Deaths from fires and burns in South Africa
South Africa: Deaths from fires and burns was 3,603 deaths in 2021. ▲ Rising
Deaths from fires and burns in South Africa, 2000–2021
Source: World Health Organization (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in deaths.
Analysis
In 2021, deaths from fires and burns in South Africa stood at 3,603 deaths. That is the highest value across all 22 years on record.
That represents a change of up 2.6% on the previous year and up 19.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, deaths from fires and burns in South Africa peaked at 3,603 deaths in 2021 and was at its lowest, 1,996 deaths, in 2000.
That places South Africa 7th 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 fires and burns in South Africa, year by year
| Year | deaths | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 1,996 deaths | — |
| 2001 | 2,055 deaths | +3.0% |
| 2002 | 2,230 deaths | +8.5% |
| 2003 | 2,381 deaths | +6.8% |
| 2004 | 2,431 deaths | +2.1% |
| 2005 | 2,378 deaths | -2.2% |
| 2006 | 2,469 deaths | +3.8% |
| 2007 | 2,552 deaths | +3.4% |
| 2008 | 2,778 deaths | +8.9% |
| 2009 | 2,711 deaths | -2.4% |
| 2010 | 3,251 deaths | +19.9% |
| 2011 | 3,012 deaths | -7.3% |
| 2012 | 3,069 deaths | +1.9% |
| 2013 | 3,083 deaths | +0.4% |
| 2014 | 3,242 deaths | +5.1% |
| 2015 | 3,363 deaths | +3.7% |
| 2016 | 3,224 deaths | -4.1% |
| 2017 | 3,042 deaths | -5.7% |
| 2018 | 3,144 deaths | +3.4% |
| 2019 | 3,255 deaths | +3.5% |
| 2020 | 3,512 deaths | +7.9% |
| 2021 | 3,603 deaths | +2.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 2,398 deaths | 1,996 deaths | 2,778 deaths | 10 |
| 2010s | 3,168 deaths | 3,012 deaths | 3,363 deaths | 10 |
| 2020s | 3,557 deaths | 3,512 deaths | 3,603 deaths | 2 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 4 Pakistan 6,151 deaths compare
- 5 Russian Federation 4,188 deaths compare
- 6 Congo, Democratic Republic of the 3,646 deaths compare
- 8 United States 3,515 deaths compare
- 9 Ethiopia 3,059 deaths compare
- 10 Tanzania, United Republic of 1,986 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)
- 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 deaths from fires and burns in South Africa?
- Deaths from fires and burns in South Africa was 3,603 deaths in 2021, according to World Health Organization (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest deaths from fires and burns recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 3,603 deaths in 2021.
- What is the lowest deaths from fires and burns recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 1,996 deaths in 2000.
- How does South Africa rank for deaths from fires and burns?
- South Africa ranks 7th out of 194 countries with data for 2021.
- Is deaths from fires and burns rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 19.6%. 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 fires and burns. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Estimated number of deaths from fire, heat and hot substances in both sexes.