Death rate from cancer by sex in South Africa
South Africa: Death rate from cancer by sex was 116.88 deaths per 100,000 people in 2020. ▼ Falling
Death rate from cancer by sex 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
The most recent figure for death rate from cancer by sex in South Africa is 116.88 deaths per 100,000 people, measured in 2020. That is the lowest value across all 25 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 10.8% on the previous year and down 16.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, death rate from cancer by sex in South Africa peaked at 143.53 deaths per 100,000 people in 2000 and was at its lowest, 116.88 deaths per 100,000 people, in 2020.
That places South Africa 48th out of 111 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 25 years of available data.
Death rate from cancer by sex in South Africa, year by year
| Year | deaths per 100,000 people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1996 | 136.83 deaths per 100,000 people | — |
| 1997 | 135.69 deaths per 100,000 people | -0.8% |
| 1998 | 136.7 deaths per 100,000 people | +0.7% |
| 1999 | 141.28 deaths per 100,000 people | +3.3% |
| 2000 | 143.53 deaths per 100,000 people | +1.6% |
| 2001 | 138.04 deaths per 100,000 people | -3.8% |
| 2002 | 136.75 deaths per 100,000 people | -0.9% |
| 2003 | 138 deaths per 100,000 people | +0.9% |
| 2004 | 141.07 deaths per 100,000 people | +2.2% |
| 2005 | 142.63 deaths per 100,000 people | +1.1% |
| 2006 | 136.69 deaths per 100,000 people | -4.2% |
| 2007 | 136.94 deaths per 100,000 people | +0.2% |
| 2008 | 130.29 deaths per 100,000 people | -4.9% |
| 2009 | 135.62 deaths per 100,000 people | +4.1% |
| 2010 | 139.98 deaths per 100,000 people | +3.2% |
| 2011 | 136.3 deaths per 100,000 people | -2.6% |
| 2012 | 133.89 deaths per 100,000 people | -1.8% |
| 2013 | 128.81 deaths per 100,000 people | -3.8% |
| 2014 | 128.27 deaths per 100,000 people | -0.4% |
| 2015 | 137.89 deaths per 100,000 people | +7.5% |
| 2016 | 138.06 deaths per 100,000 people | +0.1% |
| 2017 | 131.71 deaths per 100,000 people | -4.6% |
| 2018 | 129.69 deaths per 100,000 people | -1.5% |
| 2019 | 131.09 deaths per 100,000 people | +1.1% |
| 2020 | 116.88 deaths per 100,000 people | -10.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 137.62 deaths per 100,000 people | 135.69 deaths per 100,000 people | 141.28 deaths per 100,000 people | 4 |
| 2000s | 137.96 deaths per 100,000 people | 130.29 deaths per 100,000 people | 143.53 deaths per 100,000 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 133.57 deaths per 100,000 people | 128.27 deaths per 100,000 people | 139.98 deaths per 100,000 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 116.88 deaths per 100,000 people | 116.88 deaths per 100,000 people | 116.88 deaths per 100,000 people | 1 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 45 Martinique 117.49 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 46 Seychelles 117.26 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 47 Austria 117.22 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 49 Bahamas 116.81 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 50 Argentina 116.71 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 51 Guadeloupe 116.69 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)
- 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 death rate from cancer by sex in South Africa?
- Death rate from cancer by sex in South Africa was 116.88 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 death rate from cancer by sex recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 143.53 deaths per 100,000 people in 2000.
- What is the lowest death rate from cancer by sex recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 116.88 deaths per 100,000 people in 2020.
- How does South Africa rank for death rate from cancer by sex?
- South Africa ranks 48th out of 111 countries with data for 2020.
- Is death rate from cancer by sex rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 16.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- 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 Death rate from cancer by sex. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Reported deaths from malignant neoplasms in males in those aged all ages per 100,000 people.