Cause of death, by communicable diseases and maternal, prenatal and in South Africa
South Africa: Cause of death, by communicable diseases and maternal, prenatal and was 42.9% in 2021. ▼ Falling
Cause of death, by communicable diseases and maternal, prenatal and in South Africa, 2000–2021
Source: Global Health Estimates, World Health Organization (WHO). Measured in % of total deaths ages 60+.
Analysis
The most recent figure for cause of death, by communicable diseases and maternal, prenatal and in South Africa is 42.9%, measured in 2021. That is the highest value across all 6 years on record.
The figure is up 52.6% on the previous year and up 53.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, cause of death, by communicable diseases and maternal, prenatal and in South Africa peaked at 42.9% in 2021 and was at its lowest, 21.8%, in 2019.
That places South Africa 7th out of 185 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the top 10%.
Cause of death, by communicable diseases and maternal, prenatal and in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % of total deaths ages 60+ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 35.2% | — |
| 2010 | 27.9% | -20.8% |
| 2015 | 22.4% | -19.7% |
| 2019 | 21.8% | -2.8% |
| 2020 | 28.1% | +29.2% |
| 2021 | 42.9% | +52.6% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 42.9% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 24.4%, 1.8× the median. (55 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 42.9% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 28.3%, 1.5× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 35.2% | 35.2% | 35.2% | 1 |
| 2010s | 24.0% | 21.8% | 27.9% | 3 |
| 2020s | 35.5% | 28.1% | 42.9% | 2 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
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 cause of death, by communicable diseases and maternal, prenatal and in South Africa?
- Cause of death, by communicable diseases and maternal, prenatal and in South Africa was 42.9% in 2021, according to Global Health Estimates, World Health Organization (WHO).
- What is the highest cause of death, by communicable diseases and maternal, prenatal and recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 42.9% in 2021.
- What is the lowest cause of death, by communicable diseases and maternal, prenatal and recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 21.8% in 2019.
- How does South Africa rank for cause of death, by communicable diseases and maternal, prenatal and?
- South Africa ranks 7th out of 185 countries with data for 2021.
- Is cause of death, by communicable diseases and maternal, prenatal and rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 53.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Global Health Estimates, World Health Organization (WHO), published as part of Cause of death, by communicable diseases and maternal, prenatal and nutrition conditions, ages 60+ (% of total deaths ages 60+). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 6 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Number of deaths ages 60+ due to communicable diseases and maternal, prenatal and nutrition conditions divided by number of all deaths ages 60+, expressed by percentage. Communicable diseases and maternal, prenatal and nutrition conditions included infectious and parasitic diseases, respiratory infections, and nutritional deficiencies such as underweight and stunting.