Colon and rectum cancer death rate in South Africa
South Africa: Colon and rectum cancer death rate was 4.6 deaths per 100,000 people in 2020. ▬ Flat
Latest (2020)
4.6 deaths per 100,000 people
Change on year
down 40.0%
World rank
95th
of 111 countries
All-time high
7.77 deaths per 100,000 people
in 2016
All-time low
4.6 deaths per 100,000 people
in 2020
Years of data
25
1996–2020
Colon and rectum cancer death rate 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
In 2020, colon and rectum cancer death rate in South Africa stood at 4.6 deaths per 100,000 people. That is the lowest value across all 25 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 40.0% on the previous year and down 35.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, colon and rectum cancer death rate in South Africa peaked at 7.77 deaths per 100,000 people in 2016 and was at its lowest, 4.6 deaths per 100,000 people, in 2020.
South Africa ranks 95th of 111 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
Colon and rectum cancer death rate in South Africa, year by year
| Year | deaths per 100,000 people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1996 | 6.86 deaths per 100,000 people | — |
| 1997 | 6.63 deaths per 100,000 people | -3.4% |
| 1998 | 6.56 deaths per 100,000 people | -1.1% |
| 1999 | 6.86 deaths per 100,000 people | +4.7% |
| 2000 | 7.03 deaths per 100,000 people | +2.4% |
| 2001 | 6.82 deaths per 100,000 people | -2.9% |
| 2002 | 6.24 deaths per 100,000 people | -8.6% |
| 2003 | 6.44 deaths per 100,000 people | +3.3% |
| 2004 | 7.1 deaths per 100,000 people | +10.3% |
| 2005 | 6.85 deaths per 100,000 people | -3.5% |
| 2006 | 7.08 deaths per 100,000 people | +3.4% |
| 2007 | 6.88 deaths per 100,000 people | -2.9% |
| 2008 | 6.74 deaths per 100,000 people | -2.1% |
| 2009 | 7.15 deaths per 100,000 people | +6.1% |
| 2010 | 7.13 deaths per 100,000 people | -0.2% |
| 2011 | 7.23 deaths per 100,000 people | +1.4% |
| 2012 | 6.86 deaths per 100,000 people | -5.1% |
| 2013 | 6.67 deaths per 100,000 people | -2.9% |
| 2014 | 6.79 deaths per 100,000 people | +1.9% |
| 2015 | 7.33 deaths per 100,000 people | +7.9% |
| 2016 | 7.77 deaths per 100,000 people | +6.1% |
| 2017 | 7.45 deaths per 100,000 people | -4.1% |
| 2018 | 7.37 deaths per 100,000 people | -1.2% |
| 2019 | 7.66 deaths per 100,000 people | +4.1% |
| 2020 | 4.6 deaths per 100,000 people | -40.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 6.73 deaths per 100,000 people | 6.56 deaths per 100,000 people | 6.86 deaths per 100,000 people | 4 |
| 2000s | 6.83 deaths per 100,000 people | 6.24 deaths per 100,000 people | 7.15 deaths per 100,000 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 7.23 deaths per 100,000 people | 6.67 deaths per 100,000 people | 7.77 deaths per 100,000 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.6 deaths per 100,000 people | 4.6 deaths per 100,000 people | 4.6 deaths per 100,000 people | 1 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 92 Ecuador 5.52 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 93 Bahrain 5.4 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 94 Georgia 5 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 96 Dominican Republic 4.11 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 97 Nicaragua 3.97 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 98 El Salvador 3.6 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 colon and rectum cancer death rate in South Africa?
- Colon and rectum cancer death rate in South Africa was 4.6 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 colon and rectum cancer death rate recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 7.77 deaths per 100,000 people in 2016.
- What is the lowest colon and rectum cancer death rate recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.6 deaths per 100,000 people in 2020.
- How does South Africa rank for colon and rectum cancer death rate?
- South Africa ranks 95th out of 111 countries with data for 2020.
- Is colon and rectum cancer death rate rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 35.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- 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 Colon and rectum cancer death rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Reported deaths from colon and rectum cancers in both sexes in those aged all ages per 100,000 people.