Deaths from cancer in South Africa
South Africa: Deaths from cancer was 62,822 deaths in 2021. ▲ Rising
Deaths from cancer in South Africa, 2000–2021
Source: World Health Organization (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in deaths.
Analysis
The most recent figure for deaths from cancer in South Africa is 62,822 deaths, measured in 2021. That is the highest value across all 22 years on record.
The figure is up 11.4% on the previous year and up 14.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, deaths from cancer in South Africa peaked at 62,822 deaths in 2021 and was at its lowest, 36,700 deaths, in 2000.
That places South Africa 28th 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.
Deaths from cancer in South Africa, year by year
| Year | deaths | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 36,700 deaths | — |
| 2001 | 37,250 deaths | +1.5% |
| 2002 | 41,361 deaths | +11.0% |
| 2003 | 39,925 deaths | -3.5% |
| 2004 | 42,228 deaths | +5.8% |
| 2005 | 43,900 deaths | +4.0% |
| 2006 | 45,708 deaths | +4.1% |
| 2007 | 46,706 deaths | +2.2% |
| 2008 | 48,568 deaths | +4.0% |
| 2009 | 49,592 deaths | +2.1% |
| 2010 | 54,402 deaths | +9.7% |
| 2011 | 54,945 deaths | +1.0% |
| 2012 | 55,618 deaths | +1.2% |
| 2013 | 56,427 deaths | +1.5% |
| 2014 | 58,152 deaths | +3.1% |
| 2015 | 60,181 deaths | +3.5% |
| 2016 | 61,235 deaths | +1.8% |
| 2017 | 60,949 deaths | -0.5% |
| 2018 | 61,633 deaths | +1.1% |
| 2019 | 61,912 deaths | +0.5% |
| 2020 | 56,415 deaths | -8.9% |
| 2021 | 62,822 deaths | +11.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 43,194 deaths | 36,700 deaths | 49,592 deaths | 10 |
| 2010s | 58,545 deaths | 54,402 deaths | 61,912 deaths | 10 |
| 2020s | 59,619 deaths | 56,415 deaths | 62,822 deaths | 2 |
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)
- 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)
- Total tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 22 (2025)
- Total tetanus - number of reported cases, per capita 0 units per person (2025)
- Diphtheria - number of reported cases, gaps filled 314 (2025)
- Diphtheria - number of reported cases, per capita 0 units per person (2025)
- Measles - number of reported cases, gaps filled 2,778 (2025)
- Measles - number of reported cases, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is deaths from cancer in South Africa?
- Deaths from cancer in South Africa was 62,822 deaths in 2021, according to World Health Organization (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest deaths from cancer recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 62,822 deaths in 2021.
- What is the lowest deaths from cancer recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 36,700 deaths in 2000.
- How does South Africa rank for deaths from cancer?
- South Africa ranks 28th out of 194 countries with data for 2021.
- Is deaths from cancer rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 14.3%. 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 Deaths from cancer. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 22 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Estimated number of deaths from malignant neoplasms in both sexes.