Number of deaths in South Africa
South Africa: Number of deaths was 721,336 deaths in 2021. ▼ Falling
Number of deaths in South Africa, 2000–2021
Source: World Health Organization (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in deaths.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 721,336 deaths for number of deaths in 2021.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 21.3% on the previous year and up 19.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of deaths in South Africa peaked at 733,385 deaths in 2006 and was at its lowest, 514,502 deaths, in 2000.
That places South Africa 18th out of 194 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 22 years of available data.
Number of deaths in South Africa, year by year
| Year | deaths | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 514,502 deaths | — |
| 2001 | 555,485 deaths | +8.0% |
| 2002 | 608,889 deaths | +9.6% |
| 2003 | 663,033 deaths | +8.9% |
| 2004 | 697,725 deaths | +5.2% |
| 2005 | 719,174 deaths | +3.1% |
| 2006 | 733,385 deaths | +2.0% |
| 2007 | 724,808 deaths | -1.2% |
| 2008 | 712,908 deaths | -1.6% |
| 2009 | 689,746 deaths | -3.2% |
| 2010 | 650,580 deaths | -5.7% |
| 2011 | 606,154 deaths | -6.8% |
| 2012 | 570,734 deaths | -5.8% |
| 2013 | 548,118 deaths | -4.0% |
| 2014 | 543,151 deaths | -0.9% |
| 2015 | 545,882 deaths | +0.5% |
| 2016 | 539,107 deaths | -1.2% |
| 2017 | 522,771 deaths | -3.0% |
| 2018 | 519,264 deaths | -0.7% |
| 2019 | 516,076 deaths | -0.6% |
| 2020 | 594,470 deaths | +15.2% |
| 2021 | 721,336 deaths | +21.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 661,966 deaths | 514,502 deaths | 733,385 deaths | 10 |
| 2010s | 556,184 deaths | 516,076 deaths | 650,580 deaths | 10 |
| 2020s | 657,903 deaths | 594,470 deaths | 721,336 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 75-79, female, annual growth rate 7.34 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 75-79, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 75-79, female, per capita 0.0067 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 75-79, male, annual growth rate 8.95 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 75-79, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 75-79, male, per capita 0.0039 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is number of deaths in South Africa?
- Number of deaths in South Africa was 721,336 deaths in 2021, according to World Health Organization (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest number of deaths recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 733,385 deaths in 2006.
- What is the lowest number of deaths recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 514,502 deaths in 2000.
- How does South Africa rank for number of deaths?
- South Africa ranks 18th out of 194 countries with data for 2021.
- Is number of deaths rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 19.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- 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 deaths. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Estimated number of deaths from all causes in both sexes.