Crude death rate in South Africa
South Africa: Crude death rate was 9.24 in 2023. ▼ Falling
Latest (2023)
9.24
Change on year
down 1.7%
World rank
68th
of 236 countries
All-time high
21.57
in 1950
All-time low
8.23
in 1991
Years of data
74
1950–2023
Crude death rate in South Africa, 1950–2023
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2023, crude death rate in South Africa stood at 9.24.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 1.7% on the previous year and down 7.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, crude death rate in South Africa peaked at 21.57 in 1950 and was at its lowest, 8.23, in 1991.
South Africa ranks 68th of 236 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 74 years of available data.
Crude death rate in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 21.57 | — |
| 1951 | 20.68 | -4.1% |
| 1952 | 19.82 | -4.2% |
| 1953 | 19 | -4.2% |
| 1954 | 18.15 | -4.5% |
| 1955 | 17.34 | -4.4% |
| 1956 | 16.57 | -4.5% |
| 1957 | 15.86 | -4.3% |
| 1958 | 15.2 | -4.2% |
| 1959 | 14.68 | -3.4% |
| 1960 | 14.2 | -3.3% |
| 1961 | 13.84 | -2.5% |
| 1962 | 13.52 | -2.4% |
| 1963 | 13.3 | -1.6% |
| 1964 | 13.1 | -1.5% |
| 1965 | 12.95 | -1.1% |
| 1966 | 12.79 | -1.2% |
| 1967 | 12.67 | -1.0% |
| 1968 | 12.53 | -1.1% |
| 1969 | 12.38 | -1.2% |
| 1970 | 12.22 | -1.3% |
| 1971 | 12.02 | -1.6% |
| 1972 | 11.79 | -1.9% |
| 1973 | 11.57 | -1.9% |
| 1974 | 11.32 | -2.2% |
| 1975 | 11.02 | -2.7% |
| 1976 | 10.76 | -2.3% |
| 1977 | 10.46 | -2.8% |
| 1978 | 10.17 | -2.8% |
| 1979 | 9.92 | -2.5% |
| 1980 | 9.65 | -2.7% |
| 1981 | 9.44 | -2.1% |
| 1982 | 9.25 | -2.0% |
| 1983 | 9.06 | -2.0% |
| 1984 | 8.89 | -2.0% |
| 1985 | 8.74 | -1.7% |
| 1986 | 8.62 | -1.3% |
| 1987 | 8.49 | -1.5% |
| 1988 | 8.35 | -1.6% |
| 1989 | 8.25 | -1.1% |
| 1990 | 8.23 | -0.3% |
| 1991 | 8.23 | -0.0% |
| 1992 | 8.3 | +0.9% |
| 1993 | 8.38 | +1.0% |
| 1994 | 8.7 | +3.8% |
| 1995 | 8.92 | +2.5% |
| 1996 | 9.1 | +2.1% |
| 1997 | 9.28 | +2.0% |
| 1998 | 9.59 | +3.3% |
| 1999 | 9.97 | +4.1% |
| 2000 | 10.39 | +4.2% |
| 2001 | 11.07 | +6.6% |
| 2002 | 11.95 | +7.9% |
| 2003 | 12.83 | +7.3% |
| 2004 | 13.1 | +2.1% |
| 2005 | 13.33 | +1.8% |
| 2006 | 13.39 | +0.4% |
| 2007 | 13.12 | -2.0% |
| 2008 | 12.68 | -3.3% |
| 2009 | 12.07 | -4.9% |
| 2010 | 11.35 | -6.0% |
| 2011 | 10.72 | -5.5% |
| 2012 | 10.15 | -5.3% |
| 2013 | 9.96 | -1.8% |
| 2014 | 9.65 | -3.2% |
| 2015 | 9.22 | -4.5% |
| 2016 | 9.07 | -1.6% |
| 2017 | 8.83 | -2.6% |
| 2018 | 8.79 | -0.5% |
| 2019 | 8.75 | -0.4% |
| 2020 | 9.68 | +10.7% |
| 2021 | 11.93 | +23.2% |
| 2022 | 9.4 | -21.2% |
| 2023 | 9.24 | -1.7% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 9.24 is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 7.02, 1.3× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 9.24 is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 7.2, 1.3× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 17.89 | 14.68 | 21.57 | 10 |
| 1960s | 13.13 | 12.38 | 14.2 | 10 |
| 1970s | 11.12 | 9.92 | 12.22 | 10 |
| 1980s | 8.87 | 8.25 | 9.65 | 10 |
| 1990s | 8.87 | 8.23 | 9.97 | 10 |
| 2000s | 12.4 | 10.39 | 13.39 | 10 |
| 2010s | 9.65 | 8.75 | 11.35 | 10 |
| 2020s | 10.06 | 9.24 | 11.93 | 4 |
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)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 3,333 (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)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per capita 0.046 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is crude death rate in South Africa?
- Crude death rate in South Africa was 9.24 in 2023, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest crude death rate recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 21.57 in 1950.
- What is the lowest crude death rate recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 8.23 in 1991.
- How does South Africa rank for crude death rate?
- South Africa ranks 68th out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is crude death rate rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 7.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Crude death rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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