Measles - number of reported cases in South Africa
South Africa: Measles - number of reported cases was 2,778 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
2,778
Change on year
up 198.4%
World rank
26th
of 210 countries
All-time high
22,745
in 1992
All-time low
17
in 2015
Years of data
47
1979–2025
Measles - number of reported cases in South Africa, 1979–2025
Source: World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory.
Analysis
In 2025, measles - number of reported cases in South Africa stood at 2,778.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 198.4% on the previous year and up 16,241.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, measles - number of reported cases in South Africa peaked at 22,745 in 1992 and was at its lowest, 17, in 2015.
South Africa ranks 26th of 210 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Measles - number of reported cases in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1979 | 4,115 | — |
| 1980 | 19,193 | +366.4% |
| 1981 | 15,809 | -17.6% |
| 1982 | 12,906 | -18.4% |
| 1983 | 16,735 | +29.7% |
| 1984 | 16,160 | -3.4% |
| 1985 | 17,884 | +10.7% |
| 1986 | 13,459 | -24.7% |
| 1987 | 22,559 | +67.6% |
| 1988 | 15,258 | -32.4% |
| 1989 | 18,268 | +19.7% |
| 1990 | 10,624 | -41.8% |
| 1991 | 4,777 | -55.0% |
| 1992 | 22,745 | +376.1% |
| 1993 | 12,870 | -43.4% |
| 1994 | 6,845 | -46.8% |
| 1995 | 8,845 | +29.2% |
| 1996 | 6,501 | -26.5% |
| 1997 | 1,337 | -79.4% |
| 1998 | 977 | -26.9% |
| 1999 | 385 | -60.6% |
| 2000 | 1,459 | +279.0% |
| 2001 | 1,166 | -20.1% |
| 2002 | 1,043 | -10.5% |
| 2003 | 244 | -76.6% |
| 2004 | 830 | +240.2% |
| 2005 | 615 | -25.9% |
| 2006 | 81 | -86.8% |
| 2007 | 31 | -61.7% |
| 2008 | 39 | +25.8% |
| 2009 | 5,857 | +14917.9% |
| 2010 | 12,499 | +113.4% |
| 2011 | 92 | -99.3% |
| 2012 | 32 | -65.2% |
| 2013 | 25 | -21.9% |
| 2014 | 66 | +164.0% |
| 2015 | 17 | -74.2% |
| 2016 | 18 | +5.9% |
| 2017 | 210 | +1066.7% |
| 2018 | 71 | -66.2% |
| 2019 | 59 | -16.9% |
| 2020 | 40 | -32.2% |
| 2021 | 21 | -47.5% |
| 2022 | 400 | +1804.8% |
| 2023 | 1,033 | +158.2% |
| 2024 | 931 | -9.9% |
| 2025 | 2,778 | +198.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 4,115 | 4,115 | 4,115 | 1 |
| 1980s | 16,823 | 12,906 | 22,559 | 10 |
| 1990s | 7,591 | 385 | 22,745 | 10 |
| 2000s | 1,136 | 31 | 5,857 | 10 |
| 2010s | 1,309 | 17 | 12,499 | 10 |
| 2020s | 867.17 | 21 | 2,778 | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 23 Burkina Faso 4,099 compare
- 24 Laos 3,855 compare
- 25 Algeria 2,928 compare
- 27 Madagascar 2,454 compare
- 28 Tajikistan 2,246 compare
- 29 Angola 2,043 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 80 and above, female, per capita 0.0081 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 80 and above, male, annual growth rate 2.35 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 80 and above, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 80 and above, male, per capita 0.0035 units per person (2025)
- Pertussis - number of reported cases, gaps filled 5,666 (2025)
- Pertussis - number of reported cases, per capita 0.0001 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is measles - number of reported cases in South Africa?
- Measles - number of reported cases in South Africa was 2,778 in 2025, according to World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory.
- What is the highest measles - number of reported cases recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 22,745 in 1992.
- What is the lowest measles - number of reported cases recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 17 in 2015.
- How does South Africa rank for measles - number of reported cases?
- South Africa ranks 26th out of 210 countries with data for 2025.
- Is measles - number of reported cases rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 16,241.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory, published as part of Measles - number of reported cases. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 47 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO (WHO).