Number of suicides in South Africa
South Africa: Number of suicides was 13,227 deaths in 2021. ▲ Rising
Number of suicides in South Africa, 2000–2021
Source: World Health Organization (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in deaths.
Analysis
In 2021, number of suicides in South Africa stood at 13,227 deaths. That is the highest value across all 22 years on record.
That represents a change of up 6.5% on the previous year and up 43.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of suicides in South Africa peaked at 13,227 deaths in 2021 and was at its lowest, 6,260 deaths, in 2000.
That places South Africa 8th out of 194 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 22 years of available data.
Number of suicides in South Africa, year by year
| Year | deaths | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 6,260 deaths | — |
| 2001 | 6,399 deaths | +2.2% |
| 2002 | 7,135 deaths | +11.5% |
| 2003 | 7,722 deaths | +8.2% |
| 2004 | 7,929 deaths | +2.7% |
| 2005 | 7,783 deaths | -1.8% |
| 2006 | 8,030 deaths | +3.2% |
| 2007 | 8,073 deaths | +0.5% |
| 2008 | 8,562 deaths | +6.1% |
| 2009 | 8,405 deaths | -1.8% |
| 2010 | 9,941 deaths | +18.3% |
| 2011 | 9,248 deaths | -7.0% |
| 2012 | 9,833 deaths | +6.3% |
| 2013 | 10,194 deaths | +3.7% |
| 2014 | 11,070 deaths | +8.6% |
| 2015 | 11,659 deaths | +5.3% |
| 2016 | 11,115 deaths | -4.7% |
| 2017 | 10,340 deaths | -7.0% |
| 2018 | 10,970 deaths | +6.1% |
| 2019 | 11,639 deaths | +6.1% |
| 2020 | 12,416 deaths | +6.7% |
| 2021 | 13,227 deaths | +6.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 7,630 deaths | 6,260 deaths | 8,562 deaths | 10 |
| 2010s | 10,601 deaths | 9,248 deaths | 11,659 deaths | 10 |
| 2020s | 12,821 deaths | 12,416 deaths | 13,227 deaths | 2 |
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 15-19, male, annual growth rate 1.39 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 15-19, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 15-19, male, per capita 0.0422 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 20-24, female, annual growth rate 0.5965 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 20-24, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 20-24, female, per capita 0.0391 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is number of suicides in South Africa?
- Number of suicides in South Africa was 13,227 deaths in 2021, according to World Health Organization (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest number of suicides recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 13,227 deaths in 2021.
- What is the lowest number of suicides recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 6,260 deaths in 2000.
- How does South Africa rank for number of suicides?
- South Africa ranks 8th out of 194 countries with data for 2021.
- Is number of suicides rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 43.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from World Health Organization (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Number of suicides. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Estimated number of deaths from self-harm in both sexes.