Incidence of malaria (per 1,000 population at risk) in South Africa
South Africa: Incidence of malaria (per 1,000 population at risk) was 0.11 per 1,000 population at risk in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Incidence of malaria in South Africa, 2000–2024
Source: Global Health Observatory Data Repository/World Health Statistics, World Health Organization (WHO). Measured in per 1,000 population at risk.
Analysis
In 2024, incidence of malaria in South Africa stood at 0.11 per 1,000 population at risk. That is the lowest value across all 25 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 86.9% on the previous year and down 94.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, incidence of malaria in South Africa peaked at 5.57 per 1,000 population at risk in 2001 and was at its lowest, 0.11 per 1,000 population at risk, in 2024.
South Africa ranks 75th of 107 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Incidence of malaria (per 1,000 population at risk) in South Africa, year by year
| Year | per 1,000 population at risk | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 3.86 per 1,000 population at risk | — |
| 2001 | 5.57 per 1,000 population at risk | +44.3% |
| 2002 | 3.26 per 1,000 population at risk | -41.5% |
| 2003 | 2.78 per 1,000 population at risk | -14.7% |
| 2004 | 2.73 per 1,000 population at risk | -1.8% |
| 2005 | 1.57 per 1,000 population at risk | -42.5% |
| 2006 | 2.42 per 1,000 population at risk | +54.1% |
| 2007 | 1.25 per 1,000 population at risk | -48.3% |
| 2008 | 1.53 per 1,000 population at risk | +22.4% |
| 2009 | 1.17 per 1,000 population at risk | -23.5% |
| 2010 | 1.54 per 1,000 population at risk | +31.6% |
| 2011 | 1.86 per 1,000 population at risk | +20.8% |
| 2012 | 1.23 per 1,000 population at risk | -33.9% |
| 2013 | 1.58 per 1,000 population at risk | +28.5% |
| 2014 | 2.11 per 1,000 population at risk | +33.5% |
| 2015 | 0.87 per 1,000 population at risk | -58.8% |
| 2016 | 0.75 per 1,000 population at risk | -13.8% |
| 2017 | 4.06 per 1,000 population at risk | +441.3% |
| 2018 | 1.63 per 1,000 population at risk | -59.9% |
| 2019 | 0.81 per 1,000 population at risk | -50.3% |
| 2020 | 0.74 per 1,000 population at risk | -8.6% |
| 2021 | 0.48 per 1,000 population at risk | -35.1% |
| 2022 | 0.33 per 1,000 population at risk | -31.2% |
| 2023 | 0.84 per 1,000 population at risk | +154.5% |
| 2024 | 0.11 per 1,000 population at risk | -86.9% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 0.11 per 1,000 population at risk is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 206.14 per 1,000 population at risk, 0% of the median. (45 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Incidence of malaria (per 1,000 population at risk) 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 | +441.3% | 0.75 per 1,000 population at risk | 4.06 per 1,000 population at risk |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 2.61 per 1,000 population at risk | 1.17 per 1,000 population at risk | 5.57 per 1,000 population at risk | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.64 per 1,000 population at risk | 0.75 per 1,000 population at risk | 4.06 per 1,000 population at risk | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.5 per 1,000 population at risk | 0.11 per 1,000 population at risk | 0.84 per 1,000 population at risk | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 72 Cape Verde 0.14 per 1,000 population at risk compare
- 73 Costa Rica 0.13 per 1,000 population at risk compare
- 73 Laos 0.13 per 1,000 population at risk compare
- 76 Mexico 0.1 per 1,000 population at risk compare
- 77 Ecuador 0.04 per 1,000 population at risk compare
- 78 Cambodia 0.03 per 1,000 population at risk compare
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 incidence of malaria in South Africa?
- Incidence of malaria in South Africa was 0.11 per 1,000 population at risk in 2024, according to Global Health Observatory Data Repository/World Health Statistics, World Health Organization (WHO).
- What is the highest incidence of malaria recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 5.57 per 1,000 population at risk in 2001.
- What is the lowest incidence of malaria recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.11 per 1,000 population at risk in 2024.
- How does South Africa rank for incidence of malaria?
- South Africa ranks 75th out of 107 countries with data for 2024.
- Is incidence of malaria rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 94.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Global Health Observatory Data Repository/World Health Statistics, World Health Organization (WHO), published as part of Incidence of malaria (per 1,000 population at risk). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Incidence of malaria is the number of new cases of malaria in a year per 1,000 population at risk.