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 51.4% in 2021. ▼ Falling

Latest (2021)
51.4%
Change on year
down 1.2%
World rank
23rd
of 185 countries
All-time high
70.3%
in 2010
All-time low
51.4%
in 2021
Years of data
6
2000–2021

Cause of death, by communicable diseases and maternal, prenatal and in South Africa, 2000–2021

0204060802000201020212000: 52.3 % of total male deaths ages 5-142010: 70.3 % of total male deaths ages 5-142015: 54.9 % of total male deaths ages 5-142019: 52.8 % of total male deaths ages 5-142020: 52.1 % of total male deaths ages 5-142021: 51.4 % of total male deaths ages 5-14

Source: Global Health Estimates, World Health Organization (WHO). Measured in % of total male deaths ages 5-14.

Analysis

The most recent figure for cause of death, by communicable diseases and maternal, prenatal and in South Africa is 51.4%, measured in 2021. That is the lowest value across all 6 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 1.2% on the previous year and down 26.8% over ten years.

Over the whole period, cause of death, by communicable diseases and maternal, prenatal and in South Africa peaked at 70.3% in 2010 and was at its lowest, 51.4%, in 2021.

South Africa ranks 23rd of 185 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.

Cause of death, by communicable diseases and maternal, prenatal and in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for Cause of death, by communicable diseases and maternal, prenatal and nutrition conditions, ages 5-14, male (% of total male deaths ages 5-14) in South Africa, 2000 to 2021.
Year % of total male deaths ages 5-14 Change
2000 52.3%
2010 70.3% +34.3%
2015 54.9% -21.8%
2019 52.8% -3.8%
2020 52.1% -1.4%
2021 51.4% -1.2%

South Africa compared with similar countries

  • South Africa's 51.4% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 19.5%, 2.6× the median. (55 countries reporting)
  • South Africa's 51.4% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 50.7%, 1.0× the median. (48 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 52.3% 52.3% 52.3% 1
2010s 59.3% 52.8% 70.3% 3
2020s 51.8% 51.4% 52.1% 2

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 20 Botswana 54.6% compare
  2. 21 Uganda 54.5% compare
  3. 22 Sierra Leone 53.1% compare
  4. 24 Democratic Republic of Congo 51.1% compare
  5. 25 Liberia 51.1% compare
  6. 26 Solomon Islands 51.1% compare

See the full ranking of 232 places →

More health data for South Africa

All data for South Africa →

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 51.4% 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 70.3% in 2010.
What is the lowest cause of death, by communicable diseases and maternal, prenatal and recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 51.4% in 2021.
How does South Africa rank for cause of death, by communicable diseases and maternal, prenatal and?
South Africa ranks 23rd 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 down 26.8%. 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 5-14, male (% of total male deaths ages 5-14). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Cause of death, by communicable diseases and maternal, prenatal and in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on Global Health Estimates, World Health Organization (WHO). Retrieved 18 September 2026, from https://health.statizoid.com/stat/cause-of-death-by-communicable-diseases-and-maternal-prenatal-and-nutrition-conditions-6/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Cause of death, by communicable diseases and maternal, prenatal and nutrition conditions, ages 5-14, male (% of total male deaths ages 5-14)
Unit
% of total male deaths ages 5-14
Source
Global Health Estimates, World Health Organization (WHO)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
232 places, 1,392 data points, 2000–2021
Last refreshed

Number of male deaths ages 5-14 due to communicable diseases and maternal, prenatal and nutrition conditions divided by number of all male deaths ages 5-14, 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.