Cause of death, by communicable diseases and maternal, prenatal and in Sub-Saharan Africa
Sub-Saharan Africa: Cause of death, by communicable diseases and maternal, prenatal and was 49.6% in 2021. ▼ Falling
Cause of death, by communicable diseases and maternal, prenatal and in Sub-Saharan Africa, 2000–2021
Source: Global Health Estimates, World Health Organization (WHO). Measured in % of total female deaths ages 15-59.
Analysis
In 2021, cause of death, by communicable diseases and maternal, prenatal and in Sub-Saharan Africa stood at 49.6%. 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 23.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, cause of death, by communicable diseases and maternal, prenatal and in Sub-Saharan Africa peaked at 73.9% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 49.6%, in 2021.
Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 4th of 47 groups on this measure, in the top 10%.
Cause of death, by communicable diseases and maternal, prenatal and in Sub-Saharan Africa, year by year
| Year | % of total female deaths ages 15-59 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 73.9% | — |
| 2010 | 64.3% | -13.0% |
| 2015 | 55.7% | -13.5% |
| 2019 | 50.6% | -9.2% |
| 2020 | 50.2% | -0.8% |
| 2021 | 49.6% | -1.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 73.9% | 73.9% | 73.9% | 1 |
| 2010s | 56.9% | 50.6% | 64.3% | 3 |
| 2020s | 49.9% | 49.6% | 50.2% | 2 |
Countries ranked near Sub-Saharan Africa
- 1 Congo 69.9% compare
- 2 Central African Republic 66.5% compare
- 3 Gabon 64.2% compare
- 4 South Sudan 63.2% compare
- 5 Equatorial Guinea 63.1% compare
- 6 Botswana 63.1% compare
- 7 Eswatini 62.3% compare
More health data for Sub-Saharan Africa
- Population ages 15-64, male, annual growth rate 3.04 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, total, per unit of GDP 0.0002 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, total, per capita 0.4038 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 15-64, female, annual growth rate 2.96 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 15-64, female, per unit of GDP 0.0002 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 15-64, female, per capita 0.2837 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 15-64, male, per unit of GDP 0.0002 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 15-64, total, annual growth rate 3 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 15-64, male, per capita 0.2801 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 45-49, 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 Sub-Saharan Africa?
- Cause of death, by communicable diseases and maternal, prenatal and in Sub-Saharan Africa was 49.6% 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 Sub-Saharan Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 73.9% in 2000.
- What is the lowest cause of death, by communicable diseases and maternal, prenatal and recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 49.6% in 2021.
- How does Sub-Saharan Africa rank for cause of death, by communicable diseases and maternal, prenatal and?
- Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 4th out of 47 groups with data for 2021.
- Is cause of death, by communicable diseases and maternal, prenatal and rising or falling in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 23.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Sub-Saharan 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 15-59, female (% of total female deaths ages 15-59). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Number of female deaths ages 15-59 due to communicable diseases and maternal, prenatal and nutrition conditions divided by number of all female deaths ages 15-59, 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.