Number of deaths in South Africa
South Africa: Number of deaths was 584,018 deaths in 2023. ▲ Rising
Latest (2023)
584,018 deaths
Change on year
down 0.4%
World rank
22nd
of 236 countries
All-time high
733,898 deaths
in 2021
All-time low
233,379 deaths
in 1960
Years of data
74
1950–2023
Number of deaths in South Africa, 1950–2023
Source: UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in deaths.
Analysis
In 2023, number of deaths in South Africa stood at 584,018 deaths.
The figure is down 0.4% on the previous year and up 7.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of deaths in South Africa peaked at 733,898 deaths in 2021 and was at its lowest, 233,379 deaths, in 1960.
That places South Africa 22nd out of 236 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 74 years of available data.
Number of deaths in South Africa, year by year
| Year | deaths | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 281,295 deaths | — |
| 1951 | 275,292 deaths | -2.1% |
| 1952 | 269,524 deaths | -2.1% |
| 1953 | 263,910 deaths | -2.1% |
| 1954 | 257,799 deaths | -2.3% |
| 1955 | 252,076 deaths | -2.2% |
| 1956 | 246,577 deaths | -2.2% |
| 1957 | 241,807 deaths | -1.9% |
| 1958 | 237,466 deaths | -1.8% |
| 1959 | 235,104 deaths | -1.0% |
| 1960 | 233,379 deaths | -0.7% |
| 1961 | 234,079 deaths | +0.3% |
| 1962 | 235,424 deaths | +0.6% |
| 1963 | 238,844 deaths | +1.5% |
| 1964 | 242,440 deaths | +1.5% |
| 1965 | 247,251 deaths | +2.0% |
| 1966 | 251,936 deaths | +1.9% |
| 1967 | 257,379 deaths | +2.2% |
| 1968 | 262,521 deaths | +2.0% |
| 1969 | 267,491 deaths | +1.9% |
| 1970 | 272,207 deaths | +1.8% |
| 1971 | 275,723 deaths | +1.3% |
| 1972 | 278,476 deaths | +1.0% |
| 1973 | 281,163 deaths | +1.0% |
| 1974 | 282,789 deaths | +0.6% |
| 1975 | 282,979 deaths | +0.1% |
| 1976 | 283,953 deaths | +0.3% |
| 1977 | 283,644 deaths | -0.1% |
| 1978 | 283,392 deaths | -0.1% |
| 1979 | 284,003 deaths | +0.2% |
| 1980 | 284,794 deaths | +0.3% |
| 1981 | 288,425 deaths | +1.3% |
| 1982 | 292,566 deaths | +1.4% |
| 1983 | 296,795 deaths | +1.4% |
| 1984 | 301,221 deaths | +1.5% |
| 1985 | 306,172 deaths | +1.6% |
| 1986 | 311,902 deaths | +1.9% |
| 1987 | 316,825 deaths | +1.6% |
| 1988 | 321,241 deaths | +1.4% |
| 1989 | 327,047 deaths | +1.8% |
| 1990 | 335,439 deaths | +2.6% |
| 1991 | 343,102 deaths | +2.3% |
| 1992 | 352,289 deaths | +2.7% |
| 1993 | 362,995 deaths | +3.0% |
| 1994 | 382,980 deaths | +5.5% |
| 1995 | 397,321 deaths | +3.7% |
| 1996 | 410,767 deaths | +3.4% |
| 1997 | 423,893 deaths | +3.2% |
| 1998 | 443,109 deaths | +4.5% |
| 1999 | 466,125 deaths | +5.2% |
| 2000 | 490,138 deaths | +5.2% |
| 2001 | 526,754 deaths | +7.5% |
| 2002 | 574,030 deaths | +9.0% |
| 2003 | 622,283 deaths | +8.4% |
| 2004 | 641,921 deaths | +3.2% |
| 2005 | 659,846 deaths | +2.8% |
| 2006 | 669,557 deaths | +1.5% |
| 2007 | 663,057 deaths | -1.0% |
| 2008 | 648,296 deaths | -2.2% |
| 2009 | 624,186 deaths | -3.7% |
| 2010 | 594,055 deaths | -4.8% |
| 2011 | 568,156 deaths | -4.4% |
| 2012 | 545,852 deaths | -3.9% |
| 2013 | 544,728 deaths | -0.2% |
| 2014 | 536,322 deaths | -1.5% |
| 2015 | 522,822 deaths | -2.5% |
| 2016 | 519,287 deaths | -0.7% |
| 2017 | 508,901 deaths | -2.0% |
| 2018 | 515,170 deaths | +1.2% |
| 2019 | 521,415 deaths | +1.2% |
| 2020 | 586,416 deaths | +12.5% |
| 2021 | 733,898 deaths | +25.1% |
| 2022 | 586,473 deaths | -20.1% |
| 2023 | 584,018 deaths | -0.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 256,085 deaths | 235,104 deaths | 281,295 deaths | 10 |
| 1960s | 247,074 deaths | 233,379 deaths | 267,491 deaths | 10 |
| 1970s | 280,833 deaths | 272,207 deaths | 284,003 deaths | 10 |
| 1980s | 304,699 deaths | 284,794 deaths | 327,047 deaths | 10 |
| 1990s | 391,802 deaths | 335,439 deaths | 466,125 deaths | 10 |
| 2000s | 612,007 deaths | 490,138 deaths | 669,557 deaths | 10 |
| 2010s | 537,671 deaths | 508,901 deaths | 594,055 deaths | 10 |
| 2020s | 622,701 deaths | 584,018 deaths | 733,898 deaths | 4 |
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)
- Total tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 22 (2025)
- Total tetanus - number of reported cases, per capita 0 units per person (2025)
- Diphtheria - number of reported cases, gaps filled 314 (2025)
- Diphtheria - number of reported cases, per capita 0 units per person (2025)
- Measles - number of reported cases, gaps filled 2,778 (2025)
- Measles - number of reported cases, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is number of deaths in South Africa?
- Number of deaths in South Africa was 584,018 deaths in 2023, according to UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest number of deaths recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 733,898 deaths in 2021.
- What is the lowest number of deaths recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 233,379 deaths in 1960.
- How does South Africa rank for number of deaths?
- South Africa ranks 22nd out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is number of deaths rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 7.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed 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
Number of deaths in a calendar year.