Death rate from digestive diseases in South Africa
South Africa: Death rate from digestive diseases was 22.61 deaths per 100,000 people in 2020. ▼ Falling
Death rate from digestive diseases 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 digestive diseases in South Africa is 22.61 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 11.4% on the previous year and down 40.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, death rate from digestive diseases in South Africa peaked at 47.5 deaths per 100,000 people in 2005 and was at its lowest, 22.61 deaths per 100,000 people, in 2020.
South Africa ranks 47th of 111 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 25 years of available data.
Death rate from digestive diseases in South Africa, year by year
| Year | deaths per 100,000 people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1996 | 31.81 deaths per 100,000 people | — |
| 1997 | 33.22 deaths per 100,000 people | +4.4% |
| 1998 | 35.03 deaths per 100,000 people | +5.4% |
| 1999 | 36.6 deaths per 100,000 people | +4.5% |
| 2000 | 39.14 deaths per 100,000 people | +6.9% |
| 2001 | 42.88 deaths per 100,000 people | +9.6% |
| 2002 | 42.21 deaths per 100,000 people | -1.6% |
| 2003 | 44.9 deaths per 100,000 people | +6.4% |
| 2004 | 47.48 deaths per 100,000 people | +5.8% |
| 2005 | 47.5 deaths per 100,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 47.15 deaths per 100,000 people | -0.7% |
| 2007 | 44.63 deaths per 100,000 people | -5.3% |
| 2008 | 42.59 deaths per 100,000 people | -4.6% |
| 2009 | 40.22 deaths per 100,000 people | -5.6% |
| 2010 | 37.92 deaths per 100,000 people | -5.7% |
| 2011 | 35.91 deaths per 100,000 people | -5.3% |
| 2012 | 33.43 deaths per 100,000 people | -6.9% |
| 2013 | 30.53 deaths per 100,000 people | -8.7% |
| 2014 | 29.87 deaths per 100,000 people | -2.2% |
| 2015 | 30.32 deaths per 100,000 people | +1.5% |
| 2016 | 29.12 deaths per 100,000 people | -3.9% |
| 2017 | 27.93 deaths per 100,000 people | -4.1% |
| 2018 | 26.44 deaths per 100,000 people | -5.3% |
| 2019 | 25.53 deaths per 100,000 people | -3.4% |
| 2020 | 22.61 deaths per 100,000 people | -11.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 34.16 deaths per 100,000 people | 31.81 deaths per 100,000 people | 36.6 deaths per 100,000 people | 4 |
| 2000s | 43.87 deaths per 100,000 people | 39.14 deaths per 100,000 people | 47.5 deaths per 100,000 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 30.7 deaths per 100,000 people | 25.53 deaths per 100,000 people | 37.92 deaths per 100,000 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 22.61 deaths per 100,000 people | 22.61 deaths per 100,000 people | 22.61 deaths per 100,000 people | 1 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 44 United States 23.33 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 45 Armenia 23.25 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 46 Colombia 23.06 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 48 Thailand 22.42 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 49 Puerto Rico 22.28 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 50 Bahamas 21.98 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 digestive diseases in South Africa?
- Death rate from digestive diseases in South Africa was 22.61 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 digestive diseases recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 47.5 deaths per 100,000 people in 2005.
- What is the lowest death rate from digestive diseases recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 22.61 deaths per 100,000 people in 2020.
- How does South Africa rank for death rate from digestive diseases?
- South Africa ranks 47th out of 111 countries with data for 2020.
- Is death rate from digestive diseases rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 40.4%. 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 digestive diseases. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Reported deaths from digestive diseases in both sexes in those aged all ages per 100,000 people.