Death rate from cardiovascular diseases in South Africa
South Africa: Death rate from cardiovascular diseases was 148.33 deaths per 100,000 people in 2020. ▼ Falling
Latest (2020)
148.33 deaths per 100,000 people
Change on year
up 7.6%
World rank
85th
of 111 countries
All-time high
176.06 deaths per 100,000 people
in 2003
All-time low
136.74 deaths per 100,000 people
in 1997
Years of data
25
1996–2020
Death rate from cardiovascular diseases 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
In 2020, death rate from cardiovascular diseases in South Africa stood at 148.33 deaths per 100,000 people.
That represents a change of up 7.6% on the previous year and down 8.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, death rate from cardiovascular diseases in South Africa peaked at 176.06 deaths per 100,000 people in 2003 and was at its lowest, 136.74 deaths per 100,000 people, in 1997.
South Africa ranks 85th of 111 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 25 years of available data.
Death rate from cardiovascular diseases in South Africa, year by year
| Year | deaths per 100,000 people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1996 | 143.07 deaths per 100,000 people | — |
| 1997 | 136.74 deaths per 100,000 people | -4.4% |
| 1998 | 147.83 deaths per 100,000 people | +8.1% |
| 1999 | 148.72 deaths per 100,000 people | +0.6% |
| 2000 | 156.4 deaths per 100,000 people | +5.2% |
| 2001 | 160.04 deaths per 100,000 people | +2.3% |
| 2002 | 165.77 deaths per 100,000 people | +3.6% |
| 2003 | 176.06 deaths per 100,000 people | +6.2% |
| 2004 | 167.17 deaths per 100,000 people | -5.0% |
| 2005 | 164.18 deaths per 100,000 people | -1.8% |
| 2006 | 171.2 deaths per 100,000 people | +4.3% |
| 2007 | 168.16 deaths per 100,000 people | -1.8% |
| 2008 | 168.98 deaths per 100,000 people | +0.5% |
| 2009 | 167.22 deaths per 100,000 people | -1.0% |
| 2010 | 161.44 deaths per 100,000 people | -3.5% |
| 2011 | 160.14 deaths per 100,000 people | -0.8% |
| 2012 | 152.95 deaths per 100,000 people | -4.5% |
| 2013 | 142.43 deaths per 100,000 people | -6.9% |
| 2014 | 143.48 deaths per 100,000 people | +0.7% |
| 2015 | 147.66 deaths per 100,000 people | +2.9% |
| 2016 | 154.7 deaths per 100,000 people | +4.8% |
| 2017 | 147.84 deaths per 100,000 people | -4.4% |
| 2018 | 147.99 deaths per 100,000 people | +0.1% |
| 2019 | 137.89 deaths per 100,000 people | -6.8% |
| 2020 | 148.33 deaths per 100,000 people | +7.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 144.09 deaths per 100,000 people | 136.74 deaths per 100,000 people | 148.72 deaths per 100,000 people | 4 |
| 2000s | 166.52 deaths per 100,000 people | 156.4 deaths per 100,000 people | 176.06 deaths per 100,000 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 149.65 deaths per 100,000 people | 137.89 deaths per 100,000 people | 161.44 deaths per 100,000 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 148.33 deaths per 100,000 people | 148.33 deaths per 100,000 people | 148.33 deaths per 100,000 people | 1 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 82 Sri Lanka 158.39 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 83 Syrian Arab Republic 158.13 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 84 Costa Rica 148.35 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 86 Kazakhstan 146.97 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 87 Paraguay 144.5 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 88 Nicaragua 143.91 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 40-44, male, annual growth rate 3.07 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 40-44, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 40-44, male, per capita 0.0371 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 45-49, female, annual growth rate 4.05 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 45-49, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 45-49, female, per capita 0.0295 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is death rate from cardiovascular diseases in South Africa?
- Death rate from cardiovascular diseases in South Africa was 148.33 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 death rate from cardiovascular diseases recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 176.06 deaths per 100,000 people in 2003.
- What is the lowest death rate from cardiovascular diseases recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 136.74 deaths per 100,000 people in 1997.
- How does South Africa rank for death rate from cardiovascular diseases?
- South Africa ranks 85th out of 111 countries with data for 2020.
- Is death rate from cardiovascular diseases rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 8.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- 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 Death rate from cardiovascular diseases. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Reported deaths from cardiovascular diseases per 100,000 people in both sexes aged all ages.