Death rate from diabetes in South Africa
South Africa: Death rate from diabetes was 102.05 deaths per 100,000 people in 2020. ▲ Rising
Latest (2020)
102.05 deaths per 100,000 people
Change on year
up 14.3%
World rank
5th
of 111 countries
All-time high
125.52 deaths per 100,000 people
in 2006
All-time low
40.88 deaths per 100,000 people
in 1996
Years of data
25
1996–2020
Death rate from diabetes 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
South Africa recorded 102.05 deaths per 100,000 people for death rate from diabetes in 2020.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 14.3% on the previous year and down 10.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, death rate from diabetes in South Africa peaked at 125.52 deaths per 100,000 people in 2006 and was at its lowest, 40.88 deaths per 100,000 people, in 1996.
South Africa ranks 5th of 111 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 25 years of available data.
Death rate from diabetes in South Africa, year by year
| Year | deaths per 100,000 people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1996 | 40.88 deaths per 100,000 people | — |
| 1997 | 64.95 deaths per 100,000 people | +58.9% |
| 1998 | 78.46 deaths per 100,000 people | +20.8% |
| 1999 | 85.31 deaths per 100,000 people | +8.7% |
| 2000 | 96.27 deaths per 100,000 people | +12.9% |
| 2001 | 99.27 deaths per 100,000 people | +3.1% |
| 2002 | 105.32 deaths per 100,000 people | +6.1% |
| 2003 | 114.58 deaths per 100,000 people | +8.8% |
| 2004 | 115.59 deaths per 100,000 people | +0.9% |
| 2005 | 123.41 deaths per 100,000 people | +6.8% |
| 2006 | 125.52 deaths per 100,000 people | +1.7% |
| 2007 | 124.67 deaths per 100,000 people | -0.7% |
| 2008 | 118.44 deaths per 100,000 people | -5.0% |
| 2009 | 117.1 deaths per 100,000 people | -1.1% |
| 2010 | 114.21 deaths per 100,000 people | -2.5% |
| 2011 | 109.25 deaths per 100,000 people | -4.3% |
| 2012 | 105.18 deaths per 100,000 people | -3.7% |
| 2013 | 97.74 deaths per 100,000 people | -7.1% |
| 2014 | 96.24 deaths per 100,000 people | -1.5% |
| 2015 | 108.2 deaths per 100,000 people | +12.4% |
| 2016 | 107.09 deaths per 100,000 people | -1.0% |
| 2017 | 98.21 deaths per 100,000 people | -8.3% |
| 2018 | 96.29 deaths per 100,000 people | -2.0% |
| 2019 | 89.28 deaths per 100,000 people | -7.3% |
| 2020 | 102.05 deaths per 100,000 people | +14.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 67.4 deaths per 100,000 people | 40.88 deaths per 100,000 people | 85.31 deaths per 100,000 people | 4 |
| 2000s | 114.02 deaths per 100,000 people | 96.27 deaths per 100,000 people | 125.52 deaths per 100,000 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 102.17 deaths per 100,000 people | 89.28 deaths per 100,000 people | 114.21 deaths per 100,000 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 102.05 deaths per 100,000 people | 102.05 deaths per 100,000 people | 102.05 deaths per 100,000 people | 1 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 2 Guyana 169.69 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 3 Mauritius 145.66 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 4 Trinidad and Tobago 122.86 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 6 Bahrain 99.16 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 7 Grenada 98.8 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 8 Mexico 93.85 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 80 and above, female, per capita 0.0081 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 80 and above, male, annual growth rate 2.35 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 80 and above, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 80 and above, male, per capita 0.0035 units per person (2025)
- Pertussis - number of reported cases, gaps filled 5,666 (2025)
- Pertussis - number of reported cases, per capita 0.0001 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is death rate from diabetes in South Africa?
- Death rate from diabetes in South Africa was 102.05 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 diabetes recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 125.52 deaths per 100,000 people in 2006.
- What is the lowest death rate from diabetes recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 40.88 deaths per 100,000 people in 1996.
- How does South Africa rank for death rate from diabetes?
- South Africa ranks 5th out of 111 countries with data for 2020.
- Is death rate from diabetes rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 10.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- 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 diabetes. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Reported deaths from diabetes mellitus, blood and endocrine disorders in both sexes in those aged all ages per 100,000 people.