Infectious and parasitic diseases death rate in South Africa
South Africa: Infectious and parasitic diseases death rate was 128.66 deaths per 100,000 people in 2020. ▼ Falling
Latest (2020)
128.66 deaths per 100,000 people
Change on year
down 16.2%
World rank
1st
of 111 countries
All-time high
384.79 deaths per 100,000 people
in 2006
All-time low
121.02 deaths per 100,000 people
in 1996
Years of data
25
1996–2020
Infectious and parasitic diseases death rate in South Africa, 1996–2020
Source: WHO Mortality Database (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in deaths per 100,000 people.
Analysis
The most recent figure for infectious and parasitic diseases death rate in South Africa is 128.66 deaths per 100,000 people, measured in 2020.
The figure is down 16.2% on the previous year and down 58.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, infectious and parasitic diseases death rate in South Africa peaked at 384.79 deaths per 100,000 people in 2006 and was at its lowest, 121.02 deaths per 100,000 people, in 1996.
South Africa ranks 1st of 111 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 25 years of available data.
Infectious and parasitic diseases death rate in South Africa, year by year
| Year | deaths per 100,000 people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1996 | 121.02 deaths per 100,000 people | — |
| 1997 | 124.02 deaths per 100,000 people | +2.5% |
| 1998 | 153.88 deaths per 100,000 people | +24.1% |
| 1999 | 186.94 deaths per 100,000 people | +21.5% |
| 2000 | 223.06 deaths per 100,000 people | +19.3% |
| 2001 | 248.17 deaths per 100,000 people | +11.3% |
| 2002 | 288.07 deaths per 100,000 people | +16.1% |
| 2003 | 323.25 deaths per 100,000 people | +12.2% |
| 2004 | 337.65 deaths per 100,000 people | +4.5% |
| 2005 | 356.52 deaths per 100,000 people | +5.6% |
| 2006 | 384.79 deaths per 100,000 people | +7.9% |
| 2007 | 367.33 deaths per 100,000 people | -4.5% |
| 2008 | 384.68 deaths per 100,000 people | +4.7% |
| 2009 | 340.01 deaths per 100,000 people | -11.6% |
| 2010 | 311.59 deaths per 100,000 people | -8.4% |
| 2011 | 273.52 deaths per 100,000 people | -12.2% |
| 2012 | 244.41 deaths per 100,000 people | -10.6% |
| 2013 | 229.11 deaths per 100,000 people | -6.3% |
| 2014 | 215.33 deaths per 100,000 people | -6.0% |
| 2015 | 192.74 deaths per 100,000 people | -10.5% |
| 2016 | 177.13 deaths per 100,000 people | -8.1% |
| 2017 | 163.83 deaths per 100,000 people | -7.5% |
| 2018 | 150.1 deaths per 100,000 people | -8.4% |
| 2019 | 153.61 deaths per 100,000 people | +2.3% |
| 2020 | 128.66 deaths per 100,000 people | -16.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 146.47 deaths per 100,000 people | 121.02 deaths per 100,000 people | 186.94 deaths per 100,000 people | 4 |
| 2000s | 325.35 deaths per 100,000 people | 223.06 deaths per 100,000 people | 384.79 deaths per 100,000 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 211.14 deaths per 100,000 people | 150.1 deaths per 100,000 people | 311.59 deaths per 100,000 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 128.66 deaths per 100,000 people | 128.66 deaths per 100,000 people | 128.66 deaths per 100,000 people | 1 |
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)
- 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 40-44, male, annual growth rate 3.07 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 40-44, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 40-44, male, per capita 0.0371 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 45-49, female, annual growth rate 4.05 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 45-49, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 45-49, female, per capita 0.0295 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is infectious and parasitic diseases death rate in South Africa?
- Infectious and parasitic diseases death rate in South Africa was 128.66 deaths per 100,000 people in 2020, according to WHO Mortality Database (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest infectious and parasitic diseases death rate recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 384.79 deaths per 100,000 people in 2006.
- What is the lowest infectious and parasitic diseases death rate recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 121.02 deaths per 100,000 people in 1996.
- How does South Africa rank for infectious and parasitic diseases death rate?
- South Africa ranks 1st out of 111 countries with data for 2020.
- Is infectious and parasitic diseases death rate rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 58.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from WHO Mortality Database (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Infectious and parasitic diseases death rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Reported deaths from infectious and parasitic diseases in both sexes in those aged all ages per 100,000 people.