,000 people | 13.15 deaths per 100,000 people | 4 |
| 2000s | 14.34 deaths per 100,000 people | 13.25 deaths per 100,000 people | 15.49 deaths per 100,000 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 15.37 deaths per 100,000 people | 14.7 deaths per 100,000 people | 16.27 deaths per 100,000 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 14.98 deaths per 100,000 people | 14.98 deaths per 100,000 people | 14.98 deaths per 100,000 people | 1 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 43 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 15.15 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 44 Russian Federation 15.11 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 45 Saint Lucia 15.11 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 47 Denmark 14.95 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 48 Italy 14.9 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 49 Belgium 14.82 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)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -0.5504 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.045 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 0.0003 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is breast cancer death rate in women in South Africa?
- Breast cancer death rate in women in South Africa was 14.98 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 breast cancer death rate in women recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 16.27 deaths per 100,000 people in 2016.
- What is the lowest breast cancer death rate in women recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 11.73 deaths per 100,000 people in 1997.
- How does South Africa rank for breast cancer death rate in women?
- South Africa ranks 46th out of 111 countries with data for 2020.
- Is breast cancer death rate in women rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 3.1%. 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 Breast cancer death rate in women. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Reported deaths from breast cancer in females in those aged all ages per 100,000 people.