Mental health and substance use disorders deaths in South Africa
South Africa: Mental health and substance use disorders deaths was 2,033 deaths in 2021. ▲ Rising
Mental health and substance use disorders 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 mental health and substance use disorders deaths in South Africa is 2,033 deaths, measured in 2021. That is the highest value across all 22 years on record.
The figure is up 1.6% on the previous year and up 26.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, mental health and substance use disorders deaths in South Africa peaked at 2,033 deaths in 2021 and was at its lowest, 1,015 deaths, in 2001.
South Africa ranks 19th of 194 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 22 years of available data.
Mental health and substance use disorders deaths in South Africa, year by year
| Year | deaths | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 1,022 deaths | — |
| 2001 | 1,015 deaths | -0.7% |
| 2002 | 1,160 deaths | +14.3% |
| 2003 | 1,214 deaths | +4.6% |
| 2004 | 1,189 deaths | -2.0% |
| 2005 | 1,138 deaths | -4.2% |
| 2006 | 1,175 deaths | +3.2% |
| 2007 | 1,172 deaths | -0.2% |
| 2008 | 1,316 deaths | +12.3% |
| 2009 | 1,311 deaths | -0.4% |
| 2010 | 1,680 deaths | +28.1% |
| 2011 | 1,610 deaths | -4.1% |
| 2012 | 1,661 deaths | +3.2% |
| 2013 | 1,674 deaths | +0.7% |
| 2014 | 1,775 deaths | +6.0% |
| 2015 | 1,847 deaths | +4.1% |
| 2016 | 1,813 deaths | -1.8% |
| 2017 | 1,724 deaths | -4.9% |
| 2018 | 1,776 deaths | +3.1% |
| 2019 | 1,837 deaths | +3.4% |
| 2020 | 2,001 deaths | +8.9% |
| 2021 | 2,033 deaths | +1.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 1,171 deaths | 1,015 deaths | 1,316 deaths | 10 |
| 2010s | 1,740 deaths | 1,610 deaths | 1,847 deaths | 10 |
| 2020s | 2,017 deaths | 2,001 deaths | 2,033 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)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -0.5504 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.045 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 0.0003 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is mental health and substance use disorders deaths in South Africa?
- Mental health and substance use disorders deaths in South Africa was 2,033 deaths in 2021, according to World Health Organization (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest mental health and substance use disorders deaths recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 2,033 deaths in 2021.
- What is the lowest mental health and substance use disorders deaths recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 1,015 deaths in 2001.
- How does South Africa rank for mental health and substance use disorders deaths?
- South Africa ranks 19th out of 194 countries with data for 2021.
- Is mental health and substance use disorders deaths rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 26.3%. 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 Mental health and substance use disorders deaths. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Estimated number of deaths from mental and substance use disorders in both sexes.