Death rate from cardiovascular diseases in South Africa
South Africa: Death rate from cardiovascular diseases was 240.5 deaths per 100,000 people in 2020. ▼ Falling
Latest (2020)
240.5 deaths per 100,000 people
Change on year
up 9.2%
World rank
26th
of 111 countries
All-time high
324.64 deaths per 100,000 people
in 2003
All-time low
220.28 deaths per 100,000 people
in 2019
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
The most recent figure for death rate from cardiovascular diseases in South Africa is 240.5 deaths per 100,000 people, measured in 2020.
The figure is up 9.2% on the previous year and down 19.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, death rate from cardiovascular diseases in South Africa peaked at 324.64 deaths per 100,000 people in 2003 and was at its lowest, 220.28 deaths per 100,000 people, in 2019.
South Africa ranks 26th of 111 countries on this measure, in the top 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 | 296.17 deaths per 100,000 people | — |
| 1997 | 267.76 deaths per 100,000 people | -9.6% |
| 1998 | 287.71 deaths per 100,000 people | +7.5% |
| 1999 | 290.5 deaths per 100,000 people | +1.0% |
| 2000 | 314.51 deaths per 100,000 people | +8.3% |
| 2001 | 307.51 deaths per 100,000 people | -2.2% |
| 2002 | 306.87 deaths per 100,000 people | -0.2% |
| 2003 | 324.64 deaths per 100,000 people | +5.8% |
| 2004 | 309.02 deaths per 100,000 people | -4.8% |
| 2005 | 314.11 deaths per 100,000 people | +1.6% |
| 2006 | 319.27 deaths per 100,000 people | +1.6% |
| 2007 | 304.91 deaths per 100,000 people | -4.5% |
| 2008 | 283.26 deaths per 100,000 people | -7.1% |
| 2009 | 304.39 deaths per 100,000 people | +7.5% |
| 2010 | 299.99 deaths per 100,000 people | -1.4% |
| 2011 | 287.87 deaths per 100,000 people | -4.0% |
| 2012 | 266.55 deaths per 100,000 people | -7.4% |
| 2013 | 245.52 deaths per 100,000 people | -7.9% |
| 2014 | 247.53 deaths per 100,000 people | +0.8% |
| 2015 | 258.14 deaths per 100,000 people | +4.3% |
| 2016 | 259.04 deaths per 100,000 people | +0.3% |
| 2017 | 239.57 deaths per 100,000 people | -7.5% |
| 2018 | 236.16 deaths per 100,000 people | -1.4% |
| 2019 | 220.28 deaths per 100,000 people | -6.7% |
| 2020 | 240.5 deaths per 100,000 people | +9.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 285.54 deaths per 100,000 people | 267.76 deaths per 100,000 people | 296.17 deaths per 100,000 people | 4 |
| 2000s | 308.85 deaths per 100,000 people | 283.26 deaths per 100,000 people | 324.64 deaths per 100,000 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 256.06 deaths per 100,000 people | 220.28 deaths per 100,000 people | 299.99 deaths per 100,000 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 240.5 deaths per 100,000 people | 240.5 deaths per 100,000 people | 240.5 deaths per 100,000 people | 1 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 23 Seychelles 250.82 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 24 Mongolia 245.8 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 25 Armenia 244.6 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 27 Lithuania 238.88 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 28 Iran, Islamic Republic of 230.31 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 29 Bahamas 229.56 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 death rate from cardiovascular diseases in South Africa?
- Death rate from cardiovascular diseases in South Africa was 240.5 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 324.64 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 220.28 deaths per 100,000 people in 2019.
- How does South Africa rank for death rate from cardiovascular diseases?
- South Africa ranks 26th 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 19.8%. 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 in both sexes in those aged all ages per 100,000 people.