Death rate from cardiovascular diseases by age group in South Africa
South Africa: Death rate from cardiovascular diseases by age group was 22.64 deaths per 100,000 people in 2020. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2020)
22.64 deaths per 100,000 people
Change on year
up 21.7%
World rank
19th
of 111 countries
All-time high
36.16 deaths per 100,000 people
in 2008
All-time low
2.07 deaths per 100,000 people
in 1996
Years of data
25
1996–2020
Death rate from cardiovascular diseases by age group 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 22.64 deaths per 100,000 people for death rate from cardiovascular diseases by age group in 2020.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 21.7% on the previous year and down 9.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, death rate from cardiovascular diseases by age group in South Africa peaked at 36.16 deaths per 100,000 people in 2008 and was at its lowest, 2.07 deaths per 100,000 people, in 1996.
That places South Africa 19th out of 111 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Death rate from cardiovascular diseases by age group in South Africa, year by year
| Year | deaths per 100,000 people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1996 | 2.07 deaths per 100,000 people | — |
| 1997 | 5.69 deaths per 100,000 people | +174.7% |
| 1998 | 8.03 deaths per 100,000 people | +41.1% |
| 1999 | 6.24 deaths per 100,000 people | -22.3% |
| 2000 | 5.19 deaths per 100,000 people | -16.9% |
| 2001 | 5.76 deaths per 100,000 people | +11.1% |
| 2002 | 6.24 deaths per 100,000 people | +8.3% |
| 2003 | 6.6 deaths per 100,000 people | +5.8% |
| 2004 | 5.04 deaths per 100,000 people | -23.6% |
| 2005 | 4.36 deaths per 100,000 people | -13.4% |
| 2006 | 33.58 deaths per 100,000 people | +669.6% |
| 2007 | 30.02 deaths per 100,000 people | -10.6% |
| 2008 | 36.16 deaths per 100,000 people | +20.4% |
| 2009 | 27.45 deaths per 100,000 people | -24.1% |
| 2010 | 24.93 deaths per 100,000 people | -9.2% |
| 2011 | 27.34 deaths per 100,000 people | +9.7% |
| 2012 | 20.63 deaths per 100,000 people | -24.6% |
| 2013 | 21.93 deaths per 100,000 people | +6.3% |
| 2014 | 24.52 deaths per 100,000 people | +11.8% |
| 2015 | 27.9 deaths per 100,000 people | +13.8% |
| 2016 | 24.07 deaths per 100,000 people | -13.7% |
| 2017 | 28.52 deaths per 100,000 people | +18.5% |
| 2018 | 28.72 deaths per 100,000 people | +0.7% |
| 2019 | 18.61 deaths per 100,000 people | -35.2% |
| 2020 | 22.64 deaths per 100,000 people | +21.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 5.51 deaths per 100,000 people | 2.07 deaths per 100,000 people | 8.03 deaths per 100,000 people | 4 |
| 2000s | 16.04 deaths per 100,000 people | 4.36 deaths per 100,000 people | 36.16 deaths per 100,000 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 24.72 deaths per 100,000 people | 18.61 deaths per 100,000 people | 28.72 deaths per 100,000 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 22.64 deaths per 100,000 people | 22.64 deaths per 100,000 people | 22.64 deaths per 100,000 people | 1 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 16 Tajikistan 24.4 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 17 Kazakhstan 23.8 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 18 Turkmenistan 23.65 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 20 Iceland 21.56 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 21 Bahamas 21.19 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 22 Cuba 20.13 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 60-64, female, annual growth rate 1.27 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 60-64, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 60-64, female, per capita 0.0197 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 60-64, male, annual growth rate 0.6835 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 60-64, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 60-64, male, per capita 0.015 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is death rate from cardiovascular diseases by age group in South Africa?
- Death rate from cardiovascular diseases by age group in South Africa was 22.64 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 by age group recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 36.16 deaths per 100,000 people in 2008.
- What is the lowest death rate from cardiovascular diseases by age group recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.07 deaths per 100,000 people in 1996.
- How does South Africa rank for death rate from cardiovascular diseases by age group?
- South Africa ranks 19th out of 111 countries with data for 2020.
- Is death rate from cardiovascular diseases by age group rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 9.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- 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 by age group. 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 cardiovascular diseases per 100,000 people in both sexes aged less than 1 year.