Death rate from meningitis in South Africa
South Africa: Death rate from meningitis was 5.96 deaths per 100,000 people in 2021. ▲ Rising
Latest (2021)
5.96 deaths per 100,000 people
Change on year
up 0.5%
World rank
41st
of 194 countries
All-time high
8.1 deaths per 100,000 people
in 2010
All-time low
4.38 deaths per 100,000 people
in 2000
Years of data
22
2000–2021
Death rate from meningitis 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, death rate from meningitis in South Africa stood at 5.96 deaths per 100,000 people.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.5% on the previous year and down 18.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, death rate from meningitis in South Africa peaked at 8.1 deaths per 100,000 people in 2010 and was at its lowest, 4.38 deaths per 100,000 people, in 2000.
That places South Africa 41st out of 194 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 22 years of available data.
Death rate from meningitis in South Africa, year by year
| Year | deaths per 100,000 people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 4.38 deaths per 100,000 people | — |
| 2001 | 4.55 deaths per 100,000 people | +3.9% |
| 2002 | 5.11 deaths per 100,000 people | +12.3% |
| 2003 | 5.67 deaths per 100,000 people | +11.0% |
| 2004 | 6.01 deaths per 100,000 people | +6.0% |
| 2005 | 6.1 deaths per 100,000 people | +1.5% |
| 2006 | 6.46 deaths per 100,000 people | +5.9% |
| 2007 | 6.89 deaths per 100,000 people | +6.7% |
| 2008 | 7.22 deaths per 100,000 people | +4.8% |
| 2009 | 6.99 deaths per 100,000 people | -3.2% |
| 2010 | 8.1 deaths per 100,000 people | +15.9% |
| 2011 | 7.33 deaths per 100,000 people | -9.5% |
| 2012 | 7.15 deaths per 100,000 people | -2.5% |
| 2013 | 6.92 deaths per 100,000 people | -3.2% |
| 2014 | 6.79 deaths per 100,000 people | -1.9% |
| 2015 | 6.44 deaths per 100,000 people | -5.2% |
| 2016 | 5.81 deaths per 100,000 people | -9.8% |
| 2017 | 5.39 deaths per 100,000 people | -7.2% |
| 2018 | 5.49 deaths per 100,000 people | +1.9% |
| 2019 | 5.6 deaths per 100,000 people | +2.0% |
| 2020 | 5.93 deaths per 100,000 people | +5.9% |
| 2021 | 5.96 deaths per 100,000 people | +0.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 5.94 deaths per 100,000 people | 4.38 deaths per 100,000 people | 7.22 deaths per 100,000 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 6.5 deaths per 100,000 people | 5.39 deaths per 100,000 people | 8.1 deaths per 100,000 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 5.95 deaths per 100,000 people | 5.93 deaths per 100,000 people | 5.96 deaths per 100,000 people | 2 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 38 Tanzania, United Republic of 6.74 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 39 Kenya 6.59 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 40 Gabon 6.11 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 42 Pakistan 5.9 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 43 Congo 5.2 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 44 Mauritania 5.16 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 meningitis in South Africa?
- Death rate from meningitis in South Africa was 5.96 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 meningitis recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 8.1 deaths per 100,000 people in 2010.
- What is the lowest death rate from meningitis recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.38 deaths per 100,000 people in 2000.
- How does South Africa rank for death rate from meningitis?
- South Africa ranks 41st out of 194 countries with data for 2021.
- Is death rate from meningitis rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 18.7%. 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 meningitis. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Estimated number of deaths from meningitis in both sexes, per 100,000 people.