Diarrheal diseases death rate in South Africa
South Africa: Diarrheal diseases death rate was 27.24 deaths per 100,000 people in 2021. ▼ Falling
Diarrheal diseases death rate 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
In 2021, diarrheal diseases death rate in South Africa stood at 27.24 deaths per 100,000 people. That is the lowest value across all 22 years on record.
That represents a change of down 8.7% on the previous year and down 16.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, diarrheal diseases death rate in South Africa peaked at 39.91 deaths per 100,000 people in 2007 and was at its lowest, 27.24 deaths per 100,000 people, in 2021.
That places South Africa 31st out of 194 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 22 years of available data.
Diarrheal diseases death rate in South Africa, year by year
| Year | deaths per 100,000 people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 35.57 deaths per 100,000 people | — |
| 2001 | 35.77 deaths per 100,000 people | +0.6% |
| 2002 | 37.41 deaths per 100,000 people | +4.6% |
| 2003 | 37.88 deaths per 100,000 people | +1.3% |
| 2004 | 38.3 deaths per 100,000 people | +1.1% |
| 2005 | 39.03 deaths per 100,000 people | +1.9% |
| 2006 | 39.89 deaths per 100,000 people | +2.2% |
| 2007 | 39.91 deaths per 100,000 people | +0.1% |
| 2008 | 35.71 deaths per 100,000 people | -10.5% |
| 2009 | 31.99 deaths per 100,000 people | -10.4% |
| 2010 | 35.56 deaths per 100,000 people | +11.2% |
| 2011 | 32.78 deaths per 100,000 people | -7.8% |
| 2012 | 32.95 deaths per 100,000 people | +0.5% |
| 2013 | 32.66 deaths per 100,000 people | -0.9% |
| 2014 | 32.09 deaths per 100,000 people | -1.7% |
| 2015 | 31.05 deaths per 100,000 people | -3.2% |
| 2016 | 29.65 deaths per 100,000 people | -4.5% |
| 2017 | 28.6 deaths per 100,000 people | -3.5% |
| 2018 | 28.56 deaths per 100,000 people | -0.1% |
| 2019 | 28.19 deaths per 100,000 people | -1.3% |
| 2020 | 29.84 deaths per 100,000 people | +5.9% |
| 2021 | 27.24 deaths per 100,000 people | -8.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 37.15 deaths per 100,000 people | 31.99 deaths per 100,000 people | 39.91 deaths per 100,000 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 31.21 deaths per 100,000 people | 28.19 deaths per 100,000 people | 35.56 deaths per 100,000 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 28.54 deaths per 100,000 people | 27.24 deaths per 100,000 people | 29.84 deaths per 100,000 people | 2 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 28 Zimbabwe 30.91 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 29 Côte d'Ivoire 29.39 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 30 Djibouti 29.16 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 32 Liberia 25.9 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 33 Comoros 25.66 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 34 Zambia 25.04 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 75-79, female, annual growth rate 7.34 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 75-79, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 75-79, female, per capita 0.0067 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 75-79, male, annual growth rate 8.95 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 75-79, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 75-79, male, per capita 0.0039 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is diarrheal diseases death rate in South Africa?
- Diarrheal diseases death rate in South Africa was 27.24 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 diarrheal diseases death rate recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 39.91 deaths per 100,000 people in 2007.
- What is the lowest diarrheal diseases death rate recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 27.24 deaths per 100,000 people in 2021.
- How does South Africa rank for diarrheal diseases death rate?
- South Africa ranks 31st out of 194 countries with data for 2021.
- Is diarrheal diseases death rate rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 16.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- 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 Diarrheal diseases death rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Estimated number of deaths from diarrhoeal diseases in both sexes, per 100,000 people.