Incidence of malaria in South Africa
South Africa: Incidence of malaria was 0.11 per 1,000 population at risk in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
0.11 per 1,000 population at risk
Change on year
down 86.9%
World rank
75th
of 107 countries
All-time high
5.57 per 1,000 population at risk
in 2001
All-time low
0.11 per 1,000 population at risk
in 2024
Years of data
25
2000–2024
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 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% |
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 Lao People's Democratic Republic 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)
- 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)
- Population ages 05-09, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 05-09, female, per capita 0.0424 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 05-09, male, annual growth rate 2.82 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 05-09, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 05-09, male, per capita 0.0426 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 10-14, female, annual growth rate -0.9299 % change on previous year (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.