Hospital beds by function of healthcare in South Africa

South Africa: Hospital beds by function of healthcare was 2.29 Per 1 000 inhabitants in 2010. ▼ Falling

Latest (2010)
2.29 Per 1 000 inhabitants
Change on year
down 3.4%
World rank
36th
of 44 countries
All-time high
3.09 Per 1 000 inhabitants
in 2002
All-time low
2.29 Per 1 000 inhabitants
in 2010
Years of data
7
1998–2010

Hospital beds by function of healthcare in South Africa, 1998–2010

01231998200420101998: 2.8 Per 1 000 inhabitants1999: 2.8 Per 1 000 inhabitants2002: 3.1 Per 1 000 inhabitants2004: 2.9 Per 1 000 inhabitants2007: 2.4 Per 1 000 inhabitants2008: 2.4 Per 1 000 inhabitants2010: 2.3 Per 1 000 inhabitants

Source: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Measured in Per 1 000 inhabitants.

Analysis

In 2010, hospital beds by function of healthcare in South Africa stood at 2.29 Per 1 000 inhabitants. That is the lowest value across all 7 years on record.

That represents a change of down 3.4% on the previous year and down 17.0% over ten years.

Over the whole period, hospital beds by function of healthcare in South Africa peaked at 3.09 Per 1 000 inhabitants in 2002 and was at its lowest, 2.29 Per 1 000 inhabitants, in 2010.

South Africa ranks 36th of 44 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.

Hospital beds by function of healthcare in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for Hospital beds by function of healthcare in South Africa, 1998 to 2010.
Year Per 1 000 inhabitants Change
1998 2.78 Per 1 000 inhabitants
1999 2.76 Per 1 000 inhabitants -0.7%
2002 3.09 Per 1 000 inhabitants +12.0%
2004 2.86 Per 1 000 inhabitants -7.4%
2007 2.4 Per 1 000 inhabitants -16.1%
2008 2.37 Per 1 000 inhabitants -1.2%
2010 2.29 Per 1 000 inhabitants -3.4%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 2.77 Per 1 000 inhabitants 2.76 Per 1 000 inhabitants 2.78 Per 1 000 inhabitants 2
2000s 2.68 Per 1 000 inhabitants 2.37 Per 1 000 inhabitants 3.09 Per 1 000 inhabitants 4
2010s 2.29 Per 1 000 inhabitants 2.29 Per 1 000 inhabitants 2.29 Per 1 000 inhabitants 1

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 33 Brazil 2.47 Per 1 000 inhabitants compare
  2. 34 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 2.44 Per 1 000 inhabitants compare
  3. 35 Canada 2.38 Per 1 000 inhabitants compare
  4. 37 Denmark 2.07 Per 1 000 inhabitants compare
  5. 38 Chile 1.92 Per 1 000 inhabitants compare
  6. 39 Colombia 1.89 Per 1 000 inhabitants

See the full ranking of 55 places →

More health data for South Africa

All data for South Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is hospital beds by function of healthcare in South Africa?
Hospital beds by function of healthcare in South Africa was 2.29 Per 1 000 inhabitants in 2010, according to Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
What is the highest hospital beds by function of healthcare recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 3.09 Per 1 000 inhabitants in 2002.
What is the lowest hospital beds by function of healthcare recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 2.29 Per 1 000 inhabitants in 2010.
How does South Africa rank for hospital beds by function of healthcare?
South Africa ranks 36th out of 44 countries with data for 2010.
Is hospital beds by function of healthcare rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is down 17.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this South Africa data come from?
The figures come from Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, published as part of Hospital beds by function of healthcare. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Hospital beds by function of healthcare in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Retrieved 07 September 2026, from https://health.statizoid.com/stat/hospital-beds-by-function-of-healthcare/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Hospital beds by function of healthcare
Unit
Per 1 000 inhabitants
Source
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
Licence
OECD Terms and Conditions (attribution required)
Coverage
55 places, 1,821 data points, 1960–2025
Last refreshed

This dataset provides data on the number of total hospitals beds by function of healthcare and by type of care (ie. somatic or psychiatric care). Total hospital beds are all hospital (HP.1) beds which are regularly maintained and staffed and immediately available for the care of admitted patients. They are the sum of the following categories: Curative care (acute care) beds in hospitals Rehabilitative care beds in hospitals Long-term care beds in hospitals All other beds in hospitals not elsewhere classified Bed numbers according to these functional categories are also broken down between: Somatic care beds in hospitals Psychiatric care beds in hospitals Please refer to the Sources and Methods for detailed country-specific information.