Estimated number of malaria cases in South Africa
South Africa: Estimated number of malaria cases was 735 in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Estimated number of malaria cases in South Africa, 2000–2024
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for estimated number of malaria cases in South Africa is 735, measured in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 25 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 86.1% on the previous year and down 93.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, estimated number of malaria cases in South Africa peaked at 26,506 in 2001 and was at its lowest, 735, in 2024.
That places South Africa 69th out of 109 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Estimated number of malaria cases in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 18,202 | — |
| 2001 | 26,506 | +45.6% |
| 2002 | 15,649 | -41.0% |
| 2003 | 13,459 | -14.0% |
| 2004 | 13,399 | -0.4% |
| 2005 | 7,755 | -42.1% |
| 2006 | 12,098 | +56.0% |
| 2007 | 6,327 | -47.7% |
| 2008 | 7,796 | +23.2% |
| 2009 | 6,072 | -22.1% |
| 2010 | 8,060 | +32.7% |
| 2011 | 9,866 | +22.4% |
| 2012 | 6,621 | -32.9% |
| 2013 | 8,645 | +30.6% |
| 2014 | 11,705 | +35.4% |
| 2015 | 4,959 | -57.6% |
| 2016 | 4,323 | -12.8% |
| 2017 | 23,381 | +440.9% |
| 2018 | 9,562 | -59.1% |
| 2019 | 4,821 | -49.6% |
| 2020 | 4,463 | -7.4% |
| 2021 | 2,972 | -33.4% |
| 2022 | 2,043 | -31.3% |
| 2023 | 5,291 | +159.0% |
| 2024 | 735 | -86.1% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 735 is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 19, 38.7× the median. (33 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 735 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 3.03 million, 0% of the median. (45 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Estimated number of malaria cases 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | +440.9% | 4,323 | 23,381 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 12,726 | 6,072 | 26,506 | 10 |
| 2010s | 9,194 | 4,323 | 23,381 | 10 |
| 2020s | 3,101 | 735 | 5,291 | 5 |
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)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 3,333 (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 estimated number of malaria cases in South Africa?
- Estimated number of malaria cases in South Africa was 735 in 2024, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest estimated number of malaria cases recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 26,506 in 2001.
- What is the lowest estimated number of malaria cases recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 735 in 2024.
- How does South Africa rank for estimated number of malaria cases?
- South Africa ranks 69th out of 109 countries with data for 2024.
- Is estimated number of malaria cases rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 93.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Estimated number of malaria cases. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 25 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).