Deaths from malnutrition in South Africa
South Africa: Deaths from malnutrition was 2,514 deaths in 2021. ▼ Falling
Deaths from malnutrition 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 malnutrition in South Africa stood at 2,514 deaths. That is the lowest value across all 22 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 8.0% on the previous year and down 12.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, deaths from malnutrition in South Africa peaked at 3,384 deaths in 2007 and was at its lowest, 2,514 deaths, in 2021.
South Africa ranks 22nd of 194 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 22 years of available data.
Deaths from malnutrition in South Africa, year by year
| Year | deaths | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 2,804 deaths | — |
| 2001 | 2,881 deaths | +2.7% |
| 2002 | 2,936 deaths | +1.9% |
| 2003 | 2,940 deaths | +0.1% |
| 2004 | 3,045 deaths | +3.6% |
| 2005 | 3,162 deaths | +3.8% |
| 2006 | 3,294 deaths | +4.2% |
| 2007 | 3,384 deaths | +2.7% |
| 2008 | 3,138 deaths | -7.3% |
| 2009 | 2,800 deaths | -10.8% |
| 2010 | 3,211 deaths | +14.7% |
| 2011 | 2,876 deaths | -10.4% |
| 2012 | 2,901 deaths | +0.9% |
| 2013 | 2,860 deaths | -1.4% |
| 2014 | 2,813 deaths | -1.7% |
| 2015 | 2,779 deaths | -1.2% |
| 2016 | 2,691 deaths | -3.2% |
| 2017 | 2,573 deaths | -4.4% |
| 2018 | 2,577 deaths | +0.1% |
| 2019 | 2,516 deaths | -2.4% |
| 2020 | 2,732 deaths | +8.6% |
| 2021 | 2,514 deaths | -8.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 3,038 deaths | 2,800 deaths | 3,384 deaths | 10 |
| 2010s | 2,780 deaths | 2,516 deaths | 3,211 deaths | 10 |
| 2020s | 2,623 deaths | 2,514 deaths | 2,732 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 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 malnutrition in South Africa?
- Deaths from malnutrition in South Africa was 2,514 deaths in 2021, according to World Health Organization (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest deaths from malnutrition recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 3,384 deaths in 2007.
- What is the lowest deaths from malnutrition recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 2,514 deaths in 2021.
- How does South Africa rank for deaths from malnutrition?
- South Africa ranks 22nd out of 194 countries with data for 2021.
- Is deaths from malnutrition rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 12.6%. 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 Deaths from malnutrition. 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 protein-energy malnutrition in both sexes.