Death rate from cancer in South Africa
South Africa: Death rate from cancer was 105.78 deaths per 100,000 people in 2021. ▲ Rising
Latest (2021)
105.78 deaths per 100,000 people
Change on year
up 10.3%
World rank
85th
of 194 countries
All-time high
108.53 deaths per 100,000 people
in 2016
All-time low
78.4 deaths per 100,000 people
in 2000
Years of data
22
2000–2021
Death rate from cancer in South Africa, 2000–2021
Source: World Health Organization (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in deaths per 100,000 people.
Analysis
The most recent figure for death rate from cancer in South Africa is 105.78 deaths per 100,000 people, measured in 2021.
The figure is up 10.3% on the previous year and up 1.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, death rate from cancer in South Africa peaked at 108.53 deaths per 100,000 people in 2016 and was at its lowest, 78.4 deaths per 100,000 people, in 2000.
That places South Africa 85th out of 194 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 22 years of available data.
Death rate from cancer in South Africa, year by year
| Year | deaths per 100,000 people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 78.4 deaths per 100,000 people | — |
| 2001 | 78.87 deaths per 100,000 people | +0.6% |
| 2002 | 86.78 deaths per 100,000 people | +10.0% |
| 2003 | 83 deaths per 100,000 people | -4.4% |
| 2004 | 86.97 deaths per 100,000 people | +4.8% |
| 2005 | 89.56 deaths per 100,000 people | +3.0% |
| 2006 | 92.35 deaths per 100,000 people | +3.1% |
| 2007 | 93.42 deaths per 100,000 people | +1.2% |
| 2008 | 96.05 deaths per 100,000 people | +2.8% |
| 2009 | 96.91 deaths per 100,000 people | +0.9% |
| 2010 | 105.05 deaths per 100,000 people | +8.4% |
| 2011 | 104.77 deaths per 100,000 people | -0.3% |
| 2012 | 104.65 deaths per 100,000 people | -0.1% |
| 2013 | 104.74 deaths per 100,000 people | +0.1% |
| 2014 | 106.25 deaths per 100,000 people | +1.4% |
| 2015 | 107.7 deaths per 100,000 people | +1.4% |
| 2016 | 108.53 deaths per 100,000 people | +0.8% |
| 2017 | 107.61 deaths per 100,000 people | -0.8% |
| 2018 | 107.49 deaths per 100,000 people | -0.1% |
| 2019 | 106.58 deaths per 100,000 people | -0.8% |
| 2020 | 95.94 deaths per 100,000 people | -10.0% |
| 2021 | 105.78 deaths per 100,000 people | +10.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 88.23 deaths per 100,000 people | 78.4 deaths per 100,000 people | 96.91 deaths per 100,000 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 106.34 deaths per 100,000 people | 104.65 deaths per 100,000 people | 108.53 deaths per 100,000 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 100.86 deaths per 100,000 people | 95.94 deaths per 100,000 people | 105.78 deaths per 100,000 people | 2 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 82 Mauritius 107.34 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 83 Costa Rica 107.32 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 84 Suriname 107.29 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 86 Peru 104.27 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 87 Samoa 103.81 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 88 Saint Lucia 103.72 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 0-14, female, annual growth rate 0.4769 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, female, per capita 0.1279 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, male, annual growth rate 0.5816 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, male, per capita 0.1293 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is death rate from cancer in South Africa?
- Death rate from cancer in South Africa was 105.78 deaths per 100,000 people in 2021, according to World Health Organization (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest death rate from cancer recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 108.53 deaths per 100,000 people in 2016.
- What is the lowest death rate from cancer recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 78.4 deaths per 100,000 people in 2000.
- How does South Africa rank for death rate from cancer?
- South Africa ranks 85th out of 194 countries with data for 2021.
- Is death rate from cancer rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from World Health Organization (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Death rate from cancer. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Estimated number of deaths from malignant neoplasms in both sexes, per 100,000 people.