Deaths from diabetes in South Africa
South Africa: Deaths from diabetes was 32,552 deaths in 2021. ▲ Rising
Deaths from diabetes in South Africa, 2000–2021
Source: World Health Organization (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in deaths.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 32,552 deaths for deaths from diabetes in 2021.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 10.5% on the previous year and up 26.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, deaths from diabetes in South Africa peaked at 36,381 deaths in 2020 and was at its lowest, 12,436 deaths, in 2000.
That places South Africa 11th out of 194 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 22 years of available data.
Deaths from diabetes in South Africa, year by year
| Year | deaths | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 12,436 deaths | — |
| 2001 | 12,781 deaths | +2.8% |
| 2002 | 14,491 deaths | +13.4% |
| 2003 | 15,763 deaths | +8.8% |
| 2004 | 16,389 deaths | +4.0% |
| 2005 | 16,919 deaths | +3.2% |
| 2006 | 19,482 deaths | +15.1% |
| 2007 | 20,651 deaths | +6.0% |
| 2008 | 22,105 deaths | +7.0% |
| 2009 | 22,743 deaths | +2.9% |
| 2010 | 26,105 deaths | +14.8% |
| 2011 | 25,736 deaths | -1.4% |
| 2012 | 26,943 deaths | +4.7% |
| 2013 | 27,641 deaths | +2.6% |
| 2014 | 29,092 deaths | +5.2% |
| 2015 | 30,503 deaths | +4.9% |
| 2016 | 30,631 deaths | +0.4% |
| 2017 | 29,914 deaths | -2.3% |
| 2018 | 30,120 deaths | +0.7% |
| 2019 | 29,649 deaths | -1.6% |
| 2020 | 36,381 deaths | +22.7% |
| 2021 | 32,552 deaths | -10.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 17,376 deaths | 12,436 deaths | 22,743 deaths | 10 |
| 2010s | 28,633 deaths | 25,736 deaths | 30,631 deaths | 10 |
| 2020s | 34,467 deaths | 32,552 deaths | 36,381 deaths | 2 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 8 Russian Federation 37,586 deaths compare
- 9 Philippines 37,246 deaths compare
- 10 Viet Nam 32,628 deaths compare
- 12 Bangladesh 31,150 deaths compare
- 13 Nigeria 27,997 deaths compare
- 14 Thailand 26,245 deaths 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)
- 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 diabetes in South Africa?
- Deaths from diabetes in South Africa was 32,552 deaths in 2021, according to World Health Organization (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest deaths from diabetes recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 36,381 deaths in 2020.
- What is the lowest deaths from diabetes recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 12,436 deaths in 2000.
- How does South Africa rank for deaths from diabetes?
- South Africa ranks 11th out of 194 countries with data for 2021.
- Is deaths from diabetes rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 26.5%. 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 diabetes. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Estimated number of deaths from diabetes mellitus in both sexes.