Deaths in armed conflicts in South Africa
South Africa: Deaths in armed conflicts was 1 deaths in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Deaths in armed conflicts in South Africa, 1989–2025
Source: Uppsala Conflict Data Program (2026); geoBoundaries (2023) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in deaths.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 1 deaths for deaths in armed conflicts in 2025.
The figure is down 50.0% over five years.
Over the whole period, deaths in armed conflicts in South Africa peaked at 2,049 deaths in 1990 and was at its lowest, 0 deaths, in 1997.
That places South Africa 52nd out of 197 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Deaths in armed conflicts in South Africa, year by year
| Year | deaths | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1989 | 446 deaths | — |
| 1990 | 2,049 deaths | +359.4% |
| 1991 | 1,073 deaths | -47.6% |
| 1992 | 878 deaths | -18.2% |
| 1993 | 1,204 deaths | +37.1% |
| 1994 | 640 deaths | -46.8% |
| 1995 | 175 deaths | -72.7% |
| 1996 | 287 deaths | +64.0% |
| 1997 | 0 deaths | -100.0% |
| 1998 | 124 deaths | — |
| 1999 | 0 deaths | -100.0% |
| 2000 | 0 deaths | — |
| 2001 | 0 deaths | — |
| 2002 | 0 deaths | — |
| 2003 | 0 deaths | — |
| 2004 | 0 deaths | — |
| 2005 | 0 deaths | — |
| 2006 | 0 deaths | — |
| 2007 | 0 deaths | — |
| 2008 | 0 deaths | — |
| 2009 | 0 deaths | — |
| 2010 | 0 deaths | — |
| 2011 | 0 deaths | — |
| 2012 | 0 deaths | — |
| 2013 | 0 deaths | — |
| 2014 | 0 deaths | — |
| 2015 | 0 deaths | — |
| 2016 | 0 deaths | — |
| 2017 | 0 deaths | — |
| 2018 | 1 deaths | — |
| 2019 | 0 deaths | -100.0% |
| 2020 | 2 deaths | — |
| 2021 | 161 deaths | +7950.0% |
| 2022 | 0 deaths | -100.0% |
| 2023 | 0 deaths | — |
| 2024 | 0 deaths | — |
| 2025 | 1 deaths | — |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 1 deaths is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 0.5 deaths, 2.0× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Deaths in armed conflicts in South Africa changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | +7950.0% | 2 deaths | 161 deaths |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 446 deaths | 446 deaths | 446 deaths | 1 |
| 1990s | 643 deaths | 0 deaths | 2,049 deaths | 10 |
| 2000s | 0 deaths | 0 deaths | 0 deaths | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.1 deaths | 0 deaths | 1 deaths | 10 |
| 2020s | 27.33 deaths | 0 deaths | 161 deaths | 6 |
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)
- 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)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per capita 0.046 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is deaths in armed conflicts in South Africa?
- Deaths in armed conflicts in South Africa was 1 deaths in 2025, according to Uppsala Conflict Data Program (2026); geoBoundaries (2023) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest deaths in armed conflicts recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 2,049 deaths in 1990.
- What is the lowest deaths in armed conflicts recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 deaths in 1997.
- How does South Africa rank for deaths in armed conflicts?
- South Africa ranks 52nd out of 197 countries with data for 2025.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Uppsala Conflict Data Program (2026); geoBoundaries (2023) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Deaths in armed conflicts. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
High estimate of the number of deaths of combatants and civilians due to fighting in interstate, intrastate, extrasystemic, non-state conflicts, and one-sided violence that were ongoing that year.