Deaths by age group in South Africa
South Africa: Deaths by age group was 2,373 in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Deaths by age group in South Africa, 1950–2023
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2023, deaths by age group in South Africa stood at 2,373. That is the highest value across all 74 years on record.
The figure is up 39.3% on the previous year and up 246.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, deaths by age group in South Africa peaked at 2,373 in 2023 and was at its lowest, 45, in 1957.
South Africa ranks 21st of 236 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Deaths by age group in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 57 | — |
| 1951 | 54 | -5.3% |
| 1952 | 52 | -3.7% |
| 1953 | 50 | -3.8% |
| 1954 | 48 | -4.0% |
| 1955 | 47 | -2.1% |
| 1956 | 46 | -2.1% |
| 1957 | 45 | -2.2% |
| 1958 | 45 | +0.0% |
| 1959 | 45 | +0.0% |
| 1960 | 46 | +2.2% |
| 1961 | 47 | +2.2% |
| 1962 | 48 | +2.1% |
| 1963 | 49 | +2.1% |
| 1964 | 51 | +4.1% |
| 1965 | 52 | +2.0% |
| 1966 | 54 | +3.8% |
| 1967 | 55 | +1.9% |
| 1968 | 57 | +3.6% |
| 1969 | 58 | +1.8% |
| 1970 | 60 | +3.4% |
| 1971 | 61 | +1.7% |
| 1972 | 63 | +3.3% |
| 1973 | 65 | +3.2% |
| 1974 | 66 | +1.5% |
| 1975 | 68 | +3.0% |
| 1976 | 70 | +2.9% |
| 1977 | 72 | +2.9% |
| 1978 | 75 | +4.2% |
| 1979 | 78 | +4.0% |
| 1980 | 82 | +5.1% |
| 1981 | 86 | +4.9% |
| 1982 | 90 | +4.7% |
| 1983 | 95 | +5.6% |
| 1984 | 99 | +4.2% |
| 1985 | 104 | +5.1% |
| 1986 | 109 | +4.8% |
| 1987 | 115 | +5.5% |
| 1988 | 120 | +4.3% |
| 1989 | 125 | +4.2% |
| 1990 | 132 | +5.6% |
| 1991 | 139 | +5.3% |
| 1992 | 147 | +5.8% |
| 1993 | 156 | +6.1% |
| 1994 | 166 | +6.4% |
| 1995 | 177 | +6.6% |
| 1996 | 178 | +0.6% |
| 1997 | 191 | +7.3% |
| 1998 | 206 | +7.9% |
| 1999 | 224 | +8.7% |
| 2000 | 236 | +5.4% |
| 2001 | 268 | +13.6% |
| 2002 | 295 | +10.1% |
| 2003 | 329 | +11.5% |
| 2004 | 346 | +5.2% |
| 2005 | 385 | +11.3% |
| 2006 | 425 | +10.4% |
| 2007 | 455 | +7.1% |
| 2008 | 477 | +4.8% |
| 2009 | 520 | +9.0% |
| 2010 | 544 | +4.6% |
| 2011 | 652 | +19.9% |
| 2012 | 616 | -5.5% |
| 2013 | 685 | +11.2% |
| 2014 | 693 | +1.2% |
| 2015 | 574 | -17.2% |
| 2016 | 652 | +13.6% |
| 2017 | 753 | +15.5% |
| 2018 | 890 | +18.2% |
| 2019 | 1,101 | +23.7% |
| 2020 | 1,273 | +15.6% |
| 2021 | 1,771 | +39.1% |
| 2022 | 1,703 | -3.8% |
| 2023 | 2,373 | +39.3% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 2,373 is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 40.5, 58.6× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 2,373 is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 16, 148.3× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Deaths by age group in South Africa changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | +39.3% | 1,703 | 2,373 |
| 2021 | +39.1% | 1,273 | 1,771 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 48.9 | 45 | 57 | 10 |
| 1960s | 51.7 | 46 | 58 | 10 |
| 1970s | 67.8 | 60 | 78 | 10 |
| 1980s | 102.5 | 82 | 125 | 10 |
| 1990s | 171.6 | 132 | 224 | 10 |
| 2000s | 373.6 | 236 | 520 | 10 |
| 2010s | 716 | 544 | 1,101 | 10 |
| 2020s | 1,780 | 1,273 | 2,373 | 4 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
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)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 3,333 (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -0.5504 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.045 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 0.0003 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per capita 0.046 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is deaths by age group in South Africa?
- Deaths by age group in South Africa was 2,373 in 2023, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest deaths by age group recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 2,373 in 2023.
- What is the lowest deaths by age group recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 45 in 1957.
- How does South Africa rank for deaths by age group?
- South Africa ranks 21st out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is deaths by age group rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 246.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Deaths by age group. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 74 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).