Incidence of malaria in South Africa
South Africa: Incidence of malaria was 0.11 in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Incidence of malaria in South Africa, 2000–2024
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2024, incidence of malaria in South Africa stood at 0.11. That is the lowest value across all 25 years on record.
The figure 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 in 2001 and was at its lowest, 0.11, in 2024.
That places South Africa 75th out of 107 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.
Incidence of malaria in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 3.86 | — |
| 2001 | 5.57 | +44.3% |
| 2002 | 3.26 | -41.5% |
| 2003 | 2.78 | -14.7% |
| 2004 | 2.73 | -1.8% |
| 2005 | 1.57 | -42.5% |
| 2006 | 2.42 | +54.1% |
| 2007 | 1.25 | -48.3% |
| 2008 | 1.53 | +22.4% |
| 2009 | 1.17 | -23.5% |
| 2010 | 1.54 | +31.6% |
| 2011 | 1.86 | +20.8% |
| 2012 | 1.23 | -33.9% |
| 2013 | 1.58 | +28.5% |
| 2014 | 2.11 | +33.5% |
| 2015 | 0.87 | -58.8% |
| 2016 | 0.75 | -13.8% |
| 2017 | 4.06 | +441.3% |
| 2018 | 1.63 | -59.9% |
| 2019 | 0.81 | -50.3% |
| 2020 | 0.74 | -8.6% |
| 2021 | 0.48 | -35.1% |
| 2022 | 0.33 | -31.2% |
| 2023 | 0.84 | +154.5% |
| 2024 | 0.11 | -86.9% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 0.11 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 206.14, 0% of the median. (45 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Incidence of malaria 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 | 4.06 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 2.61 | 1.17 | 5.57 | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.64 | 0.75 | 4.06 | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.5 | 0.11 | 0.84 | 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 incidence of malaria in South Africa?
- Incidence of malaria in South Africa was 0.11 in 2024, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest incidence of malaria recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 5.57 in 2001.
- What is the lowest incidence of malaria recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.11 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 Our World in Data, published as part of Incidence of malaria. 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).