Diarrheal disease deaths in South Africa
South Africa: Diarrheal disease deaths was 16,181 deaths in 2021. ▼ Falling
Diarrheal disease deaths 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 diarrheal disease deaths in South Africa is 16,181 deaths, measured in 2021. That is the lowest value across all 22 years on record.
That represents a change of down 7.8% on the previous year and down 5.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, diarrheal disease deaths in South Africa peaked at 19,953 deaths in 2007 and was at its lowest, 16,181 deaths, in 2021.
South Africa ranks 11th of 194 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 22 years of available data.
Diarrheal disease deaths in South Africa, year by year
| Year | deaths | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 16,653 deaths | — |
| 2001 | 16,894 deaths | +1.5% |
| 2002 | 17,830 deaths | +5.5% |
| 2003 | 18,223 deaths | +2.2% |
| 2004 | 18,598 deaths | +2.1% |
| 2005 | 19,133 deaths | +2.9% |
| 2006 | 19,741 deaths | +3.2% |
| 2007 | 19,953 deaths | +1.1% |
| 2008 | 18,055 deaths | -9.5% |
| 2009 | 16,367 deaths | -9.3% |
| 2010 | 18,414 deaths | +12.5% |
| 2011 | 17,193 deaths | -6.6% |
| 2012 | 17,513 deaths | +1.9% |
| 2013 | 17,597 deaths | +0.5% |
| 2014 | 17,565 deaths | -0.2% |
| 2015 | 17,352 deaths | -1.2% |
| 2016 | 16,726 deaths | -3.6% |
| 2017 | 16,202 deaths | -3.1% |
| 2018 | 16,374 deaths | +1.1% |
| 2019 | 16,376 deaths | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 17,548 deaths | +7.2% |
| 2021 | 16,181 deaths | -7.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 18,145 deaths | 16,367 deaths | 19,953 deaths | 10 |
| 2010s | 17,131 deaths | 16,202 deaths | 18,414 deaths | 10 |
| 2020s | 16,864 deaths | 16,181 deaths | 17,548 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)
- 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 diarrheal disease deaths in South Africa?
- Diarrheal disease deaths in South Africa was 16,181 deaths in 2021, according to World Health Organization (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest diarrheal disease deaths recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 19,953 deaths in 2007.
- What is the lowest diarrheal disease deaths recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 16,181 deaths in 2021.
- How does South Africa rank for diarrheal disease deaths?
- South Africa ranks 11th out of 194 countries with data for 2021.
- Is diarrheal disease deaths rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 5.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- 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 Diarrheal disease deaths. 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 diarrhoeal diseases in both sexes.